I have a 1997 FORD PROBE

Marisa


Joined: 23/04/2009
Posts: 545

Message Posted:
05/10/2010 14:34

I have a 1997 Ford Probe 24 valve 2.5 litre.

It runs very well but looses water , circa 1/2 litre every 200 miles. The radiator is only 12 months old . I am told it is not a problem. I have been to sevaral garages , all give different opinion .



Is there an expert who can solve this ?

Chegwin


Joined: 24/03/2009
Posts: 775

Message Posted:
05/10/2010 15:02

Head Gasket?

Leaky core plugs?

Leaky heater hoses?

greenman


Joined: 16/02/2008
Posts: 526

Message Posted:
05/10/2010 17:09

You say it's losing water. Have you seen the water on the ground? Unscrew the oil filler cap and check to see if there is a creamy coloured deposit. If so you have, water is getting into the oil. Most probably the gasket/seal between the top and bottom of the engine (head gasket)

Does the engine run hot (check engine temperature gauge) even with water in? If so it could be your engine thermostat sticking. Replace it or just remove it. Is your fan coming on?

Tenakoutou



Joined: 27/07/2009
Posts: 4110

Message Posted:
05/10/2010 20:37

It could simply be the the radiator cap on the header tank - either the seal perished, or the spring tension has weakened, so the pressure from the hot water in the radiator is causing the water to be forced out of the overflow pipe.

Blackpoolfan


Joined: 03/12/2008
Posts: 1568

Message Posted:
05/10/2010 21:02

Message 3

A pretty good assessment to me, commom fault with ford's is the seal perishing on the gasket

Blackbird



Joined: 11/08/2009
Posts: 1432

Message Posted:
05/10/2010 21:07

There could be several reasons. First let the car tick over until the engine is up to running temperature. Look on the ground to see if any water has leaked.

Let the engine cool a bit, and carefully, and I mean CAREFULLY remove the radiator cap. Check the level of the water and if needed top it up. Start the engine and rev it up - look to see if there are bubbles floating up. If there are bubbles it's a good sign that the head gasket has failed.

This is not an absolute definite, sometimes the head gasket can be the problem, and no bubbles appear.

There are special ways of testing whether the head gasket has failed. The most common is to add a dye into the coolant, if it changes colour it means there is a problem. Any good garage should have the required equipment to test things like this

BognorBelle


Joined: 08/01/2010
Posts: 66

Message Posted:
05/10/2010 21:34

These cars suffer from cyclinder head problems, just like the Scrpio.They become porous, normally at the back . Nothing you can do but throw it away.

Bognor Belle's husband!

newscoop


Joined: 23/12/2007
Posts: 2197

Message Posted:
05/10/2010 23:12

The V6 in the probe is from Mazda, these engines are generally reliable but can suffer from longevity problems.

BillyB


Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 436

Message Posted:
05/10/2010 23:17

Classic case of dehydration.

Peeky



Joined: 08/05/2008
Posts: 100

Message Posted:
05/10/2010 23:57

Msg 4 - yes, a leak via the overflow would do it, but because this leak will be sporadic, confirmation of this fault can be obtained by putting the overflo pipe into a clear poly bag. If there are no external water leaks then you have an internal leak.Very rarely this can be caused by an inlet manifold gasket gone, unfortunately 99.9% of the time it is a head gasket fault. As Blackbird says there are many ways to check for head gasket leakage, the best that I have found is to check for carbon dioxide (Co2) in the radiator header tank - but this does need specialised equipment. A method needing no equipment : leave the car for at least 8 hours to cool after a long run. Then remove all spark plugs, disable the ignition and injectors, spin the engine on the starter while watching the plug holes for water spraying out. A common reason for head gasket failure in hot climates is because antifreeze gets left out. Antifreeze is no longer just antifreeze, it contains corrosion inhibitors

Cont

Peeky



Joined: 08/05/2008
Posts: 100

Message Posted:
06/10/2010

Result - the aluminium head corrodes, leaks, and is eventually reduced to scrap. Fingers crossed that this is not the case.

