sjwdavies

Hi Guys...

I've got a problem with MY95 Jap Import WRX.

Basically, about a month ago the heaters started working intermitently, or would just take ages to warm up. Then one day when i pulled up at my girlfriends, I noticed steam coming from the drivers side of the engine bay after a rather hard drive.

Lifted the bonnet, had a looksy, and assumed it must have been rain water on the engine.

About a week later I was driving to work and the engine temp guage started to go high. So I parked up and got steam again. I checked the engine coolant which was BONE DRY - so topped it up with 5 pints of water.

I don't get steam all the time, only when i give it a thrashing, and it's not dripping out from anywhere when i'm topping it up so i'm assuming it's a small leak that only appears to be leaking under hard boost?

I've had a look and it always appears to be damp around the bottom right of the radiator? Does anyone have any ideas what it could be?

Also, there's a black cylinder with a tube coming out of the bottom that appears to have been cut? Could this be related?

Sorry for the small pic, it's the best I could find on the net

myblackwrx

iTrader: (1)

Cracked rad is most likely imo have a look at the plastic ends.

sjwdavies

What do you mean?

myblackwrx

iTrader: (1)

Look at your rad and you will see black plastic running the vertical length of the rad,it's a well known point of cracking and causing the problem you have at the mo.

Rhs of the piccy inbetween the canister and the shiney metal bit

sjwdavies

What is that cannister? The tube out of the bottom of mine has bin cut and left dangling?

I had a look for cracks and couldn't see any but wouldn't be able to get a proper look unless I took the radiator off

rezaP1

myblack wrx is right about that being a common source of cracks etc which can not been seen with the eye most of the time.

if your going to take the rad off you may aswell change it mate

sjwdavies

Is it an easy job? Will I need loads of tools? Anyone know of a guide?

Moved out of the house I had with my ex and all my tools are all over the ****in place. Any idea where the best place is to get a new radiator? eBay seems expensive?

myblackwrx

iTrader: (1)

the canister is carbon canister and has to do with emmisions iirc (collects fuel vapour which are then fed back for combustion via the intake vacuum).It can be removed if you want.

https://www.scoobynet.com/general-te...placement.html

anybody who deals with imprezas will most probably stock them

scoobybits,scoobyworld,cheam motors,api engines are a few

Syph

I had this exact same problem. I couldnt rev above 2k without it leaking. It is a very simple job it shouldnt take more than a couple of hours at the very most. I would recomend getting an alloy replacement then you wont have this problem again.

All you will need is a flat blade screwdriver, pair of long nose pliers and a 10 and 12mm spanner or socket. oh and dont forget to get some antifreeze. 5L should do it.

KLR16V

iTrader: (2)

Rev the engine with the bonnet open and look for leaks as this will pressure the system , or remove rad and get it pressure tested for leaks , are you sure it is a leak and not head gasket failure between the water gallery and cylinder , that is where mine went so no milky oil , a sniffer test could tell you if it is haed gasket failure no point spending money unecessarily on parts that are okay find out for definate first .

Mark

sjwdavies

Thanks buddy... I don't think it's the headgasket though, i've actually seen steam coming from the radiator!

GavinP

Check the coolant header tank as well as this is a common cause of failure - I have just had to replace mine.

Leak was only visible when the engine was fully warmed up and resulted in lots of steam out of the bonnet vents and scoop.

Thanks

Gavin