dipsomaniac Posted November 15, 2006 Report Posted November 15, 2006 have been losing coolant ever since i bought the car 3 years ago. i thought i had found the problem when I blew a hole in the heater matrix recently. i bypassed it temporarily until i could find a spare 3 days. I found that i was still losing coolant but car was running ok for the last 2 months until today, pulled up on the drive, got out, walking towards house when i heard a popping sound, turned around and steam was pouring from under the bonnet. i can't see what the damage is until daylight - i suspect it is either the thermostat housing or a hose. would bypassing the matrix cause increased pressure in the system? Quote
sepulchrave Posted November 15, 2006 Report Posted November 15, 2006 Don't kid yourself dipso YOU KNOW it's been the thermostat housing all along, you just couldn't be bothered to change it! :D Quote
El Dingo Posted November 15, 2006 Report Posted November 15, 2006 I don't think so - anyway, excess pressure would normally vent via the pressure cap on the header tank, unless there is a blockage in the system somewhere. Edit - Ah ha, thermostat housing, eh? Could be... Quote
Vanbursta Posted November 15, 2006 Report Posted November 15, 2006 Interesting to know what it is, I have the same model and the same problem, I have changed the thermostat housing and the overflow bottle and the heater matrix, but it still uses about half a pint every 100 miles or so, I have also changed the rad cap and checked for leaks, can't find anything! - no it is not the head gasket. Quote
JohnR Posted November 16, 2006 Report Posted November 16, 2006 Interesting to know what it is, I have the same model and the same problem, I have changed the thermostat housing and the overflow bottle and the heater matrix, but it still uses about half a pint every 100 miles or so, I have also changed the rad cap and checked for leaks, can't find anything! - no it is not the head gasket. Don't forget you've got another matrix at the back! Also a very long pipe run with several connectors (although granted, not the diversion through an aux heater!) As a last resort you could just sling in an can of radweld (ok, purists will condemn me for this!). I had a duff matrix on a 406 and it bailed me out for 2 years before I got around to fixing it. Quote
dipsomaniac Posted November 16, 2006 Author Report Posted November 16, 2006 split large hose running into the back of engine under the ht lead tray. a smaller hose runs off it at 90 deg going into throttle body. can someone with etka post an image of the hoses at the back of engine with part nos. and prices? yes sepulchrave, i will replace the thermostat housing one day. you know what it is like getting access to anything on these cars. johnr - where is the matrix in the back? and what route does the hoses take? Quote
JohnR Posted November 16, 2006 Report Posted November 16, 2006 split large hose running into the back of engine under the ht lead tray. a smaller hose runs off it at 90 deg going into throttle body. can someone with etka post an image of the hoses at the back of engine with part nos. and prices? yes sepulchrave, i will replace the thermostat housing one day. you know what it is like getting access to anything on these cars. johnr - where is the matrix in the back? and what route does the hoses take? In the heater over the passenger side rear wheel arch! The pipes are mostly steel, with rubber connecting hoses (on my Tdi anyway). I can't imagine yours being different. Quote
dipsomaniac Posted November 16, 2006 Author Report Posted November 16, 2006 thank you. it looks like the hose is numbered 21. i just hope i can get access to where it connects to the cylinder head Quote
dipsomaniac Posted November 17, 2006 Author Report Posted November 17, 2006 just picked myself up off the floor - Quote
dipsomaniac Posted November 17, 2006 Author Report Posted November 17, 2006 can't find anyone else to supply a hose so it looks like it may have to be a main dealer. can anyone convert vw part no 7MO121156J into a ford part number? it is the part numbered 21 in the etka diagram. Quote
tim-spam Posted November 17, 2006 Report Posted November 17, 2006 Probably at least as much at Ford - let us know. You could try Seat, but the price is likely to be the same as VW. Quote
Sharanfx Posted November 17, 2006 Report Posted November 17, 2006 For those with a very slow leak, try getting a new Expansion Cap. Its common for these to leak on VWs and slowly realease steam over time dropping the water level gradualy. Quote
dipsomaniac Posted November 19, 2006 Author Report Posted November 19, 2006 has anyone got access to ford part nos? if ford prices are the same and i have to spend Quote
sepulchrave Posted November 19, 2006 Report Posted November 19, 2006 No, you won't get a silicone hose set to fit this car. Your best bet is to simply repair the hose where it is split (usually at the bottom where the clip seats) just splice in a new generic piece of the same bore using a brass coupler with a pair of jubilees. Quote
dipsomaniac Posted November 20, 2006 Author Report Posted November 20, 2006 thanks, i hadn't thought of repairing the hose. spoke to samco today and they do sell the hoses separately. i just now need to try to establish if the hose from the cyclinder head > heat exchange > throttle valve housing is the same as the golf/corrado (which they do make a kit for). Quote
dipsomaniac Posted November 27, 2006 Author Report Posted November 27, 2006 confused again. when i looked at ekta diagram the hose i have blown was part 21. i tel vw and they quoted me Quote
Guest greenfingers Posted November 28, 2006 Report Posted November 28, 2006 anyone any ideas from the image why the hose might have blown?? i broke one of the 'T' pieces removing the hose as it was very brittle. Have you checked your engine mountings? A split like that across the hose on the outside of a bend looks fatigue related to me. I don't know where that hose goes, but this could be caused by having one end stationary, and excessive movement at the other end. Quote
dipsomaniac Posted November 29, 2006 Author Report Posted November 29, 2006 i think the stress was caused by the bypassed matrix hoses resting on it. i would like to flush the system as there seems to be a lot of brown sludge in it due to the constant top-ups. i can't see anyway of flushing the whole system without removing the thermostat. any ideas? Quote
dipsomaniac Posted November 30, 2006 Author Report Posted November 30, 2006 has anyone disconnected a coolant hose run the engine with a running hose pipe inserted into the expansion tank. once the engine was warm it should open the thermostat to allow clean water to flush out the whole system or am i missing something??? would it close again once the cold water hit it? Quote
sepulchrave Posted November 30, 2006 Report Posted November 30, 2006 In most cases the thermostat only bypasses coolant flow through the cylinder head, since this is at the top of the engine sludge does not usually form there. So generally speaking it doesn't matter. Disconnect the bottom hose from the radiator shove the hosepipe up it and watch the flavour flood out! :wub: Quote
dipsomaniac Posted December 2, 2006 Author Report Posted December 2, 2006 got the new hose. coolant hose 'T' connector (heater matrix > throttle vavle > cylinder head) disintegrated when hose was removed. sourced a 19mm 'T' piece from the local aquarium shop. when i removed the final remains of the 'T' piece today i found that the bore had been reduced to approx 5mm (see image). has anyone got any idea why this bore has been reduced? what would happen if i use a 19mm 'T' (throughout) to connect these 3 x hoses? Quote
dipsomaniac Posted December 3, 2006 Author Report Posted December 3, 2006 any ideas anyone or a part no. Quote
mumof4 Posted December 3, 2006 Report Posted December 3, 2006 courtesyof VR6 :dipso's part number VW... 7 M-Y-035-000 T PIECE RESTRICTOR Quote
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