Losing Water Vectra C 1.8 vvti

[demoni]

Hey all,

I have done some searching on the boards here before I posted this so sorry if I had missed one that had already sorted the problem.

I need help or atleast some suggestions please! My vectra has started losing water from the Reservoir at the back of the engine. Its clocked 103k and up till the last few months has been okay. I was driving home one night and the Water top up light came on (little orange one). I got home to have a look and the water was about half an inch from the cold line. So I topped it up.

700 odd miles later it came on again so I topped it up. This went on throughout august up till now but it varied between 700 and 1500 miles. Coupled with this the Temperature gauge on the dash wouldnt rise at all until I stopped in traffic where it go up to 90 but as soon as I was back on the motorway it would drop back to 0. If I have the heating on sometimes it wouldnt rise at all!

I topped it 70 miles ago and the past week has been cold and now its asking for more water!! WTF!!? I am worried as I top it up more with just normal water I am not going to have the correct AntiFreeze balance and it will freeze as winter sets in. What can I do?

I have put PTFE tape on the top of my bottle cap as I did think the thread had been cross threaded by me by mistake but this hasnt helped I only wound it round once or twice. No steam from the exhaust, no mayo.

Help!?

[Happy Dave]

sorry not much help as mine isn't losing any water but I have the same temp gauge fault. Been into the garage today and they couldnt find a fault with it but have put a call into VX about it

[demoni]

I think I had come across your thread as well but didnt want to "Hijack" its a proper swine! I do still get heat but not scorching like it used to be and I think it uses more water when the heating is on as before I used to lose it over 1000 miles or so but now the heating is on constantly its using more!

Bizarre still atleast its not as bad as my old golf 1.4 the piston rings had gone and it drank oil instead!

[CLOMP]

wel demoni I had exactly the same thing BUT on a "ROVER K SERIES" engine, it started with a pint every 1000 miles or so, but got worse, in the end 70 miles and it took two ltrs of water, then only lasted 70 miles again, I had it pressure tested but could find no leak,found it it was the "HEAD GASKET", as for your temp guage it is probably the stat/temp sender which is faulty,

[Das]

Possibly the water is leaking from the water pump. Just seeping and evaporating so no sign of an obvious leak When was the last time the timing belt was done and was the water pump changed then, or is it maybe the original one.

[paul wingnut]

sounds like you have 2 problems thermostat sticking and have a look underneath at bottom of rad on driver side common on leaking from the side .

[demoni]

I just got home and listened for bubbles but couldnt hear anything! I didnt get a chance to top the water up on the way home but the light was on I live 5 miles from work. Again no temperature on gauge but the heating got proper hot very quick so another thing to add to the list! It gets hotter quicker when there is less water in it!

Will have a look on the weekend

DasArab
Possibly the water is leaking from the water pump. Just seeping and evaporating so no sign of an obvious leak When was the last time the timing belt was done and was the water pump changed then, or is it maybe the original one.

Original Belt and Waterpump mate! Time for a replacement? I know it was due 3000 miles ago!

[CLOMP]

if its getting hotter with less water in be carefull you dont do the head gasket in. as said it could well be the water pump, had my belts and water pump done at 57,000 miles the water pump was very tight, would not have lasted much longer. if there is no sign of water in the oil, check oil in the water,, when its cold and needs a top up of water, take top off header tank, and stick your finger in the header tank and wipe the inside TOP of the header tank.

[demoni]

Went out for a drive today with no heating on and the temperature gauge moved after about 2 mins and it got up to 85 odd but as soon as I put my heating on it dropped back down again! I managed to find a company Parrs in northampton who are selling the thermostat and housing for about £48 so is it worth getting that?

[DurhamRed]

You need to get the head pressure tested.
You also need to get the timing belt changed!