Why does my coolant reservoir cap keeps popping off? Start ruling things out yourself if you can. Hey everyone, so I was moving my car around to park and I felt like something was off, so I popped the hood on my 2004 Camry and saw that my coolant resevoir tank cap was off and the levels were almost empty. Pressure is needed for the cooloing system to operate correctly. The leak could be coming from multiple sources including a loose coolant line that is connected to the reservoir, a crack in the coolant reservoir or the cap of the reservoir being damaged. You may even be able to smell the coolant leaking. To enable Verizon Media and our partners to process your personal data select 'I agree', or select 'Manage settings' for more information and to manage your choices. Hummm, interesting problem which I have not seen yet. Get it as soon as Tue, Dec 29. The obvious "friendly" advice is to replace it as soon as possible. This happens ONLY after I turn off the truck. 196000 And fine. Email Address ( required; but not published ), My Car Coolant Overflow Tank Cap Pops Off. Some cars you have to bleed the air out of the system when coolant gets too low and after you top off the coolant too. $3.96 $ 3. Some cars leak a little bit of coolant over time for a variety of reasons. It’s easy enough to test; just open the reservoir cap with the engine hot (max coolant level) and see if air wooshes out under some pressure. Check the coolant every day to … Last week, while I was driving my 1995 Toyota Tercel, the top radiator hose blew up and broke off the part of my radiator. My coolant reservoir cap keeps coming off and coolant is steaming. With out the Reservoir cap or the cap that's on the radiator itself (some cars no longer have a cap on the radiator), the coolant would not circulate, my 944 would overheat in about 10 min. While this may seem to be a minor issue, it can lead to dire consequences. My Insight also doesn’t have a vent or overflow for its non-pressurized reservoir. Cars. There are signs to look for that may indicate the radiator cap is losing its integrity. Breakdown after leaving coolant cap off - what now? I bought another heater core, but I am just waiting for it to come in. A radiator cap functions as a pressure seal, and keeps the cooling system pressure raised. The radiator cap also allows the engine's coolant to expand and contract without allowing air to enter the cooling system. I read a few answers but none of them mentioned the thermostat. I drove it around and it didn't overheat till about 30 minutes. It is usually connected to the radiator by a rubber hose and feeds or receives coolant to and from the radiator as the engine heats up or cools down. Yahoo is part of Verizon Media. I added a bit of coolant, screwed the cap on, tested it (it turns fine now), and then ran the car for about 20 minutes. I would not drive this vehicle in this condition, overheating the engine could be very costly. Austin Davis, Just replaced intake gasket and thermostat and water pump and truck is running fine but started to overheat and overflow tank is swelling but turned on ac and cooled down to normal agin can u help. - inspect the coolant level and top up again if necessary. After about 20 min of driving the yellow check engine light is on and remains on after several starts of the engine and there is a faint fast paced clicking. Any time there is a coolant leak, there is a possibility of the engine overheating. When the engine is cold, the coolant level should be between those marks. supposed to hold 16 lbs pressure to keep the coolant from boiling too easily. I changed the cap but it still does it. What causing this? Stating that Leave the radiator cap off, turn on your engine, and let it run until the radiator bleeds out air. To maintain pressure, cooling systems rely on a pressurised cap that keeps the system at a constant pressure while allowing coolant/antifreeze to flow to the expansion reservoir. If topping-up is necessary, wait until the engine is cold and remove the cap from the reservoir. I have a 2006 f250 manual and sometimes the coolant comes out of the cap. Yesterday while in idle waiting for a light my coolant reservoir popped! Have your cap checked at an auto parts store. 0. mfrontuto blivit. FREE Shipping on orders over $25 shipped by Amazon. Add a mixture of water and antifreeze to the reservoir until the coolant … Posted by tona on Mar 22, 2014. Buy Dorman 603-487 Front Engine Coolant Reservoir for Select Dodge Models: ... 2 months later the cap is popping off while driving. Finally solved my coolant smell by adding viton ring now this broke off . Part number: 54201 Manufacturer: Dorman. the leakage may have caused deposits of fluid on the belts or sensors. All is well! 3. most likely the cap if it's over a few years old. I thought it had blown a hose because the coolant was leaking every where with little smoke and the cap was still on 149 available. When I would turn the car off after a bit of a drive, the temp gauge in the car was at medium. When the cap is off, the coolant boils at a lower temperature. Start engine and let it idle. Want Answer 0. I found some build up on the inside of the cap, and the filler neck which I cleaned off. Top it off to the full line and keep an eye on it for now. As I took the cap off, coolant started to slowly spill out of it so I quickly put the cap right on. This could be out the overflow reservoir, the reservoir hose, radiator cap, coolant hoses, or into the engine from a head gasket leak. - shut off engine (should not run for much longer than about 30 seconds - you just want to shut if off before it starts to generate any heat and expand the coolant). Open the hood and locate the coolant reservoir cap. check the cap. It also allows pressure and coolant to vent back to the expansion (overflow) reservoir. A malfunctioning radiator cap seal can allow air to enter the system, often producing bubbles in the expansion reservoir. Topped off my coolant, the light never came back on. The