Hi. My Renault clio has developed a leak in the cooling system. After a long drive it is now buubleing out and the water is leaking onto the ground with a hissing noise. How serious is this, and can I fix it myself?

crypticmirror, April 2008

it really depends on where the leak is from - popular spots are the radiator itself (easy DIY), the coolant hoses (easier DIY) or the water pump (much more complex). So, you have to find the actual leak, which sounds as it should be fairly obvious, and go from there. One thing though, if the engine overheats due to lack of coolant its a much more serious issue so keep a close eye on the expansion bottle.

John, April 2008