During routine checks, noticed the overflow tank is empty. How do you add fluid? Seems silly to have to jack it up, remove wheel and fender liner just to add fluid? Has to be a better way or do I just leave it empty? Running perfectly, no heat issues. On other cars you top up the coolant via the overflow (which is easy).

 

You could get a bottle of coolant and 'pump' it into the atmospheric catchment tank from the pipe/hose at the coolant reservoir?(the way the coolant cap does)

A 'syringe' type pump would take a really long time unless it was a large volume pump.(a few CCs at a time is tedious)

A large funnel with a 'stepped-down' fitting will gravity feed the tank, albeit SLOWLY.

 

Newbie here. Are you saying that simply adding coolant to the overflow tank (when cold) is not kosher?

 

We're talking about the semi-transparent tank hidden behind the front wheel arch liner and not the black tank in the engine bay. You can see the atmospheric tank if you open the right-hand door fully and look with a torch through the gap between the open door and the A-pillar.

My recommendation is simply to fill the black header tank so it just starts to comes up past the ridge in the bottom of the neck and check it again every couple of weeks, as is good practice anyway. If the level has dropped at all, then refill it to the same place. After a few fills you should find that the level is still up to the top when you check it which is where it should be. The atmospheric tank will still not be filled 50% but the cooling system will work properly and it's a lot less fiddly than trying to fill the tank remotely.

Richard

 

I agree that it seems a bit silly but I found the job of removing the wheel and liner a relatively easy job. It also gives you the opportunity to check the integrity of the pipes and tank and confirm that it's empty due to neglect rather than damage. You also get to check over other goodies hidden away in there.
You've got to love the challenges that these cars throw up!

 

Last year I used a Harbor Freight syringe that holds maybe a pint and filled my overflow tank 3/4 full and it is still 3/4 full. I removed the hose from header tank
and inserted the tube on the syringe and filled it from there observing progress from right front door hinge area with flashlight in dim lit garage. Doesn't take long.

Jack

 

I am going to go the lazy way. Fill the header tank to the top, drive, fill, drive, fill until I get a reasonable quantity into the expansion tank. If I do not see an accumulation in the expansion tank then remove and inspect.

 

It only took me 30 minutes to remove and replace the passenger side wheel (USA) and the wheel liner, then fill the atmospheric tank to the proper level. 1?


That doesn’t seem like too much time. Then the job is done. And without having to go back over and over adding coolant a little at a time.

 

Reading JTIS, they say to dispose of the plastic fasteners and replace. I do not have a stock of replacements.

 

Really EASY when you work at the dealer and warranty is paying for the parts!!!!!!!!!!!

Just re-use when the fasteners are not disintegrated.(probably NLA anyway?)

The main plastic 'push-pin' that breaks is XR8-8883.

 

Broke down today and removed the tire and wheel well liner. Not difficult at all except getting a grip on the plastic push pins. Did not break anything! Cleaned it up, filled the tank and life is good again.

 

When you say "filled", I guess you mean "filled to half full" which is the specification?

Of course, overfilling won't cause a problem other than waste the excess coolant.

Richard