the car has had its service and additional work done to it. due its nct soon so needs to be in good shape. water is leaking from the pipe that leads to the coolant. I can only go on very short journeys as the water is gone out of the coolant in a matter of 10mins with steam rising along with a burning rubbery smell. i am worried in case i damage the engine so not driving it as much. it is a dealer part which needs to be ordered so don't know how long it will take. have to bring the car back to the garage in the morning. in the meantime is there anything that i could patch it with while i'm waiting for the hose? have been told it could take up to a week for replacement.

Melissa Graham, April 2008

Go to a scrap yard and pick up one. A coolant hose should be easy to pick up and anyone thats anyway handy could fit one in about 20 minutes(some scrap yards would even fit it). There would be no need to pay dealer prices, a second hand one would do fine. Driving the car with that leak is not advisable it could damage the head gasket and warp the head thats costly to repair.

mike07, April 2008