Steamy grill

[doodlebug]

Chaps,

Has anyone else experienced quite a bit of steam from the grill either after washing or after driving in pouring rain?

I think water is getting in to the rad and that's the source of the steam, how isn't clear, would require some dismantling which my friendly dealer can do.

Cheers.

[RSphantom]

Yes, always after I had washed the car, it looked like the radiator had blown. Only lasted a couple mins while the engine was hot then died down. I think it had something to do with the fact I had used a power washer.

[adsgreen]

Wouldn't worry - it's just likely overspray of water gathering somewhere hot on the grill.
If you think thats bad yo should see an elise based car! with the radiator horizontal and the top not covered (except by a louvre grill or mesh) then in the rain it steams up good and proper! In a real downpour it can actually steam up the windscreen which is quite odd when you have it the first time.
Get lots of knobs pointing and laughing as they think the car has overheated <sigh>

[Tile Diver]

Yep me too, almost every time I stop when its raining, it gets some attention, does look like it's overheating for sure!!

[doodlebug]

That's a relief.

Get some properly bizarre looks!

[geek]

There is an assembly fault.

Get onto your knees in front of the car and look upwards through the top left of the grill.

You will see that the plastic cowling that sits above the radiator is deformed and has a bow in it, water pools in the bowed area either post washing or after driving hard rain and when you break it sloshes forward and pisses over the rad and intercooler.

I have seen two other cars on dealer pitches with the same problem so it must be a manufacturing fault. I was going to get it sorted but on reflection, I didn't want the nose off action required to sort it. May do in a years time when I am less precious about the car.

I found it when I was trying to solve my coolant loss problem, thought it was a straight forward leak.....it was just the above.

Another 'feature' of the RS3

You wait until you pull onto a pump in a packed petrol station when it's properly pissing down; pull to stop with brakes squealing like the 7.20 into London Paddington and then some Orient Express steam train plumage from the nose.....the forecourt just stand and stares at you,

Come to think of it, maybe the car should be running on rail tracks, not roads?