Car maintenance advice

I have just noticed a leak from my car engine and taking a look it would seem the hose/pipe from the radiator is leaking.
I need to know if it is safe to drive as I need to get to work and I need to get it to a garage!
HELP!

Well, if your radiator dries up, your engine will not be cooled enough.
Are you a member with the ADAC or do you have a "Schutzbrief" with you car-insurance ??

I would call one of those anyway befor risking damage...

I have just managed to get hold of a garage...just need to get it there now! The radiator thingy isnt quite empty but not far from it. Is it ok just to put normal water in so it doesnt run out just til I get to the garage??

that should be ok to put normal water in just to get to the garage, they will drain it anyway, but tell them you put normal water in without antifreeze.

I once drove 600 km with a leaky radiator, used up 3 packets of chewing gum to block it every half hour.

cheers guys...I am on my way, if you hear a big bang you know Ive blown it up!

dont worry it happened to me the other day, my katalysor disintegrated next thing there was exhaust fumes inside the car.

Songbird,

you should try this stuff first... Radiator seal I don't know how it works, but it has saved me from buying a replacement radiator on more than one occasion...

I got to the local garage and he could see where it had been leaking but it isnt leaking at the moment! He seemed to think it is only leaking when the engine is/or has been running a while.
Safe to drive to work but I need to keep an eye on the water levels and as there is a garage next door to the office I am gonna call in there and see if they will do it whilst I am at work. Failing that, I am gonna try and get some of that radiator seal ( cheers for that advice mate) and have a go myself!! I suppose I should get some designer overalls and look like I know what I am doing!

If it was leaking from the overflow pipe, this is sometimes caused by a faulty radiator cap. The radiator cap has a sprung-loaded seal, designed to let water out if the pressure gets too high. If the spring gets weak, it can let water out at normal running pressures - i.e. once the engine has warmed up.

BTW be wary of taking the radiator cap off when the engine is hot - it is really easy to get scalded.

the leak isnt actually the plastic thing with the water in, its a pipe right in the middle...I know this probably doesnt make sense! Does it??

If thats the case then you "they" will just need to change the pipe for a new one, is it an old car? They can go after 10-15 yrs (or earlier if you are unlucky), so I would wait for a diagnosis before putting the readiator sealer in there.

I would go with neilg on that, if its a rubber pipe then get it changed. Not sure if sealant will work as a rubber pipe normally splits more. I thought sealant was for the metal radiator itself? but i could be wrong.
A new pipe wont cost and arm and leg, maybe just a middle toe

If the hose is easily accessible on your car Songbird, it's really easy to do it yourself. If you need any advise PM me and I can send you the instructions I used to do mine.

The first and only time I had to change a rubber pipe, the pipe alone set me back well over over 125euro! I ended up fitting the part myself... saved at least another 100euro in fitting costs as it was a hard-to-access part. Took me the best part of two hours to complete the job!

I suppose its a question of what type of car you have. Mine was a Poo-show 306

Probably just a seal clamp that needs tightening, as the pipe warmed up it swelled and sealed itself again.

(BTW the car is only about 2 years old if my memory serves me correct)

Ah, that puts another perspective on it then. You are right, the first thing to do should be to tighten the clamp if it is the sort that can be tightened easily (as some newer ones are not). If it is an older car the rubber goes hard and tightning the clamp can make it leak more tho'.

Took the car to the garage near the office and they had a look... he reckons its a thermostat inside a gasket that needs replacing...

A thermostat in a housing, plus a gasket, that would be my guess (but you should only need the thermostat and gasket not the housing as well on a 2 yr? old car) Nothing too dramatic. No idea what a thermostat will cost but say 20-40€ that gasket shouldnt be much either. Fitting will cause the main cost I guess, but I'm no mechanic!

I am thoroughly ****** off with ******* mechanics who think just coz you are a single female they can take you for a ******* ride and treat you like you are thick!
I took the car back this morning as asked (8am) and was told me they would ring the office when it was done as the part hadnt arrived...
At 3pm I went over as I hadnt heard from them and the ******* little **** told me they had ordered the wrong part and had now re ordered the correct part and it would be there in half an hour.
5pm they rang to say the second part was also wrong and I should take it to a main dealer as they had tried twice and not succeeded.
The stupid *********** ****** wasted my ******* time and as it is now a bank holiday I can only use my car for short journeys and still havent got a garage to sort the ******* car out!
I asked him what kind of ******* buisness he was meant to be running then told him to go and stick his ******* spanners up his ******* ***** sideways!
******* ******!!!

I am ANGRY!!!

Breath in... relax...breath out, Now doesn't that feel better?

Respect!

Good for you Songbird, I hope you get it sorted out soon. Trouble is going to the main dealer usually makes it that much more expensive.

I know it's not meant to be funny Songbird, but it don't half make me smile reading your ****** post re: the ******* useless mechanic and his anal retentative ******* spanners.

Well it brought a smile to your face Slack but the mechanic wasnt smiling thats for sure! The ********! I am calm now but still havent got the car sorted! I have taken it to a garage closer to home and he has taken the reg and chassis number and hopefully he will get it sorted. But last Friday I was non too pleased!

Thanks Nicole , I hope it is sorted soon to, and you are right , which is why I am trying to steer clear of the maindealer unless I have to.

Yippeee! My cars done and it only cost me £40!
They picked it up from the house, did the job and delivered it back in a couple of hours!
Cheap at half the price!!

So the big question is... now that its fixed... where are you going to go this weekend