Author Topic: Leaking antifreeze - brand new bike! (Read 8878 times)

koskn8r · « **on:** January 11, 2014, 04:32:08 PM »

I just bought my new 2013 Connie a couple months ago. The weather has really sucked so the bike has been sitting in the garage. A couple weeks ago, I was able to get it out. After riding it for a while, I noticed antifreeze dried up on the right side exhaust just in front of the rear brake lever. I also noticed a small puddle of antifreeze on the floor of my garage.

I took it to the shop and they told me this was typical of this motor (zx14 and Concours) after sitting for a long period of time in cold weather. I've never heard of this and thought it was BS. They kept it for a couple days and told me they found a coupling (?) that needed to be tightened up. (again my BS sensor went off).

Today, I went out to the garage to install my new HIDs and as soon as I stood the bike upright off the kickstand, it dropped a puddle of antifreeze again. I called the shop again and they tried selling me the same story.

I refuse to believe this is normal for a brand new bike. Especially with the tight specs that modern engines are built with today.

As anyone else run into this issue on their C14????

maxtog · « **Reply #1 on:** January 11, 2014, 04:43:53 PM »

I had something similar happen to me when mine was new, except it was far less and was on the left side. I took it in and they said they just needed to tighten the hoses a bit and it was fine after that.

VirginiaJim · « **Reply #2 on:** January 11, 2014, 04:48:31 PM »

It ain't normal for antifreeze to be on the floor of any C14. I've had mine since 2007 and it has never done that... (crossing fingers). Something needs to be tightened. Bunch of idiots.

Makz58 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 11, 2014, 06:23:29 PM »

Mine sits all winter temps down to -40F no coolant leaks....Touch wood.

twowheeladdict · « **Reply #4 on:** January 11, 2014, 06:33:23 PM »

If you don't get satisfaction from the dealer get Kawasaki customer service involved.

I had to tighten up the hose clamps on my '11 Versys, but no issues on the other Kawasakis.

jtk1531 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 11, 2014, 07:56:24 PM »

same issue with mine, 2012 model. found dried up coolant at a few places where the coolant hose connects to the engine block, but not to the extent that coolant is leaking to the floor.
no winter where i'm at, but i had to tighten up a few clamps, and everything's fine.

connie14boy · « **Reply #6 on:** January 11, 2014, 07:57:45 PM »

Quote from: koskn8r on January 11, 2014, 04:32:08 PM

I just bought my new 2013 Connie a couple months ago. The weather has really sucked so the bike has been sitting in the garage. A couple weeks ago, I was able to get it out. After riding it for a while, I noticed antifreeze dried up on the right side exhaust just in front of the rear brake lever. I also noticed a small puddle of antifreeze on the floor of my garage.

I took it to the shop and they told me this was typical of this motor (zx14 and Concours) after sitting for a long period of time in cold weather. I've never heard of this and thought it was BS. They kept it for a couple days and told me they found a coupling (?) that needed to be tightened up. (again my BS sensor went off).

Today, I went out to the garage to install my new HIDs and as soon as I stood the bike upright off the kickstand, it dropped a puddle of antifreeze again. I called the shop again and they tried selling me the same story.

I refuse to believe this is normal for a brand new bike. Especially with the tight specs that modern engines are built with today.

As anyone else run into this issue on their C14?

Mine did the same thing- just loosen the clamp on the return hose, push it up about 1/4" and re- tighten the clamp. Don't take it back to those idiots, they will end up scratching something or doing some other harm. I think the robot tightening then clamps at the factory needs to be fired.

Rembrant · « **Reply #7 on:** January 12, 2014, 03:22:44 AM »

Quote from: koskn8r on January 11, 2014, 04:32:08 PM

As anyone else run into this issue on their C14?

No, not with either of my two C-14's, but I had two different Kawi Z1000's that leaked coolant. One of them I bought brand new, the other used. It was just loose hose clamps on both bikes.

It's something I check when buying a bike now. I take a quick pass over all the hoses and tighten the clamps.

As long as it's not coming from the weep hole in the water pump, it's likely a loose hose clamp.

HTH.
Rem

koskn8r · « **Reply #8 on:** January 12, 2014, 09:10:28 AM »

I just took the right side fairing off and it's pretty clear to me that it's leaking from the bottom of the water pump. :(

Taking it back tomorrow....

