Advice needed please

[Shelly]

Last week I took my Z to the garage as the coolant level sign , kept showing up on my dash board
The garage replaced the water pump, belt , and anti freeze
Yesterday the light came back on again
I’m going to phone the garage back up again to tell them , but just wanted your views what it could be
Thank you for your help

 

[mrscalex]

Taken at face value the symbol would mean the coolant level is low. Did you check if that was genuinely the case before going to the garage?

I can't necessarily see how replacing the water pump and belt would affect the coolant level. Or for that matter replacing the coolant. These actions would as a matter of course require topping the coolant up to the recommended level. But that can be achieved with a cup of water too.

It's possible they thought the water pump was leaking. But if that was the case then changing it apparently hasn't fixed the problem.

I would go check your coolant level now. If it's not low I would question why they have done what they have. And it might point to something as simple as a faulty sender on the expansion tank.

When they find the real fault, you then have the issue of them doing unnecessary work. And you'll have to work out how to tackle that. Be ready for them to say it needed it anyway or it had to be done first before looking at more complex issues. You could challenge either.

 

[Shelly]

Thank you very much for your advice
I took the Z to the garage and said that my coolant light on the dash keeps coming on , later during the day they phoned and said it needed a new water pump etc , he said the price and I said well it it needs it , it will have to be done , 7 days later the light has come on again , I’ve just phoned the garage and said what has happened and they said to take it back and they will have another look for me .

 

[Shelly]

Now at garage ........
He said it’s the header tank leaking, they are going to put it up on the ramp
More money

 

[mrscalex]

If it's the header tank then I would say they mis-diagnosed something that should be relatively easy to identify, eg with a pressure test. And at the very least suggests they just took a potshot at it being the water pump leaking.

I wouldn't be remotely happy at paying for the water pump. Be careful they don't try and tell you it needed it anyway. Unless it really did but that should have been attended to quite separately.

 

[Shelly]

They did say I needed the water pump as it was cracked,, lol, I said I’d get back to them about having header tank done , I’ve been with the garage for years too ....
Thank you for the advice

 

[mrscalex]

Hhmm, cracked water pump? And cracked header tank?

I’m a naturally cynical person! But make sure you’re happy with what they are telling you.

 

[Shelly]

Thank you for all you help
I no Alan will be on the phone to them , when I tell him

 

[Grumps]

If they have misdiagnosed I'd be saying to do the header tank foc. Sounds like you've paid for unnecessary work to be done Shelley so its the least they should do.
Oooh and while I've got you change the colour of your font it hurts my eyes!!

 

[Shelly]

That’s what I think too
Alan is going to have a look to see if he can do it himself
Is this a better colour , I’ve gone a shade down

 

[Howard]

A reputable garage should automatically do a pressure check to find out where the leak is, as sometimes a leak can be more than one thing, all be it unusual.
On the face of it a replacement water pump might of been an educated guess..
Maybe the question should be asked is did they do a pressure test?

 

[Shelly]

Hi @Howard , yes they done a pressure test on my Z
I’ve got my Z booked in tomorrow at 8
Hopefully this will stop the leak

 

[Z3I]

After doing water pump work, you can get an air block in the water system, as the coolant is part lost. That quite often shows up as a low coolant level after some running, just needing a top up.

 

[Shelly]

After doing water pump work, you can get an air block in the water system, as the coolant is part lost. That quite often shows up as a low coolant level after some running, just needing a top up.

Thank you for your reply , I didn’t know that ( being a woman )

 

[t-tony]

Let's hope the garage does then Shelly. Hope they get it right this time.

Tony.

 

[Shelly]

Let's hope the garage does then Shelly. Hope they get it right this time.

Tony.

Yes I do too . Fingers crossed

 

[Howard]

Hi, it’s a good idea to recheck the coolant level after the repair. Definitely on a cold engine..Maybe the day after you get it back..
Let’s hope they sort it this time.

 

[Shelly]

Hi, it’s a good idea to recheck the coolant level after the repair. Definitely on a cold engine..Maybe the day after you get it back..
Let’s hope they sort it this time.

Yes hopefully,

 

[Shelly]

My Z was back at the garage today
After about a hour or so they phoned me up to say everything was dry ,they said they gave it all a clean out and said too keep a eye on it and see what happens, they done another pressure test and it all seams fine
Hopefully the light won’t come on again
Thank you for all your posts