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The other week i topped up my engine coolant in my car, and something went wrong because now the coolant cap has come off and all the coolant has boiled away and my car steams up out the bonnet. I've bought me some new coolant from halfords, but it says i need to flush and clean stuff, and i've got no idea how to do this.

Anyway, to cut a long story short, does anyone know of any garages in and around town that will do this for me for a reasonable price. Or should i just take it to a ford dealership? I'd like to get it done properly and i just don't trust myself tbh.

Any rough ideas how much this'll cost? I'm not expecting much...

Will probably be a 5 minute job Dave.

Nah, say's you need to let it cool and stuff - http://www.ehow.com/how_2308498_flush-replace-engine-coolant.html

I've also got no idea how long it's been like this, and i read somewhere there might be air in it and it needs to bled and all sorts

I always use MB Autos - Mick Woods in Gorse Hill, always seems a good price and always found him honest (which i think is the most important)

Sounds like it could be an air lock.

Unless you filled it up undiluted.

yeah i did, but the bottle said i could!

what he said

I use Cross street garage which are spot on. Come to think of it, my car's booked in for a service there on thurs...

i've recomended this place loads of times on here but dont think anyone has ever taken it up.
been using them for years as do all my family. no nonsense and honest.

the problem could be due to the fan not working.fill up the radiator,take the car for a spin,then let it tick over until it gets hot( the fan should then start)if it doesn't then there's your problem(unless it's the fuse)pretty easy job to do yourself really.
or as mentioned it could be a blockage-leak-etc.

It might be that actually. Only starts steaming when i'm stopped, not when moving.

Anywho, the coolant stuff still needs fully refilling/replaced, and i nee someone to do that. I'll give MB autos a buzz later. Cheers folks!!

before you spend out on a garage try what i said as it could only be a fuse or a fan.what car is it? scrappys have fans cheap as chips, and it's easy to repalce yourself.

Cheers Arriba. I'm not sure it would be easy for me though!!

I'll wait 'till I'm confident the coolant stuffs all sorted then see if it's still playing up.

i've only done easy jobs on cars i've had but alot of it is just taking off a part and putting the replacement on.easy.
a haynes manual is always very handy as it's so easy to follow. changing a fan would be a doddle for you to do.

Dave, you didn't fill the coolant all the way to the top of the coolant tank did you?

The thing is, a car with a working thermostat in normal weather shouldn't require a fan. It should also not steam out of the radiator at all. I had a water leak in my car last summer and drove it without a cap on the water reservoir so i could fill it without burning myself. Your problem sounds to me quite consistent with a head gasket that's in the process of going. I'd get that checked pronto.

Also when full of coolant, check to see if there's oil in the water, and under the oil cap is also a good place to check for milky residue and strange coloured crap. Also see if you're car produces white smoke. I'm sure you can find out more from teh interwebz to be honest, but it wouldn't surprise me having had a head gasket go.

Have you checked your oil recently to Dave?

I knew someone who never checked his oil and blew the head gasket when it ran out :)

Its ok Si, you can admit it was you...

All this talk of head gaskets etc. will be putting the shits up Dave :)

I reckon he's just overfilled it, the cap's popped off and now the steam can't condense so is just escaping.

The worst I have done is reverse into something in a car park (not a car) and crack my bumper. In fact I still haven't had a chance to clear coat the section I resprayed.

It should do Samdy. ;)

I wrote a car off by thinking i had a water leak and a broken thermostat. Amusingly both were fixed then about a week later i scrapped my car. :)

I reckon Dave hasn't been locking the fuel pump in correctly when filling up with petrol.

Haha it is!

If i ignore it it will all go away and get better. I believe that's how cars work

The on the run garage on Dorcan way is pretty good all sorts of refreshments 24/7 with a cash machine also.

Hope this helps

£30, all done and sorted and no more problems :)

Bad memories that brings back.  I remember my engine blowing up on the outside lane of the M5.  Bloody scary.  Needless to say I now always check my oil.

so what was up with it?

Was just no coolant in the engine i believe. With the benefit of hindsight i could have probably done it myself and saved myself the dosh. Oh well, live and learn

Of course there was no coolant in the engine, it all boiled out didn't it?