Water Leak, Confussed.....................

[Milky400]

I have recently replaced my rad and flush the system through with water only. All was ok for 2 weeks but have now started losing water. Checked head gasket and all ok there, and head was off 8k ago for repair.

Ordered expansion tank on friday as i thought it may be leaking as there is heavy staining underneath it (there prior to rad change)

But on looking under the bonnet i have found a damp patch under the pullies (see pic)

Any ideas? could just be rain water but not had any for a day or two.

Any Advise, Suggestions and Help welcome, its doing my head in.

[Boz]

maybe an idea to have the system pressure tested, looks like a suspect water pump?

[960kg]

.....dip your finger in the wet or damp patch and taste it....if it is a sweet taste your pump is leaking.....

[Milky400]

Will have a look/taste at lunch. If it is, is it an easy fix? looking at them i assume its cam belt driven. Any other ways to check it is the pump? there is a noise coming from the belts on cold start up, kind of whirly noise

Thanks guys

[960kg]

....only taste it and spit it out, don`t have it for lunch......look at the pic. as this is the heat exchanger and those pipes are water ones on the turbo only ,i think you are T4?....you could have a spray of coolant come up from the clips if they are faulty .....the Volvo water pump is good for 170,000mls and are very good quality, what you have to remember is when the motor goes for it`s cambelt replacement the garage nearly always ask if you want the water pump done and they put a really cheap one in and charge you the earth which it really doesn`t need untill the mileage is quite high, so if it`s had a replacement cheap pump then who know`s??.....in the pic. that is the bottom Crankshaft Pulley so you can see the angle of the clips and if it leaks it can spray up onto where your damp patch is!!...

[Biotoxic]

Am I the only one who thinks that his cambelt is installed up side down? Isn't that belt supposed to be in full contact with belt tensioner pulley not just a belt's threads?

Check housing around thermostat, I had a leak there due to incorrectly installed thermostat(my fault)

[Milky400]

Think all that anti freeze has gone to my head, add a splash of coke and the kids will love it, infact i might patant the idea!!!!!

Yes correct i have a T4 and we wondered what that cooler was for.

Took it down to a mate although he specialises in Classics, i.e Austin Seven type classics , but we had a good look under it and couldnt see a drop of water anywhere, he said it tasted of anti freeze so i will check the cooler tonight.

Now, whats this about my belt being the wrong way around?

[Milky400]

right had another good look under the car and everything around it is dry, turbo oil cooler bone dry, really starting to get to me know going to break something soon.

I cannot see how it can be the water pump as the leak is no where really near it. Head was off 8k ago so even if the pump was replaced with an poor quality part im sure it should still be ok.

errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[960kg]

...if it helps your mind i can now remember when i was doing my first oil change there was a wettness around my oil cooler but i put it down to condensation anyhow the oil and water levels have never moved on mine in 30 months of ownership so i just forgot about it ...so long as your fluid levels are ok including your steering fluid then i would not worry.......having said that i think your T4 is a `98 model??.....so therefore someone has done a conversion on the Aux.Belt as the way yours is routed is for the 2001 T3 turbo and not the `98 T4 ......the belt part no`s. are different but there are also TWO part numbers for the T4 depends which side of the engine number you are......well what you have works so i would not worry unless the pulley on the alternator has grooves in it as it should for T4 and the wrong side of the belt is on it, it should be groove to groove and not plain side of belt to groove on pulley....also the the idler and tension pulley on the T4 is smooth but one of yours has grooves so it does appear that whoever did the headgasket upon reassembly they have purchased the wrong timing belt kit and made it fit......OK, so it all works fine but when you come to get a replacement belt you will have to take the old one in to match it up as you don`t know what the size is unless the number is still printed on it......if it is i would write the number down so you know.....of course if you are a T3 code then i have wasted my time!!!!!..

[Milky400]

Hi, thanks for that, but the cars a 2003 52 plate T4, the belt is ribbed both sides and the tensioner pulley is smooth just marked by the ribbed belt, and the Alt has a grooved pulley.

I have been losing coolant about a pint a week (ish)

with regards Aux Belt, i had this trouble on my previous 2001 2.0 couldn't get a belt to fit!!!! knightmare.

Anyway still leaking somewhere. may resort to a trip to Volvo!!!!!!! i'm getting desperate