Hi all! I bought a 2007 roadster about 4 months ago at a charity auction. Didn't even make it off their parking lot. as I was adding a bit of distilled water to the cooling system,...I began to see the dreaded cooling system milkshake. I assumed a blown head gasket (not knowing that the oil filter housing/oil cooler are had coolant passages and that oil sometimes leaked across the gasket/o-ring). I called a wrecker, and began researching local shops to replace the head or complete engine. Fortunately, a local club member happened to see my post, and educated me. I did a combustion leak test using the blue fluid that turns green/yellow,....and got a negative result both cold and hot. so, ordered up the gaskets and proper single use bolts,....got the gaskets installed,...and began the process of flushing the cooling system. I started with an automotive specific coolant system flush and distilled water,....but there was so much oil in the system,...that I quickly abandoned that and just went to: fill will water, drive, drain, fill with water, drive, drain about 4 or 5 times, and then switched to Calgon gel dishwasher detergent (non sudsing) and after about 6 of those fill, drive and flushes,....switched to straight distilled water. About 6 more fill, drive and drains. During this time doing distilled water only fill/bleed/drive and drains with the hood release refuses to release on one side,.....and we are about to have temps in the 20 degree (F) or 10-12 degrees below freezing point. I am freaking out,...but am rescued by a local club member who walks me through pulling the wheel and fender liner, then manually releasing the latch. Got the release repaired and antifreeze in the engine one day before the big freeze hit.. That's the big picture recounting. but the process I just spelled out took a couple of weeks with several parts orders along the way,.....on the first fill and drive,.....upon returning home,....I saw a big cooling system leak,.....turned out to be the reservoir was cracked,...ordered that and the auto trans cooler thermostat. When they arrived,....I began removing the reservoir, but was unable to remove the transmission cooler thermostat,.....and ended up damaging the trans cooler/ thermostat/reservoir bracket,....so now had to order one of those. Once I got all that and installed it,...I realized that the self bleeding procedure was no longer working,........and the cooling fans were now howling at full speed all the time,......the water pump had failed! So,..Ordered up the water pump and coolant thermostat and a couple of the related hoses. They arrive a week later, and I get them all installed,......bleed the system, and on the first test drive the alternator light comes on. I test it and have no output,.....so take it to a local alternator rebuilder, and they say it can/t be fixed,....so now buy a new alternator from them. It shows up a few days later,....I get it on the car and all seems right finally. and I decided to take a 40 mile drive to a nearby town I frequently ride my R1200GS to for Sunday breakfast. Didn't make it. While driving I suddenly got a low coolant light,......my temp still looked OK,....so I continued on for about 30 more seconds to a turn off. The lower hose had come undone,......apparently I did not get the clip that holds the hose on fully seated,.....so,....calling a wrecker again. I had another clip, got it on there and another test drive,.....now was feeling solid,.....except for a very loose front end (I have new lower control arm bushings on the way) and of course,....a convertible top that only operates manually. I have the top motor and pump raised up out of the bucket,.....but now am unable to move it into the boot area. It seems that the hydraulic lines are somehow preventing it from being brought into the boot. I will post about this elsewhere. I have now put about 600 miles on the car,........given all the initial unexpected problems with it, I did not have very high expectations,.....but I have to say that I have been surprised by this car. Considering all my prior convertibles, MGBs, Sunbeam Alpines, Various Alfa Romeos, BMW E30s, BMW E36 M, TR6s, Mustang GT, Mercedes 280SLs (Pagoda top), Mercedes 380SL, Euro Mercedes 500SL, Mercedes SLK Kompressor, this car is actually the most engaging of all of them,.....and,....again surprisingly,....I have to say that I like the 6 speed automatic with paddle shifters. It's not the adventure that almost every motorcycle ride is,.....but it is a very entertaining car. I like it.
New owner of E85 problem child
- Thread starter bcolins
- Start date
Well you have been kept busy for sure. I really like that Auto box too (I had a 3.0i).
Keep enjoying, and welcome from me near Lincoln, UK.
Tony.
Greetings from Down Under..
from me too in Stafford, England. Great intro story, kept you busy 