jimchris09


Joined: 13/02/2009
Posts: 547

Message Posted:
06/10/2010 07:01

Ford Probe...supposedly the 90's successor to the much loved/loathed Capri...never accepted by the public was it.

kavenkoy


Joined: 10/04/2008
Posts: 1787

Message Posted:
06/10/2010 09:01

why dont you just get a garage to do a pressure test?



kav

martinD41


Joined: 06/09/2010
Posts: 3001

Message Posted:
06/10/2010 10:07

Peeky.The cylinder head will not corrode if the recommended inhibiter's are used in the right proportions, usually 40% inhibitor/Glycol antifreeze 60% Water .All water cooled engines cast iron or alloy require inhibitor/Water mixtures in varying concentrations ..



Msg 12 The probe was Ford's failed attempt at a sports car, the Capri however (love it/hate it) was not classified as a "SPORTS CAR" at best it had a GT variant ..with Girling (Am I ever going to STOP brakes)most did eventually, but alas mine didn't ............

Guvenen


Joined: 20/02/2007
Posts: 32

Message Posted:
06/10/2010 10:24

I can recommend Mustafa, the little Garage in Ozankoy, he is great, well he has been with us.

Geoff


Joined: 25/06/2008
Posts: 1370

Message Posted:
06/10/2010 10:24

I have a 1997 Ford Fiesta XR2i, which like the "Probe" has an aluminium cylinder head. After several expensive repairs the best advice is DO NOT USE TAP WATER OR EVEN BOTTLED WATER in the cooling system. Buy one of the special coolants, expensive initially (about £20), but will save you a packet longer term!

I bought th stuff over on the GC side, never seen it over here.

Geoff

Famagusta City

Peeky



Joined: 08/05/2008
Posts: 100

Message Posted:
06/10/2010 10:59

Msg 13 - a pressure test will reveal common external leaks, but will nor reveal loss via expansion pipe overflow, or internal leaks such as head gasket. Msg 14 - you are confusing inhibitor with antifreeze - antifreeze content of coolant additive is over 90% - the inhibitor content of the coolant additive is typically around 5%. The coolant additive is then added to water to give a 40% presence. The confusion arises because historically inhibitors were not used in antifreeze for cast iron engines at all, then it was found benificial for cast iron engines. At one time simply methanol was used. When aluminium heads became common severe corrosion problems were experienced, and started the development of corossion inhibitors that we have now - to the point today where some engines need a manufacturer's 100% coolant to be added without dilution. My point was that sometimes meanies will leave out the specified antifreeze (with inhibitor) completely.

jimchris09


Joined: 13/02/2009
Posts: 547

Message Posted:
06/10/2010 11:49

Msg 14. Ford have the Mustang...earlier versions of which could have been introduced as a SPORTS CAR methinks!

Marisa


Joined: 23/04/2009
Posts: 545

Message Posted:
06/10/2010 17:46

"Thank you guys, sounds like head gasket problem and possible badly fitting radiator cap.



Both recently renewed by TIGA motors in Lefkosa.



A garage in Girne say it coild be a leak from the air con unit . What do you think ?



I have owned 4 CAPRI's all great, a 911 too scary

928 series 3. the best.

and a Jag XK which spent more time in the garage that on the road .

I love my PROBE!"

Peeky



Joined: 08/05/2008
Posts: 100

Message Posted:
06/10/2010 22:52

Aircon leak? What do I think? Couldn't say, but it ends in "ocks"

Blackbird



Joined: 11/08/2009
Posts: 1432

Message Posted:
06/10/2010 23:21

Air con always looks like a leak...it's condensation caused by the process of keeping you cool in the car!

kavenkoy


Joined: 10/04/2008
Posts: 1787

Message Posted:
07/10/2010 09:25

a pressure test again will show all external water leaks ...once you eliminate that you will know where your problem lies.



currently have my sons ka in bits with head off ,dropped a valve and twatted the piston so old fords are not the best advice today lol



kav