Strange occurrence 1994 100CSQ

[Kneale Brownson]

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Isn't there some known problem with older coolant reservoir caps failing to
vent at times with Roger's experiences being the result?  I know I bought a
couple reservoir caps a while back when someone reported a cap problem and
I discovered the caps are the same on all the different reservoirs (at
least in Type 44's, of which there are three in our yard).


At 11:45 AM 04/08/2002 -0400, Roger M. Woodbury wrote:

>Something strange happened on Saturday.
>
>My wife and I had driven the six or seven miles to the annual Town Meeting.
>It was a mild, partyly sunny day, with temperatures in the upper forties.
>We drove the '94 100CS Quattro Wagon.
>
>After the meeting, about three hours later, we drove toward the next town,
>and about six miles or so down the road, I got a low coolant warning, and
>noticed that the engine temperature was rising.  I pulled into Walmart and
>shut the engine off.
>
>When I got out of the car, I noticed that the left wheels were wet, and I
>could smell antifreeze....it was dripping off the wheel wells on the
>driver's side of the car.  When I opened the hood, I found the transparent
>coolant tank to be full, and the inside of the engine compartment wet with
>spilled coolant.
>
>Then there was a clicking noise from one of the boxes in front of the
>coolant tank, and one of the coolant hoses was pulsing...like it was gasping
>for breath.  Then all was silent, and I could see the coolant level in the
>overflow tank dropping down rapidly.
>
>I restarted the engine, and all was normal.  No rising engine temperature,
>although I still had the low coolant warning.  I elected to drive home, as
>the engine temperature remained in the same place that it always is
>according to the thermostat.
>
>When I got home....about four miles....I added a nearly a gallong of coolant
>to the resevoir, and all was well.  I drove the car several times the rest
>of the day, and everything was normal.  I drove the car yesterday, and there
>was no sign of any difficulty with the cooling system.
>
>I suspect that for some reason, the thermostat malfunctioned....failed to
>open....and I was wondering if anyone on the list has had a similar problem
>with the thermostats in these cars?  There were no other noises or symptoms
>of problems or difficulties.  The car has around 51,000 miles.
>
>Roger
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