Coolant issue

[Kiels3927]

This morning the coolant alarm came on in my 2008 (10/2007 built) Multivan. I'm back from a 1200km trip last week & the level was just over minimum before I left. Today, it's still showing in the bowl, but only just.

The car has just under 140000km on the clock. I'm not a do it your selfer these days - arthritis has made forcing issues a pain in both hands, so I'm looking at professionals working on it here.

I'm considering getting a complete coolant change, together with a coolant pump replacement & consequently a new serpentine belt. Does that sound reasonable at this mileage?

[Bryn23]

I'd like to know if it there was a leak in the hoses and around the clamps first.. as that would be a good sign to show if it is leaking out.

I'd also check around the water pump while the van is running to see if it is possibility leaking there.

someone else, should be able to point out the next step,

Have you checked the oil?

[Umai Naa!!]

If it's a 2.5, it won't have a serpentine belt.

Fill it back up and do a pressure test on the system.

[Kiels3927]

If it's a 2.5, it won't have a serpentine belt.

Sometimes I wake up dumb.

[LogicprObe]

You need to find the leak.
Make sure it isn't going into your oil first.

[Sunny43.5]

Our 2005 2.5 T5 did the same thing on a trip back from a Moto Cross race , I stopped and topped up the coolant bottle . Every couple hundred kays and it needed topping up again , eventually VW lightened my wallet by $1500 to replace the water pump . Never found where the water was going .

[Umai Naa!!]

Either out onto the road, or into the sump.

[jets]

Our 2005 2.5 T5 did the same thing on a trip back from a Moto Cross race , I stopped and topped up the coolant bottle . Every couple hundred kays and it needed topping up again , eventually VW lightened my wallet by $1500 to replace the water pump . Never found where the water was going .

There was one in Adelaide a many years back where the coolant started leaking into the oil & the owner kept topping up the bottle to get home. He didn't get home & it had to be trucked into the dealer. It didn't just need a new water pump but a new motor @ around $20,000.
I believe in the end an independent took on the job but not without many challenges.