The Rangie had just been picked up after having the second McPherson strut replaced, which failed not long after the first one. It had been in the dealers for 3 weeks. I hadn't even got to drive it yet before having yet another problem.

My son drove it to work after picking it up from the dealer yesterday. When he went to leave work, he put on the air-con to cool the inside, but after around 2 minutes, the dreaded "beep" sounded, after which there was a message relating to overheating.

He was only able to drive around 15 at a time, having to constantly stop, let it cool and then put water in. Was trying to limp home, but he works 2 hours away. So the first garage he came to, he called the roadside assist, who towed the Rangie home.

My question is, what's the best way to try and locate the leak. Bear in mind, I don't have a pressure tester. I'm hoping against all hope it's just a hose, but quite frankly, given the constant problems I've been having with the Rangie the past few months, I'm not optimistic.

If I get it towed to the dealer, it's going to cost over $500 as the towing company charges $5 per kilometre. The roadside assist won't do it for free, as it's already been towed home. (The only option for my son and his girlfriend to get home last night). Hence, I'd like to try and establish where the leak is coming from, in case it's something minor like a hose, which I won't need a mechanic to replace.

Any suggestions?

Yes.....tell us which model and engine you have for starters

She's a 2008 TDV8 diesel Vogue SE.

best way is to buy some coolant dye.. And a ultra violet light

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ring-Automotive-R...B00CAKWKGA

Daz Regards

Daz

-------------------------
2011 (61plate) 4.4 tdv8
sumatra black

previous cars

e46 m3
e53 x5

What dazza said

dazza1983 wrote:

best way is to buy some coolant dye.. And a ultra violet light

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ring-Automotive-R...B00CAKWKGA

Daz

Due is the quickest and easiest way buddy.

Put the dye in the expansion tank. Run the engine for a while and then when it’s dark outside run the ultraviolet torch around the engine and you will see the dye where the coolant has leaked. Regards

Daz

-------------------------
2011 (61plate) 4.4 tdv8
sumatra black

previous cars

e46 m3
e53 x5

Blitz wrote:

dazza1983 wrote:

best way is to buy some coolant dye.. And a ultra violet light

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ring-Automotive-R...B00CAKWKGA

Daz

Thanks, but is there a way I can find out without the dye and ultra violet light (to which I have no idea how to use anyway).

Is there a bush mechanic's way of determining the leak?

Thanks Dazza. I don't have access to dye, other than food colouring. I'm a couple of hours from an auto shop.

I put some baby powder all around the engine, in the hope it would highlight any leaks. Filled up the water, then ran for 10 minutes. There was no issue whatsoever. No leaks, no water coming out under the car - nothing. The temp gauge stayed on normal. The engine warning light was on but no messages regarding overheating. I revved her up to about 4000, still nothing.

I noticed the radiator hoses didn't feel like there was any water in them - it was easy to squeeze them. (Don't know if that's normal).

When I switcher her off, the water was cold in the expansion tank and the hoses were cold.

I'm totally lost.

Hi Blitz

I have never used any kind of dye to find a leak just plain common sense. First if the coolant tank is cold but full then the system is not up to temperature in other words the thermostat has not yet opened. So you need to take it out on the road until everything is hot.

After this you need to get under the car and find where the water is dripping onto the ground (if it is) and then follow the leak, this is often very difficult due to under shields which you may need to remove, but just keep following (it often gets diverted by other pipework etc) with patience and persistence you will find the leak or find the general area. At some point you may need to look from above, What I do is to stuff paper towel in suspicious areas (keep away from hot exhausts!) until I find something that may be at fault. I then start by checking the tightness of joints in the area.

If there are no drips at all, then this may be more serious, have you checked for "slobber" in the oil filler?

I am not an expert on the TDV8 just have done this all before on many engines, so you may need better advice on the TDV8 if the above does not work.

I hope that helps a little, I know what its like to be away from nearby specialists. Range Rover 4.2 Supercharged 2006
Ford Focus EcoBoost 1.5 2017
MG TF 2003

Previous Cars of note
Land Rover Discovery 2
Jaguar Mk2 3.8 - Company car
MG Midget 1974 - Concours

Thanks Bigbo.

