DIY Car Maintenance with function over finesse!!

[mickthemaverick]

My thought exactly Paul. I'll check that out tomorrow. I am just seeking opinions to strengthen my thinking! I have two possibles, airlock or some jellylike blob circulating but I'm plumping for all the bleeding ideas I can exhaust first!

[MattBLancs]

Yes, I'd guess air lock too. I'd think the jelly like blob (or some other crud in the system) was unlikely - unless the coolant was known to be poor condition (or a mixture of types - think that can generate jelly like stuff??)

[mickthemaverick]

Top quality coolant only in my cars Matt. I only mentioned it with hylomar in mind from the replacement seals I fitted last year but in truth that couldn't really get to the coolant, just to the oil. I'll try running with the cap off tomorrow and see if I can get any air out!

[mickthemaverick]

I did some more research last night and it seems that airlocks are a very common problem with this engine. I watched a fair number of videos and came to the conclusion that this device is my best bet when used in the bleeding process, it also has the advantage of fitting various other cars so will be generally useful I feel. Anyway it's on the way and due here later today.

BFTW

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01I40ZQWE? ... asin_title

[Paul-R]

Looks like you paid twice the price as from elsewhere.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/363570304038 ... BMtPH0m5Zl

TBH, I only ever go to Amazon if I can't find what I want from a different source. And that isn't often.

[mickthemaverick]

Yes I did Paul but purely because it will be here today which is what I needed most. I found it on ebay but unable to collect so Amazon Prime was the way to go as I'm a member for other reasons

[mickthemaverick]

Back on the suspension replacement, another parcel arrived today and I've now ordered the front strut mounts as well!!

BFTW - Pair of rear strut mounts

[MattBLancs]

Funnel kit looks a good gizmo, though anyone claiming

What proof??

"spill proof" clearly hasn't seen me at work!


I do, really, honestly, try not to make a mess, but...........

[CitroJim]

Funnel kit looks a good gizmo, though anyone claiming

"spill proof" clearly hasn't seen me at work!

Or me

Seriously, that funnel looks a seriously useful bit of kit...

[bobins]

Like most things, you could do the job cheaper if you're resourceful - a coke bottle could be utilised for filling..... but the proper kit doesn't half make the job easier, slicker, and just better in the end. I've got the Sealey equivalent of that kit and have used it in the past - and it just works

[mickthemaverick]

I've used the bottle method in the past but you always end up pouring coolant everywhere when its time to lift the bottle off. The thing I like particularly about this kit is the stopper you insert through the coolant into the neck of the funnel when you are ready to take it off. Then you just pour the excess coolant back into its container!!

[MattBLancs]

Yes the stopper is a good idea, though with a length of tube you can syphon back out of the bottle...

Spoiler: show

...and generally get the bonus of tasting as well as wearing and general spilling of the coolant too!

[mickthemaverick]

So this morning I set about the bleeding, beginning by laying out the necessary and useful things:

Funnel Kit, minus the green option which I used

5 litres coolant

MTMO _ Infrared Thermometer

I set up the funnel which fits perfectly:

Funnel installed

Then started the engine to be greeted by loads of big bubbles coming up at start up!

I ran the engine until the temperature gauge read normal and watched the bubbles gradually diminishing. Pumping both the bottom and top hoses initially caused bubbling but after three cycles of hold it at 4000 rpm for 1 minute and back to idle the bubbles no longer appeared on pumping the hoses. The next phase was to leave it idling for five minutes watching for bubbles - None!! So I left it to cool for 30 minutes and took some temperature readings, which I had forgotten to do while running at 4k , which you can see below

Ambient temperature

Coolant in the funnel

Top hose

Heater in

Heater out

So now I just have to wait for it to cool enough to dismantle, refit the cap and drive it around. I will keep a close eye on the levels until I'm happy it is sorted!!

[mickthemaverick]

Having been impressed by the results of the bleeding this morning I was about to do the MX3 when I received a panic call from SWMBO's friend. She couldn't get her car to start - "it's completely dead" she said. I packed up the garage and headed over there, as good a test drive as any, and found her Mokka X on the drive with its bonnet up. I knocked for the keys, got in and turned on the ignition, radio came on, satnav lit up, dual control AC lit up. So not completely dead then!! I tried a start to be greeted with a solenoid click and no starter motor, as she had a new battery fitted last week following her old battery letting her down a few weeks ago, at which time I checked the alternator and found 14.8V so advised a new battery before the cold spell ahead (that was a couple of weeks before Christmas). So it looked like a failed or jammed starter motor which I couldn't even see!!

Unfortunately the car is an auto so no rocking tricks etc available so for the want of anything else I started checking the multiplugs around the battery as it was newly disturbed. As I rocked one particular plug the engine sprang into life without any action on the key. "Has it got stop start?" I asked. "Not that I know of" came the reply!!!

To me the only way it could have started at that point was as a result of a previous request from the ignition key being passed to the starter as I wiggled the plug!! I hate gizmos!!!

So as she was already late she jumped in and drove off before I could get my code reader out so that is now a suck it and see.!!

On my return I did do the MX3 because when I took it out the other day I felt the heater wasn't great. So I carried out the same procedure and indeed got some air out of the system so worth the effort.

Summing up on the coolant bleeding, both cars have now got excellent heaters and are free from any bubbling when pumping the hoses. I didn't spill any coolant at all or have any splash anywhere. A good day's work methinks so time for a Guinness 0

[CitroJim]

Good work Mick! In all respects