Ladies and Gentlemen,

A few weeks ago, I was having problems with my temperature gauge (went up to hot, dropped to normal etc) today I went to the movies, and I parked and turned off the car. I got out and I could hear this hissing noise coming from the bonnet, thinking nothing of it I went and saw Happy Feet with a few mates. On my return home, the temperature was doing its normal routine of spiking in the red, although it wouldn't return from the red for a few minutes. I park my car at home and pop the bonnet, and the whistling noise was occurring again! I open bonnet, and see a fine steam spewing forth from the radiator overflow bottle. On closer inspection of the bottle's top, it was seriously corroded and had a large hole torn through it by the looks of it. I popped open the radiator cap, jumped back a few feet to watch steam piss out of the cap hole along with a large amount of murky brown liquid which once was my radiator coolant.

Tuff has already suggested that there may be a blockage somewhere, but where could it be? Hell, what could be the problem? I've heard the water pumps on the second gens are prone to failure without warning, and I really don't want that to happen.

Curse you magna, curse youuuuuu~!

Hey mate,

Dont worry your not the only one this has happened to!

Did the steam make a whole in the overflow bottle?

If it still fine I suggest dumping the old coolant and buying some mid-ranged price stuff, personally I dont trust the cheap stuff $10 anything over $20 should be fine.

Thermostat! cheap and easy to replace! Old one might be faulty!

Radiator Cap! again cheap and easy to replace rubber may be worn!

Any leaks under the car - park on concrete and check for the colour of your coolant! May need to replace the hoses! I suggest pulling them off and checking them all (even good to do when you change coolant) something like $11ish a hose.

If draining coolant, backflush with a hose. Theres also an additive to add that helps (someone will post name of it, coolant flush or something)

And pray that there isnt a internal blockage in the engine, when you pull the hoses off connected to the engine you will be able to tell if theres gunk and if the coolant still flows out.

When replacing make sure you add the correct mixture, may want to buy the mitsubishi genuine stuff, and make sure there are no air deposits in the system.

but just a quick note, last time this happened to me, I replaced the thermostat and radiator cap and all was fixed.


Waterpump may not be operating (double check the belt for it) , and check the fans are comming on also.

hope this helps, dont forget the search button also, has happened to alot of magna owners!
:)

Thanks Russian :) Must be the name, because Vodka never lets me down either :P

I just flushed my radiator, water first, then some radiator flush. I have now filled it up with Nulon long life (oh the days of Super Cheap Auto training that I probably should have listened to) and yeah, I've yet to try it, but I have to drive to work so I'll keep you all informed. If I'm late home... then send the RACQ truck after me.

Checked hoses too, all are in good shape, with a little sedimentation which I expect to be corrosion. I'll have to replace my overflow bottle as well as my cap too I think, supercheap stock some cool little gadgets to help me out I believe.

Question: When are the fans supposed to come on anyway?

I had that happen on my old Excel... and yes, did the silly thing and take the Radiator cap off while still hot -- ARGH COOLANT SHOOTING INTO MY LEGS!

:-)

Be careful.

I had that happen on my old Excel... and yes, did the silly thing and take the Radiator cap off while still hot -- ARGH COOLANT SHOOTING INTO MY LEGS!

:-)

Be careful.
Yeah the bastard got my legs too D: I'm surprised it didn't burn holes through my leg hair rofl.

on to a more important matter how was happy feat?

on to a more important matter how was happy feat?
:bowrofl: Not too shabby, really impressed with the CGI in it, and the voice actors were an all star cast, overall it was a pretty good movie. Billy Elliot with Penguins. And there was a Greensill (my last name) in the production crew, very happy :D

Ok just took it for a drive, lo and behold, it sat on normal temperature the whole trip, no fluctuation whatsoever... Could all of this have just been the coolant's fault? I guess we'll see... Thanks!

If youve got a spare ~$15-20 I'd suggest grabbing a new thermostat and gasket for it anyways and fitting it.

If youve got a spare ~$15-20 I'd suggest grabbing a new thermostat and gasket for it anyways and fitting it.

and radiator cap

as gas head and russian said above, replace the radiator cap and also the thermostat, i had the same issue as this and it would only do it from time to time, sometimes it would stay normal, and sometimes it would overheat and my coolant would start to boil and steam!!

changed cap and thermostat and no more issues!!

if u've cooked it... AGAIN... :P replace the hoses, thermstat, thermostat gasket and radiator cap even if it is working properly... the excess heat can damage the rubber in them all and cause a bigger failure next time... again offer is there if u want help.

Lol @ not listning to super cheap auto training.....i never got training:rant:
The nulon stuff is good shizzle...use it at 1/3rd mixture and you'll be right.