I was hopeful that it was nothing too serious. However, I suspect it is.

I put the air con on full blast (as that's what my son did when he started the car just prior to the issue). I then went for a drive. Within maybe 200 metres, she started to go into the red with the dreaded warning message.

I popped the bonnet and and checked underneath but all the obvious hoses were fine. No leaks at all. The water in the expansion tank had not gone down much - it was still within the acceptable range.

There was a fierce hissing sound coming from the area under the engine cover.

When I looked under the car, it was wet but impossible to gauge where the water had come from.

It cooled very quickly, so I turned around and drove back to the house. Once again, by the time I got to the gate, it was overheating.

I had hoped it was perhaps the overflow (which I can't even find. Does it have an overflow?). But that seems unlikely, given the reservoir is at a normal range.

I suspect it's something more sinister like a head gasket (not that I really know).

Just for some history - it was my husband's vehicle but he died a couple of years ago. Hence, I'm obviously flailing in the dark.

Is it difficult to take off the engine cover?

I'm wondering if it could be a blockage in the system somewhere. Would it be worth while putting some radiator flush stuff in then draining the system?

Hi Blitz

The engine cover should come off very easily but I don't know the TDV8 so do a quick search of the forums, but its normally very intuitive.
I suspect its nothing to do with the AC so try again with the AC off.
But a hissing under the engine cover needs looking at so get the cover off and try again.

The fact that it heats up quickly and cools fast is worth following, maybe the thermostat has failed closed.

First thing to do is find the hissing under the engine cover. Range Rover 4.2 Supercharged 2006
Ford Focus EcoBoost 1.5 2017
MG TF 2003

Previous Cars of note
Land Rover Discovery 2
Jaguar Mk2 3.8 - Company car
MG Midget 1974 - Concours

Thanks for your help Bigbo. I'm waiting for it to cool down, then I'll have a go at getting the cover off and see what happens.

After that, I'll take it for a short run with the air-con off and see if it makes any difference.

Any other tips?

I think your first job is to get the engine cover off so you have visibility. Unfortunately overheating issues need you to work on a hot engine, just be careful.

Once you have the cover off take a picture of the leak if its visible, if not edit the picture to show where its leaking from and post here, someone will be able to identify what the leak is, but I would suspect the thermostat and its housing. If so then a cheap and easy fix.

David
Hopefully this will solve your issue. Range Rover 4.2 Supercharged 2006
Ford Focus EcoBoost 1.5 2017
MG TF 2003

Previous Cars of note
Land Rover Discovery 2
Jaguar Mk2 3.8 - Company car
MG Midget 1974 - Concours

Thanks David. I just managed to get the cover off. I can't see anything amiss. Wow, it's like looking at an alien compared to the old Series III! I have no idea with all the pipes going everywhere!

Anyway, I checked the oil - there doesn't seem to be any water contamination either on the dipstick or the filler cap, so I'm hoping that's a good sign. Forgot about the exhaust smoke. Is it supposed to be white if a gasket has blown? Can't remember what my husband said now.

I'll take her for another short drive and then see if I can locate anything on the top of the engine.

I just spoke to my son to confirm what happened exactly. He said coming into work the engine light came on but she was running okay. Just before he got to work, he noticed it started to heat up. He said once he drove for a while, the temperature went back down. I'm wondering if it could be a blockage or thermostat sticking?

Can you tell me where the overflow pipe is? I can't for the life of me work out where it is.

He He, now you know why they put a cover on! lol

OK so no contamination that's good, white smoke can be a sign of head gasket failure.

Sorry don't know where the overflow is, but the manuals are in the wiki.

Cannot talk about the TDV8 but I have known with other engines for the indicated temperature to fall when the coolant level has fallen, sometimes caused by the coolant falling below the sensor level.

I'm a little confused are you definitely losing fluid? if so how much? If there is no leak then I would change the thermostat.
But I still would want to know what the hissing was.

(time to turn in, its late here in the UK) Range Rover 4.2 Supercharged 2006
Ford Focus EcoBoost 1.5 2017
MG TF 2003

Previous Cars of note
Land Rover Discovery 2
Jaguar Mk2 3.8 - Company car
MG Midget 1974 - Concours