Rhino · « **Reply #9 on:** January 12, 2014, 09:51:53 AM »

Mine's a 2010 with 41,000 miles, it's in a garage but it does get cold at 7,500' altitude and the garage gets below freezing on occasion. Not a drop of any fluid ever under the bike (except when I spill stuff myself doing maintenance). But I agree with what someone else said. Get down there, find the leak and fix it yourself.

VirginiaJim · « **Reply #10 on:** January 12, 2014, 10:14:32 AM »

Water pump leaking.....dealer unfortunately. If they don't give you satisfaction...here's the Kwak number to call:

Kawasaki customer service number (949)-770-0400 then 1, then 5

If that's not right, then let us know.

gPink · « **Reply #11 on:** January 12, 2014, 10:19:53 AM »

Is that Mark's direct line?

VirginiaJim · « **Reply #12 on:** January 12, 2014, 10:21:36 AM »

I really hope not, but this does appear to be cut and dry (no pun intended). Sounds like the dealer doesn't quite have his act together.

rcannon409 · « **Reply #13 on:** January 12, 2014, 10:49:11 AM »

It might be worth looking at the overflow container. Mines fairly well buried under plastic. If this gets filled too high, especially when cold, it can cause coolant to hit the ground.

Mine does well when its just above the "add" line, for lack of better words. ANY extra will end up on the ground.

They can also leak from the tube connecting this reservoir to the radiator.

I dont know if this link works, but I was thinking about tube number 39062d

https://www.kawasakiepc.com/SystemSearch_Frames.cfm?QuickSearch=1&SearchFor=ZG1400CBF&SearchBy=Model&cGroupID=&CFID=8477566&CFTOKEN=32907592

koskn8r · « **Reply #14 on:** January 12, 2014, 10:49:54 AM »

Correction. It's not the water pump. Water pump is on the left side. I'm looking at the thermostat housing. It definitely looks like the leak is coming from there.

JJFLASH · « **Reply #15 on:** January 12, 2014, 10:59:53 AM »

Quote from: koskn8r on January 11, 2014, 04:32:08 PM

I just bought my new 2013 Connie a couple months ago. The weather has really sucked so the bike has been sitting in the garage. A couple weeks ago, I was able to get it out. After riding it for a while, I noticed antifreeze dried up on the right side exhaust just in front of the rear brake lever. I also noticed a small puddle of antifreeze on the floor of my garage.

I took it to the shop and they told me this was typical of this motor (zx14 and Concours) after sitting for a long period of time in cold weather. I've never heard of this and thought it was BS. They kept it for a couple days and told me they found a coupling (?) that needed to be tightened up. (again my BS sensor went off).

Today, I went out to the garage to install my new HIDs and as soon as I stood the bike upright off the kickstand, it dropped a puddle of antifreeze again. I called the shop again and they tried selling me the same story.

I refuse to believe this is normal for a brand new bike. Especially with the tight specs that modern engines are built with today.

As anyone else run into this issue on their C14?

I have seen this on three different motorcycles during cold winter storage. In my case the leaks were from a hose. It can be fixed by tightening the hose clamp a little. My suspicion is when it gets very cold the hose stiffens and a small leak might develop. I would check. If it is a hose I would not worry. If it something else have them fix it under warrenty

stevewfl · « **Reply #16 on:** January 13, 2014, 10:50:01 PM »

Go ahead and put a fresh FOB battery in too

alexx45 · « **Reply #17 on:** January 14, 2014, 02:54:17 PM »

The only time mine ever leaked wasw after having it serviced. Some how they got the two small tubes that connect to the neck of the radiator swapped. One returns to the coolant container and I can't recall where the other goes. I do know that it will dump on the floor when the bike is hot. I'll try to remember to look it up in the service manual when I get a chance. Once I got them back to the correct positions the problem was solved.

blackwidow · « **Reply #18 on:** January 14, 2014, 06:15:04 PM »

Quote from: maxtog on January 11, 2014, 04:43:53 PM

I had something similar happen to me when mine was new, except it was far less and was on the left side. I took it in and they said they just needed to tighten the hoses a bit and it was fine after that.

Samething with my bike and i from Canada.

feelergaugephil · « **Reply #19 on:** January 15, 2014, 04:15:47 PM »

Simply put......... Change dealer, obviously they not compitant to do the work.

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Author Topic: Leaking antifreeze - brand new bike! (Read 8878 times)