Vanishing Coolent Problem?!

[fastbob72]

You are having a difficult time over this for sure. Are you paranoid?? Do you mean about the entire business or for listening out for signs as you drive it.

In general, no. Coolant and oil leaks, loss,or use are not to be ignored,if you mean about after getting it back. No, I've rarely gone to a garage but fix them myself. Any work i've done i watch out for issues afterwards until i'm sure the issues solved..... let you in to a secret, had my Avensis vvti back on road after it lay up fir the last 6 to 8 months. it's been 5 weeks now and I'm still checking the oil daily cos. it did drop by near a litre after first week but barelty used any at since topping up.

Don't think I've heard my fans kick in yet but it's never gone beyond the slightly below halfway mark on the gauge. Torque Pro app has showed the temp to hovver between 86 to 91 C mostly. Then I was queuing in traffic, the app saw it creep to 96 C in traffic jams still not hard them kick in.

In the 1ZZ FE the fans aren't triggered by a the thermostatic switch but from the ECU based on the coolant temp sensor, load etc.

When you switch the engine off the pressure in cooling system lessens, this will make the coolant hotter as it isn't movin. Some are triggered by the raise in heat, some seem to automatically kick in after shutdown as a precaution.

I can't see the mechanics not bleeding the radiator and cooling system properly, they'd be a pretty poor garage if they couldn't do that.

Where does it sit now and normally on your gauge, mine has a scale that starts at C then curves to H at the toopnwith a thin red line below the H to denote hot. If you imagine the left half of a clock face. C would be around 7pm,H 11pm and mine would sit at the angle of the big hand at. 8.45 pm. Am not sure what you mean by two knotch before Hot??

What I would say is don't look at the level in the dark, it's often to easy to seebthe wrong thing. Check the level in the morning with a fresh head and daylight. If it's still happening or empty phone the garage and tell them it's happened. They haven't done the job you paid for. Yes the fitted a new radiator, sensors etc but that isn't what you paid for which was to diagnosing your cooling problems, locating the problem and fix it. If a new radiator wasn't the problem then they still have to finish the job.

If on the other hand you're worried about the fans you can test it by leaving the car idling go the temp builds up steadily. You fans should really be there as a back uo, it's the motion of cold air through tje radiator that does the real coolingn, the fans are for vsry slow traffic or traffic jams when there's no air moving through the rad... come to think of it in i can't remember hearing mine kicknin for ages.

I''d say go and chill out, regroup in the morning. It will get sorted, the coolant has to be leaking or escaping somewhere.

[the goat]

Thought I'd post an update!. So I had radiator, thermostat and sensors changed, and no sign of a leak anymore but was still losing coolent for few days. Took it back to garage and they told me it was an airlock and to fill it up again and give it another day or so. This is what I did, and on Monday went to work, then later checked the coolent level and lo behold it hadn't gone down at all!!. Have checked it again since and seems to be all sorted out now!... so all in all pretty pleased now and enjoying my Celica Gen 7!!.

[fastbob72]

Excellent news, have had a problem clearing the airlock on mine after attempting to fix the bottom hose,the leak is much better but the radiator will need replaced but i tried to get it back on the road in the meantime intending to.replace radiator soon.

It's been such a headache trying to clear the airlock plus when i squeeze the hoses hot and cold i can hear a metallic rattling from the thermostat so have decided to leave it till friday when i'll have the cash to buy a new radiator and thermostat and fix it fully.

Am glad you finally got it sorted..... happy ending at last lol

[the goat]

Yes, I got the radiator, thermostsat and sensor all replaced at once and seems to have done the trick. This cars do seem to be a bit sensitive regarding airlocks, but in the end I got rid of the last of mine by just continually filling it up till it stopped going down. Guy at the garage said if I did that a bit more it would go and it did!. He said they spent over 2 hours in the grage bleeding it themselves lol!.

[the goat]

Car is running like a dream now, (not that it ran bad before even with the coolent issue) certainly best car I have hadm and I've had a few, including Escorts, Mini's, Spitfires, Beetles and sirroccoes!...

[armoredfist2002]

I know after I changed my water pump for about 2 weeks after I had to top u now and again as a little air must have stuck in places and worked its way out, just keep an eye on it over the next few weeks.

Is your water temp gauge sitting in the correct position after the car warms up (3 notches up from bottom)?

[the goat]

Yes the gauge seems to be on the 3rd notch up... two notches away from hot. It goes there after about 20 minutes driving and seems to stay there, which is good I hope!. I ve heard the fans kick in now and then too, usually when Im in standing traffic. Is it a good idea to have the airconditioning on when the weather gets warmer, in order to keep the car cooler, or does it not really make much difference??.

[Dawn N.]

Did you solve the issue? Had my radiator replaced. System burped. Temperature gauge is second notch from hot. Never happened before. Keep on filling it with coolant. No dripping found.