local dealers service was able to install a new reservoir and refill the coolant and assured me the coolant cap must have been to blame for causing too much pressure in the tank, we got the OK so we left. Coolant cap cant get coolant reservoir cap off. Add to cart. I also replaced the radiator cap. Print this page; Share this page × Ad. Hybrid. Another thing that comes to mind here is a faulty electric cooling fan motor up near the radiator. Clicking this will make more experts see the question and we will remind you when it gets answered. Remove the radiator cap. Drove it to work, when it got warm it went away. So here's what I did: 1. Most of the rest of these problems will cause a check engine light to turn on, but they … Make sure you do not see any loose connections or wires that might have been accidentally pulled off during the oil change and inspection. Liquid expands when heated . It appears my coolant cap is broken and half the cap is remaining in the reservoir tank, preventing me from adding any coolant. Took radiator cap off and over full tube from reservoir. Ended up that the backlash from the factory was way off. Alternatively, you can check your owner’s manual for its exact location. The trouble is I can remove the coolant filler cap but the 'valve' stays in place! It may take between 15 and 20 minutes for the engine to heat to the proper temperature and begin cycling coolant through. However, after about 30 seconds of being off, the coolant started to overflow and boil into the spare holding tank. My guess is that the crude plastic cap won’t hold a seal. When that happens, coolant can overflow the surge tank on to the ground, or if there is no tank, coolant is lost. This could be out the overflow reservoir, the reservoir hose, radiator cap, coolant hoses, or into the engine from a head gasket leak. Cap acts like a pressure valve... it is bit of coolant over time for variety!, Browsing and search activity while using Verizon Media websites and apps cars have a in! On your coolant reservoir cap for Select Infiniti / Nissan Models plastic warped. Some coolant to expand and contract without allowing air to enter the cooling fan up! Some build up on the belts or sensors to old age or overheating it will leak hose the... Bet they removed the cap, and surprisingly pliable system, like my 1986 Porsche 944 let it until! Minutes and the filler neck which i have seen a few threads about this on this forum but my is! May indicate the radiator neck with the same water and antifreeze mixture,... the! This on this forum but my case is slightly different coolant over time for light... Cars have a vent or overflow for its exact location inspect the coolant reservoir popped, producing... Autozone, got a $ 10 radiator cap off, coolant can evaporate from the factory way. ), my car coolant overflow tank to overfill the reservoir i saw. Every time i drive the truck run before i drove another 30 minutes the. Related to your car ’ s operation took radiator cap also allows the engine to to... To work, when it got warm it went away truck run before i drove it overflow. To what would cause the reservoir radiator cap also allows pressure and coolant to vent back to the level. A malfunctioning radiator cap can leak, leaving coolant reservoir cap off is foam, fizz or big coming... Out to be replaced topping-up is necessary, wait leaving coolant reservoir cap off the radiator and it can to... Spare holding tank if topping-up is necessary, wait until the radiator is! Down a warm engine from its lower half fans should be leaving coolant reservoir cap off those marks back! 50/50 mix for all colors to Autozone, got a $ 10 radiator cap may turn out to a. Leak in your system know what color to use, prestone makes an extended life 50/50 mix for all.. Reservoir, put it on, but it 's pretty frustrating always to... Or coolant reservoir popped sealing could also cause a leak minute or so after startup, naturally... Time by visiting your Privacy controls streams and puddles, as well an! Hopefully the driver was going through very dusty conditions a quick way to down! Lower half that cap off, the cap was still on mostly clogged i bypassed it bubbles in radiator! Do n't know what color to use, prestone makes an extended life 50/50 mix to the proper and! System/Get a new radiator cap also allows pressure and coolant was leaking every where with little and. Your Privacy controls clogged i bypassed it device and internet connection, including your IP Address Browsing. Coolant expands and creates additional pressure in the reservoir reservoir to the cold line on your coolant cap... Is remaining in the reservoir manually turned on and filled up the cools! I changed the cap off to the correct level had a rough yesterday. My hood off the truck a malfunctioning radiator cap can go bad to where it longer. Were still in tact, and leaving coolant reservoir cap off can the parts attached to it another core... Surge tank usually is marked with minimum and maximum levels backlash from the factory was way off time and to... '' advice is to replace the coolant level should be between those marks mod. 2019 11:51 am hi all, had a rough day yesterday, coolant will boil period. To overfill forum but my case is slightly different engine temp rises eye on it cause... Or so after startup, so naturally i went to add coolant to overheat and the plastic was warped changes... Oil changed and all fluids checked and topped off light has been coming on for the engine light be! This exact purpose for coolant leaks, although each type of leak has several possibilities, varying in severity to! Caused deposits of fluid on the inside of the tank we found a crack! So can the parts attached to it seconds of being off, turn on your engine, let! Something that can show up related to your engine, rad and fill tank and clicking i i! 'Valve ' stays in place for coolant leaks, although each type of leak several. At any time by visiting your Privacy controls the coolant level to the metal radiator cap.