Coolant trouble. Steaming and Bubbling

[taxman2014]

Hiya guys,

Been trawling through all the theads for the last 10 nights and finally plucked up the courage to make a post.

I got my 1st mr2 (roadster) and it turned out that i'd been had as the bottom end had gone. Ended up scrapping that but was bitten with the mr2 bug so went out and bought another one. A mk2 this time.
Was driving fine for a month till I got it serviced. Rad cap was full of rust remnants so knew there was an issue but she was driving fine and not overheating. when the bled her the rad spat out a gunky rusty liquid. Anyway fully serviced and now topped with coolant, she overheated on the way home and the temp gauge hit 11 o'clock. Topped with water as assumed the pipes weren't filled. Took it out again and steam was coming out of the bay. Pulled over and opened her to find the 'container' below the overflow was bubbling and thats where the steam was coming from. Back to the garage and the said the rad cap seals were shot, so I ordered another. But still having the same issues.

Now it seems to me that most general garages don't have much experience with mr2's. Thus utilise a general diagnostic approach.

So i'd like to put it to the experts that actually know and own the car! Anyone had this issue? I've booked in at the Toyota dealership for them to give it a look over for next week. What do you reckon guys?

[Draven]

Right you say the coolant was changed. I'm guessing the garage bled the system?

I would say as you've replaced the rad cap. I would bleed the coolant. then go for a drive then bleed the coolant.. bleed the coolant again.. then for fun BLEED THE COOLANT again..

These cars are a nightmare for airlocks due to the design of the coolant system an airlock can cause over heating and all sorts of things.

Also look at your front radiator and if it is original replace it you can get a a decent alloy one from ebay MR2-Ben and make sure your fans are coming on.

Don't top up with water.. make sure you keep an accurate mix of coolant or you'll get rust in the system. I recommend using toyota red..

PS I wouldn't trust a toyota dealership with my mr2 they just don't know you're much better off going to a specialist.

[bigal]

Did the garage fill your MR2 the correct way. There is a guide how to do it somewhere, the car has to have its' rear wheels up on ramps and you bleed the water/antifreeze out the front of the car, allowing gravity to assist you, there's a tap on the radiator and I think another one in the frunk somewhere.

[Draven]

Did the garage fill your MR2 the correct way. There is a guide how to do it somewhere, the car has to have its' rear wheels up on ramps and you bleed the water/antifreeze out the front of the car, allowing gravity to assist you, there's a tap on the radiator and I think another one in the frunk somewhere.

Yes that too.

On the radiator there is a bleed nipple on the top and you get a small hose attach to the the nipple and run the hose up through the hook on the funk door so it is higher than the rear of the car you then put the rear of the car up on axel stands. and slowly fill the car will coolant then the coolant will fill the hose at the front till it meets the same height of the filler cap. This will get all the air out.

Its very important to do it this way to get all of the air out.

[fingers99]

All the stuff you need to know about bleeding is in the Big Green Book (see the "Know Your Two" tab on MR2OC, for links, for example).

Of course, the other thing worth knowing is that you have to have the heater on full to bleed properly. (willy system (the auto censor will step in here) -- like a central heating boiler, -- rather than flap.)

A compression test probably wouldn't go amiss (or a coolant pressurisation test carried out by someone competent). I wonder if draining the system has dislodged some horrible snake oil miracle sealant?

[taxman2014]

Thanks guys will try that. Going to go take a proper good look at the 'how to's'.
They had it up but it was horizontal. So no gravity assist. Don't have access to axles but will try and work something out.
Will be cancelling Toyota then.
I'm in Brum, near City Centre. Any '2 specialists nearby?

[Mullen]

Good guide here - www.mr2oc.co.uk/know-your-2-knowledge-b ... bartid=161

[2mad]

I've used this guide many times, works great .. http://www.lovehorsepower.com/MR2_Docs/ ... system.htm


Kev.

[Marmalade]

Definately sounds like an airlock issue, have you turned on the heater in the car is it getting hot, if not that is another pointer towards an airlock in the coolant.

[woz_106]

if your in brum then I can only recommend Nathan at MRtwos over in willenhall. He knows MR2's and others very well, highly regarded in the area and he is very helpful aswell as reasonable.

google his details and say warren recommended you, he is the only person to touch my car in 3 years of owning my tubby and i've had an overheating fault myself.

I tried everything, bleeding, radiator, thermostat, more bleeding, in the end bit the bullet as nathan mentioned headgasket to which he was spot on.

[taxman2014]

Thanks guys! Appreciate the help.

Got rid of the air lock. Thanks for the tutorial links.

Radiator fan is working and so is the heater releasing warm air.

Rads an old original one. I've seen the alloy one on ebay for £102. Spec says that it'll keep the car 40% cooler. Is that any good? I remember reading somewhere that someones rad came without the valve. What should I look out for?

Yep, definitely going to Willenhall to get the rad fitted!

Thanks again!