My car recently almost overheated as it had no coolant left. Found it didn’t have a overflow reservoir and replaced the water pump. The coolant in the overflow is low but has good pressure in the UIP and full. Should this because I didn’t have ANY coolant left and it took most of the reservoir to bring it back to running order and just need to refill it? Thanks. Also what is the red cover that’s supposed to go over this box behind the intake?

 

Make sure your cooling system is topped off (when cold) and fill the overflow to the proper level. If it continues to drink coolant you have a problem.

 

thanks! Just to pick your brain, what could be other problems to keep in mind?

 

watch out for leaking coolant and smoke from the exhaust. If your paying attention its pretty easy to smell a coolant leak just driving around.

 

You can fill it through the radiator cap. Why did you not have an overflow tank? That sounds very strange. Coolant can leak out of cracks in the radiator, out the radiator cap, a coolant hose, the turbo/turbo lines, and head gasket. You might want to change your oil and see if it looks like any water is in it. Hopefully running the car hot like that didn't harm anything else.

And that is the fusible link in you picture. There is normally a red cover over it because there is power running to it. Wouldn't want to accidently touch a wrench to it and something else.

Also, why is there a screw in your strut bar?

 

thanks! This was a used car and did a lot of work on it and still ironing stuff out. I know cap is fine, no cracks in radiator, and head gasket was replaced, oil was just changed and no issues there. Haven’t seen any drops from the coolant hoses but haven’t seen or checked turbo lines. It was only ran hot for about 2 min until I parked it. The below freezing temps saved it I think... also, I’m not sure why there is a screw in the strut bar...

 

Have any photos of the whole engine bay?