!!! Ford Figo cooling problems !!!

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Acros

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Hi Guys

2011 Ford Figo 1.4 Ambiente
102 000km

Replaced the waterpump December 2017 since it was leaking.

Since then the car was fine however the last few weeks I've heard a running water noise from behind the glove box compartment.
-From what I gather that could be standard on a Ford, an airlock or shortage of water but I've never heard it before.

I do not use my AC much because prior to the water pump replacement it helped with the water loss obviously. 3 days ago I used my AC because my window fogged up the morning. That afternoon the water coolant level light came on. Obviously the water level is very hard to test while the car is warm so I added clean water to make it to home and let the car cooldown.

The water level was very low when I checked it after it cooled down so I added Antifreeze/water mixture similar to the type which was used. Idle the car to try and get any air out. Took it for a spin and heard that running water noise for a while.

Drove 1 day and the next day the light popped back on during the first 10min of driving.

What I did notice the day before:
-When I use my heater (not AC) I get a smell of antifreeze in my cabin and even some steam that enter through my vents. I assumed it was from the antifreeze I rinsed of from the water tank
-There is no water leaking on the ground anyware
-My oil cap has no white residue on and neither does my dipstick and also no smoke from my exhaust.
-The fan does go on when the water level light pops on. and thus far the car haven't overheated yet probably because I park and let it cool down to add water

Possible problems?

Thanks guys
 
Dude, signs of a blown head gasket hey.

But before you go there, did you change the thermostat along with the water pump? Another thing I would suggest is the coolant bottle cap, it's a pressurized system and if the cap is worn it struggles to hold the pressure and you may hear the "running water" noise, it almost sounds like water is boiling.
Replace these parts, shouldn't cost you a lot. Flush out the cooling system and make sure you bleed it properly. Then drive the car a few days and if it continues I hope you have a good credit card limit or savings.
 
A leaking heater matrix perhaps? it can also be that the coolant leaks onto some hot surface and evaporates before it reaches the ground. If you get underneath the car you will see the white traces of antifreeze where it's leaking. Any loss of power?
 
Thanks guys.

@namsteve:I've read about the cap so maybe will give it a chance. Will check with the guys who replaced my water pump but I assume they did not replace the thermostat. I do not have a lot of savings and my wife is pregnant so lets hope its not the worse case scenario else I will have to sell my kidneys

@thechamp: No loss in power. I had the same idea with the water which evaporates. Will maybe jack up the car and check tonight and also call the guys who did the water pump to see what they suggest
 
Update: So I saw some antifreeze on the back of my engine block but was hard to spot pass the manifold and compacted engine bay. I immediately assumed it may be a gasket and the water leaks outward and evaporate.

However, this weekend my wife was sitting in my passenger seat and complained the floor is wet. I inspected. Floor was drenched in anti-freeze. I saw drops and steam coming from the heater matrix as thechamp suggested.

The funny part is the heater still works so it may be a leak above the matrix. It is our only car so had to use it for the short distances the weekend and topped up with clean tap water since the water just pisses into my passenger side anyways and I cannot imagine the consequences of all that antifreeze in my carpets.

Trying to find a place to take it to now. Stellenbosch or Stikland. Waiting for Magnum radiators in Stikland since they have 5x 5/5 or in reviews and in Stellenbosch I'm waiting on Wynland Auto Cooling.
 
Acros said:
Update: So I saw some antifreeze on the back of my engine block but was hard to spot pass the manifold and compacted engine bay. I immediately assumed it may be a gasket and the water leaks outward and evaporate.

However, this weekend my wife was sitting in my passenger seat and complained the floor is wet. I inspected. Floor was drenched in anti-freeze. I saw drops and steam coming from the heater matrix as thechamp suggested.

The funny part is the heater still works so it may be a leak above the matrix. It is our only car so had to use it for the short distances the weekend and topped up with clean tap water since the water just pisses into my passenger side anyways and I cannot imagine the consequences of all that antifreeze in my carpets.

Trying to find a place to take it to now. Stellenbosch or Stikland. Waiting for Magnum radiators in Stikland since they have 5x 5/5 or in reviews and in Stellenbosch I'm waiting on Wynland Auto Cooling.
Click to expand...

Eish, cars are so disappointing, that car is way too new to be having such issues.
 
A cheap fix is to find out where the two heater pipes go into the firewall and disconnect them and put a pipe inline. Your heater won't work but no more water on your feet.
 
