Hi everyone,

This is my first time posting here - I could really do with some advice. Any thoughts you might have on this would be really welcome!

I've got 2004 mk6 fiesta. It's not worth anything and has various problems (engine rattles, clutch slips after I've driven through puddles (!?)) which suggest to me that it's probably not going to be on the road for long, and is not worth spending money on. However, I really can't afford to replace it at the moment.

Recently I've noticed that the windscreen seems to steam up when I have the heating on - and only having the AC on too will clear it. I'm also slowly losing coolant. From googling it seems to me that the heater matrix probably has a leak - but I guess a small one. 

I'm assuming:

• Getting the heater matrix replaced professionally is going to cost way more than the car is worth
• Leaving it leaking is not a good idea (might get worse and lose all coolant, also breathing in antifreeze fumes probably not good!)
• Replacing the heater matrix is probably too hard to do myself (I'd say I'm a competent DIYer, but beyond spark plugs etc haven't really done much with cars - and it looks challenging)
• Bypassing the heater matrix (something I have done before, but only for a summer!) is not good as I won't be able to de-ice and even clear the windscreen in winter.

Lots of posts say Bars leaks/radweld or similar worked for them - but others seem to say that this is a really bad idea. My thoughts are that unless one of my assumptions above is wrong then it's worth a shot as basically the only option other than scrapping the car. 

So basically my questions are:

1. Is there any reason why (given the above) that you think I shouldn't try Radweld/bars leaks or similar
2. Does anyone recommend a specific product? 

Thanks so much for your time!

 

Matt

Are the carpets wet? If not, it probably isn't the matrix at fault. If they are and the car is a short life object then Bars leaks or similar will get you through another winter. I wonder if the heater drain is blocked and the steaming up is due to moisture on the matrix. It is certainly worth checking before adding anything. Keeping an old(ISH) car going is not too difficult but you need a certain amount of diagnostic nous. The first thing to do is find out for sure where the water is being lost from. How much water are you having to add and how often?

Hi - thanks for taking the time to reply. Carpets aren't wet - and also I haven't noticed a smell of antifreeze which lots of people seem to think I would. I'm not losing loads of coolant - just topped it up with 500ml which is more than it's been down before, but I haven't checked it for at least 3 weeks (400 miles?) - possibly quite a bit longer. Before that it seemed to be losing a few hundred ml every few months. 

Any oil in the coolant? Probably not, you would have noticed. Oil on dipstick looks normal? I shall assume it does. It seems like you have a small leak rather than a big problem. Look for antifreeze stains with a torch and a mirror. It is somewhere you cannot immediately see. With the engine cold,  check the coolant filler cap and ensure the seal is not cracked or perished. Are you filling it all the way up? There ought to be some expansion space so only fill to the high mark on the expansion tank.

Check the ends of all the rubber pipes  for swelling and softness. They can go porous and look ok. Finally, with the engine hot and running (fingers out!) open the bonnet and look for  a fine spray of coolant. 

Oh, and check the heater drain.

If it was my car, I'd just keep topping it up with coolant every month before resorting to bodging it with radweld (which might just make it worse).

Sorry for delayed reply (it's been a manic few weeks!) and thanks so much for your thoughts. I decided that you are right - I was too hasty to assume it was the heater matrix - it does seem to steam up more with the heating on than without when the engine is cold, but when it's hotter seems better. I've had a little look to try and determine the source of the leak but haven't had a chance to properly investigate. But since it's not leaking too much (and since it's not in the heater matrix I don't have to worry about breathing it in!) I'm not too worried and am just topping it up for the moment.

 

Thanks again - it is amazing that I can ask a question on here and get help from someone so knowledgeable. 

 

Matt

If you do need to use an additive then I would recommend Bars Leaks.   I've used it in the past and it's very good.

6 minutes ago, Bobr said:

If you do need to use an additive then I would recommend Bars Leaks.   I've used it in the past and it's very good.

Until I just looked now, didn't realise you could still get that - must be nearly 50 years since I used it! But yes, back in the day when a new radiator would have cost more than my car was worth, it worked very well.