I did my clutch yesterday (engine out way) and when removing the top pipe from the radiator filler tank the connector bit was so brittle it broke off. The pipe that goes to it comes from the turbo is it just for hot air to go through or is there water supposed to go through it? what does it do and why do you think it has broken?

 

That is the return water hose from the turbo. It has broken as you said because the early Header Tanks were Plastic. The process of very Hot coolant passing through the plastic 'pipe' over the years has caused it to go brittle.

You will have to replace the header tank unfortunetly, but if you can, go for the metal one as fitted to the MY97+ models.

Like this:



Theres a couple on E-Bay at the mo, this one and one the same as you have already.
Its not me selling though.

 

thanks for the reply i will get looking for a 97 on header tank., it just looked like no water had been in the pipe and i was worried something else may be wrong.

 

Once the car's settled for a while, the pipe may be dry when you undo it. Depends how much water you've got in the system.