Spliffcat said:
A cheap fix is to find out where the two heater pipes go into the firewall and disconnect them and put a pipe inline. Your heater won't work but no more water on your feet.
Click to expand...

If only we still have a little more months to go before winter, it's already nippy in the morning.
 
Hey I've actual done that now just to be able to drive the car. Ford told me you do not have to remove the whole dash, however the heater radiator can't slide out if the passenger side dash is in the way. The bottom frame where the glove box compartment fits in kind of blocks it so will have to remove that part at least.

My main problem is the plastic fitting where the two pipes go into from the interior through the firewall. That plastic forms part of the whole heater core unit and I cannot see any screws or clips which can open the wholes wider so the radiator's two metal pipes can slip back into the interior. I have noticed inside the engine bay the two pipe connectors for the heater pipes have a green press release which I assume is to release the lip of the two internal pipes but then they're still stuck in that plastic fitting.

I've already bought the heater core radiator so all I need is to replace that bloody thing. I'll see if I can upload pics tonight or tomorow
 
Acros said:
Hey I've actual done that now just to be able to drive the car. Ford told me you do not have to remove the whole dash, however the heater radiator can't slide out if the passenger side dash is in the way. The bottom frame where the glove box compartment fits in kind of blocks it so will have to remove that part at least.

My main problem is the plastic fitting where the two pipes go into from the interior through the firewall. That plastic forms part of the whole heater core unit and I cannot see any screws or clips which can open the wholes wider so the radiator's two metal pipes can slip back into the interior. I have noticed inside the engine bay the two pipe connectors for the heater pipes have a green press release which I assume is to release the lip of the two internal pipes but then they're still stuck in that plastic fitting.

I've already bought the heater core radiator so all I need is to replace that bloody thing. I'll see if I can upload pics tonight or tomorow
Click to expand...

Nothing on YouTube? even if it's for the old Fiesta, maybe it's the same procedure.
 
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Unfortunately I cannot find anything on the Ford Figo. The fiesta and and Focus looks different and the main problem I am having is to remove the two pipes through the firewall while sliding out the radiator part. Struggled hours up till now with my dash but it seems I have to remove the whole heater core from the fire wall to be able to slide out those pipes. Ford's part manager said you do not need to remove the dash but I think he does not know what he is talking about.

Here is the leak
2018-04-23 08.29.00.jpg

Here is the radiator with the two pipes
20180430_114640.jpg

And these are the two pipes stuck in that plastic fitting. I removed the two pipe connectors in the engine bays as well so the only thing preventing them from being pulled out is that plastic thing which seems to form part of the main core but there is no screws I can see. As you see I tried to force it open but no luck.
20180430_114632.jpg

As you can see you can pull it side ways but then the two pipes are still inside the firewall and you cannot pull them out and the radiator sideways at the same time. The dash blocks it also but I can get it pass the dash. I did not want to attempt removing the whole heater core completely yet.
20180430_114651.jpg

Luckily I removed all the interior and mats and washed it. Good as new. So no more antifreeze. The valet company quoted me R1500-R5000. Now it cost me R0. Just a Saturday.. So maybe I should just use that R1700 to pay Ford to replace the heater matrix.
20180428_120436.jpg
 

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I would cut the pipes and just reconnect with silicone hose.
 
I wanted to cut the pipes to remove the broken one but fitting the new one would be the problem. I can live without heat but my wife is pregnant now and when she demands heat she wants heat. lol

The only issue I have with cutting and fitting it with silicon pipes is that there could be potentially more leaks. Now since I'm a master of removing the interior after this weekend it is not that big of a deal but its still a hassle.
 
I realise it is a bit after the party but wouldn't Bars Leaks have solved the problem.

Many years ago a friend of mine added Bars Leaks to stop a water leak. He intended to do a repair when he had the time and money.
He only did the repair more than a year later.
 
Hi stroller.

I have no idea if those products work. I am usually skeptical about throwing any anti-leak products into a system. I am just bummed out why the heater core started leaking this early in the car's life and on the radiator itself.

Anyways, it's still not fixed. Not sure if I have R1800 to spend on a heater now. Luckily I fixed the small hole in the exhaust with that R70 Flexi wrap instead of a R2200 new exhaust but I have way more important priorities at the moment. The heater bypass method should work. I'll buy some blankets but I'm using the car mainly so it's fine
 
Hey there. What is the pressure for the water bottle cap. I bought a new bottle and cap today but the cap pops off when the car gets hot.
 
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