coolant leak

[tqE55]

Hi All,

So the E55 is due for service. Has 60K on it. I am going to bring it into the dealership this Wed. Just last night, while driving home the "low coolant" sign came on. So then I pull into the garage and notice a puddle where the car is usually parked. Sure enough, it was coolant. And to further confirm, the coolant was low.

Anyone else have this problem? Any ideas on what it is....I may be in for a large service bill come wednesday. :x

[F14Tomcat]

We were just talking about coolant leaks the other day (in an ML thread, *way* off the topic of the thread too).

Can you identify where it is coming from? First place to look - cap on coolant reservoir tank - that was the problem on the ML and I've seen similar problems on other (non-Mercedes) cars.

Take a flashlight and try to trace the coolant - is it running down from the radiator? Loose hose connection someplace? Cracked hose someplace? Each of those are straight-forward fixes (unless it's like in our old TBird Supercoupe, where we had a small crack in a hose that was *behind* the supercharger, so they would have had to remove the entire supercharger just to replace it - we lived with the leak since it dripped onto the exhaust anyway and just burnt off...).

[55fanatic]

hmm is the resevoir tank on the top of the engine like the ML55? I had a leak there a few years back

[F14Tomcat]

hmm is the resevoir tank on the top of the engine like the ML55? I had a leak there a few years back

No, they put it down below, with the cap pointing downward, so if you need to add coolant, you have to flip the entire car over...

:lol: :lol: :lol: Hahahahahahahahaha, j/k, couldn't resist, but sheesh Pete, how many cars have you EVER seen where the coolant reservoir is hidden, and not easily accessible? :wink:

[55fanatic]

hmm is the resevoir tank on the top of the engine like the ML55? I had a leak there a few years back

No, they put it down below, with the cap pointing downward, so if you need to add coolant, you have to flip the entire car over...
...Pete, how many cars have you EVER seen where the coolant reservoir is hidden, and not easily accessible? :wink:

my supra actually is not ABOVE the engine, its tucked under the bumper in front of the radiator

Hmm so smart ass what you gonna say to that, lol

[tqE55]

lol. u have to go under the car huh? good one.

but thanks for the info, really appreciate the help. I looked and its hard to say where the leak is comming from. It looks like it MAY be the tank. sigh. not cool. oh well, at least they will wash my car well and give me a loaner to play with. hoping its a C350....i got one last time. =) ill let every1 know what it was once I go in on this Wed.

also, just ordered carbon fiber deck lid spoiler....cant wait to get it..

[tqE55]

its the water pump!!!! CRAP.

There goes $950. is this normal? didnt expect the water pump would go so fast....car has 60K miles only.

[F14Tomcat]

The C36 has just under 117K and we've never had to have the water pump replaced.

[F14Tomcat]

Just as an FYI, here is the beginning of two-three posts about a coolant leak in an ML:
http://www.amgpower.com/community/viewt ... 4&start=13 (http://www.amgpower.com/community/viewtopic.php?t=1424&start=13)

[tqE55]

Tomcat -
wow ok so this seems to have happened on the ML in the post and dealer also replaced the water pump. but it was the cap?!

how can u tell if it is the cap? what should i tell the dealer? i told them to go ahead and do it but they told me it was def the water pump. i was also shocked.....i hope they didnt install it yet....

thanks for all your help by the way.

[tqE55]

do u mean the cap on the top where u add the coolant??

[F14Tomcat]

do u mean the cap on the top where u add the coolant??

Yes, the cap on the coolant reserve tank. As for how to tell, you can ask Hanniep what he saw, but usually if it is the cap, you'll have coolant on the outside of the tank - the reserve tank will be "wet" after having the engine running.

[F14Tomcat]

Tomcat -
wow ok so this seems to have happened on the ML in the post and dealer also replaced the water pump. but it was the cap?!

how can u tell if it is the cap? what should i tell the dealer? i told them to go ahead and do it but they told me it was def the water pump. i was also shocked.....i hope they didnt install it yet....

thanks for all your help by the way.

IF they saw coolant visibly leaking from around the water pump, OK. That would be their call, and you definitely need a new water pump. In Hanniep's instance, it appears the dealer just guessed and starting throwing parts at the car until the leak disappeared. In a minor defense of techs though, coolant leaks can be very hard to track down at times, especially if the coolant drips onto a warm engine part or the exhaust and burns off.

[55fanatic]

thats very true, or if there is a blown head gasket... I dont believe most mercedes have this problem

[F14Tomcat]

thats very true, or if there is a blown head gasket... I dont believe most mercedes have this problem

It is not unheard of (especially in the C36 community where it is a not-so-uncommon problem) but is fairly rare.

[04E55amg]

The E430 had a coolent level issue lately, got it checked out it was just some evaporated from slight over heating

[tqE55]

so it was the water pump. They replaced it for $900. So far, no leak so I am hoping they were correct. With a new fuel filter, air filter, oil change, new wiper - the total bill came to $1550. not fun to spend that kinda cash on a Saturday morning when I picked the car up.

[55fanatic]

so it was the water pump. They replaced it for $900. So far, no leak so I am hoping they were correct. With a new fuel filter, air filter, oil change, new wiper - the total bill came to $1550. not fun to spend that kinda cash on a Saturday morning when I picked the car up.


it sux, next time you have an issue, and you dont mind an independent, let me know, my garage does service MBs... in fact they service mine quite frequently, we are going to do an overhaul on my baby soon...

Inner and outer tire rods, engine mount, shocks and springs, and bi xenon upgrade, oh yeah power steering pump too

[tqE55]

thanks pete. I dont mind independents who are good with cars. I will keep that in mind next time around! hopefully it will be a while but you never know....