My MY93 WRX has started pissing water out from the idle control valve solenoid (I think thats what it is, it's the thing to the right of the throttle body with a plug in the top).

At first I thought it was the hose, but a visual inspection revealed that the hose looked ok, but after taking on and off and putting a new clip on it and it still leaking, I decided to trim the end of the hose and it's still leaking.

It actually looks like the water is coming out of the bottom of the metal pipe that's part of the solenoid as if it has cracked there.

Main question: can I bypass the valve and not wreck the engine? I really can't afford to replace the valve right now but equally can't afford to have the car off the road.

 

I wouldn't have thought bypassing the ICV coolant (pre-heat) lines would cause any major implications in this country

Cheers

 

Cheers Delboy2, bypassed and working fine!

Took the solenoid assembly off and there's a 1.5mm hole in the metal pipe starting about 4mm from the body. I'm buggered if I'm spending £70 on a new one to fix that!

 

wait till you get cold mornings!!

 

..... and it won't make a bit of difference. The ISCV and throttle body hve coolant going through them to heat them in cold conditions.... but the UK winters are NOT that cold considering other countries that the Impreza is sold. You won't have a problem at all. In fact i now have no connection on either due to the fact i don't want my inlet manifold heated, rather have nice cool inlet air. Others have done the same and have no problems.

Tony.