Overheated

[Mops1]

6 weeks ago I had the cambelt replaced in the car. Whilst driving home last night I stopped to get some pet food and noticed a pool of water under the car. Thinking it was the air con discharge I drove on I stopped about 2 miles further as the temp gauge was just about on the red.

The expansion bottle was showing full so was unsure what was going on. I then noticed that the rubber tube from the expansion bottle was clipped (not loose dangling) into the clip next to the radiator cap rather then going into the bottle. A mechanic friend brought me some Halfords already mixed coolant and commented that the garage would haved move the tube to get to the cambelt.

Anyway I let the engine cool and filled up with what was in the bottle. I have filled up to the top today and let taken the car for a drive. On return home I could here a rapid dripping sound, lifted the bonnet to see a large pool of coolant on the floor coming from the engine just under the cambelt.

Should I fear the worst - the garage has said that it would have emptied before now, although I'm taking the car to them monday morning.

Any help anyone!!!!!

[uumode]

6 weeks ago I had the cambelt replaced in the car. Whilst driving home last night I stopped to get some pet food and noticed a pool of water under the car. Thinking it was the air con discharge I drove on I stopped about 2 miles further as the temp gauge was just about on the red.

The expansion bottle was showing full so was unsure what was going on. I then noticed that the rubber tube from the expansion bottle was clipped (not loose dangling) into the clip next to the radiator cap rather then going into the bottle. A mechanic friend brought me some halfords already mixed coolant and commented that the garage would haved move the tube to get to the cambelt.

Anyway I let the engine cool and filled up with what was in the bottle. I have filled up to the top today and let taken the car for a drive. On return home I could here a rapid dripping sound, lifted the bonnet to see a large pool of coolant on the floor coming from the engine just under the cambelt.

Should I fear the worst - the garage has said that it would have emptied before now, although I'm taking the car to them monday morning.

Any help anyone!!!!!

sometimes when they change cambelts they recommend you change your water pump at the same time, as it's often the same labour to remove the cambelt. A water pump can be disturbed when changing the cam belt and since you have a full expansion tank, it could be that the water pump has failed and is not circulating the coolant and is leaking slightly.

Or your fan is not working, and the coolant got too hot and pressurised the system escaping at the weakest seal/point causing a small breech in the system - not enough to drain your whole system in one dump, but enough for a small leak?

Be careful not to allow your engine to overheat too much as you could cook the head gasket, and then you will get oil leaks into your coolant / coolant in your oil and you will notice mayo on your dip stick and oil filler cap with water vapour as white exhaust smoke.

[Mops1]

Thanks for the info I have refilled the expansion tank again after cooled down and when started I could here the liquid moving through the various tubes. Turned of the engine and expansion tank is empty although there is coolant on the floor again.

As I do not think it is all the coolant (most maybe) perhaps all is not lost. But miffed as cam just done and clutch is about 3mths old also, don't think I could bare saying goodbye on bad terms with the old gal!!

[uumode]

Thanks for the info I have refilled the expansion tank again after cooled down and when started I could here the liquid moving through the various tubes. Turned of the engine and expansion tank is empty although there is coolant on the floor again.

As I do not think it is all the coolant (most maybe) perhaps all is not lost. But miffed as cam just done and clutch is about 3mths old also, don't think I could bare saying goodbye on bad terms with the old gal!!

Movement of liquid suggests the water pump is working OK,

check this snippet of info though...

http://www.drivewire.com/replacementparts/timingbelt.html

"On most vehicles equipped with timing belts, the timing belt is used to drive the water pump. Do not forget to take the opportunity to change the water pump at the time you change the timing belt, as the new belt will put more tension on the water pump bearing causing the old pump to leak shortly after the new timing belt is installed."

that 'may' have been it?