2 quick questions

metamorphpwner

metamorphpwner

metamorphpwner

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Joined
6 Sep 2008
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Near Hull
HI,
Do you need to have a working rear wiper/sprayer for your MOT? the sprayer doesn't work for some reason and have 1 month till it's due an MOT.

engine coolant, just noticed i have no engine coolant but the temps haven't gone any higher than normal( not sure how long it's been empty) Is it fine to just fill it with water?
 
metamorphpwner said:
engine coolant, just noticed i have no engine coolant but the temps haven't gone any higher than normal( not sure how long it's been empty) Is it fine to just fill it with water?
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What car is it? I'd be looking to fill it with a mixture of the proper stuff and water but it does depend on the engine.
 
Peerzy said:
Isn't that a K series engine - known for the HGF, if so I'd not be driving it until I had it topped up with the correct coolant.
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yeah i think so, most mgzr are know for HGF. The AA guy who tried to sell me roadside cover tried to use that as a way of getting me interested in paying. once i'd told him my milage he said it probably won't happen for a while if it does.
 
It is a K Series. You need to top it up and watch it afterwards, checking for leaks.

As for rear spray, if you open the boot and pull the rubber cover on the left near the hinge you'll find the rear washer pipe. Activate it and see if washer fluid is reaching that point, then check for leaks/blocks in the pipe. You'll also want to check it's not just the nozzle thats blocked :)
 
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metamorphpwner said:
yeah i think so, most mgzr are know for HGF. The AA guy who tried to sell me roadside cover tried to use that as a way of getting me interested in paying. once i'd told him my milage he said it probably won't happen for a while if it does.
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The car may have been turned on and sat in traffic with little to no coolant in it for 5 hours in the heat yet it may only have done 3 miles in that time.

I'd be worried.
 
The rear washer/wiper is not part of the MOT test.

It's fine to top up your coolant with water for now. Keep an eye on it, if it goes down again then have a very good check for any leaks, then get a garage to check for head gasket.
 
metamorphpwner said:
engine coolant, just noticed i have no engine coolant but the temps haven't gone any higher than normal( not sure how long it's been empty) Is it fine to just fill it with water?
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If its anything like our Rover 200, the engine doesn't have an oil temperature sensor, only a water temp.

Not very useful if you run out of water.

Check the oil filler cap for mayo. If all clear, fill the engine with water - then run the engine and get it up to temperature with the bonnet open and check that there are no leaks.
 
Should be fine, but the cooling system is a sealed system and any coolant loss should be immediately looked into.

The most common place for it to leak water from is the inlet manifold gasket. This is what seals the inlet manifold to the alloy head, and being made of rubber 'soaks up' any imperfections in the head casting or plastic manifold.

After years of use they gradually deteriorate, and the waterway going through the inlet manifold gasket starts to leak into cylinder number 1 next to it, due to the seal between the two failing.

The actual gasket is £3, and takes about an hour to fit. The new one (green in colour) is supposed to be immune to the sealing failure, and should outlive the car.

It's reckoned that a large proportion of head gasket failures are caused by this gasket, by far the most common coolant loss area.
 
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