nealejames

Hi all,
Last weekend went with cash in back pocket to buy my 1993 wrx import, Checked it over all seemed fine...
Im very happy with my new toy, HOWEVER, i took her out for a run the other day, on returning home and letting her idle and cool i noticed steam was coming form under the bonnet, i immediatletly investigated this.
I saw some water leaking from the expansion tank, its metal rimmed..
I left the car for a night and returned the next day to check the coolant level, i topped the plastic bottle(by battery) back up to just under full level and again took her for a run,, on returning, there was again more steam from the bay.. Is this just a case of replacing the the expansion tank, or could there be more sinister troubles a foot??

Many thanks for any help, pretty new to scooby's, so having to learn as i go...

Neale James

myblackwrx

iTrader: (1)

Firstly welcome

Expansion tanks do normally go on the early cars as they are plastic and can become brittle.
you can either replace it with a new one or fit a later model metal one although this requires a bit of conversion as the pipes are in different positions.

The tube by the battery is the overflow most people just fill up the expansion tank

Scoobyn

The plastic bottle next to the battery is for your windscreen washer!!
The expansion bottle is on the left of the alternator. Check that before u drive anywhere.

Hobstar82

The bottle above the battery is the window wash, the bottle mounted in the wing below the battery is the expansion bottle. The metal tank to the left of alternator is the reservoir. Top this up and check plastic exp. bottle is between mine and max.

As for original post the metal tank has a seal between the top and lower part bolted together with a ring of 10mm headed bolts. Not sure if you can get the seal seperatley!?! Thats if its the same as mine??

nealejames

No its definately for the coolant system, the pipe goes staright there from the expansion bottle.
If i undo the expansion bottle even slighly, the water is pressurised and tries to flow out rapidly.. so i go for the plastic bottle towards the front of the bay, on the passenger side, marked coolant with a fill symbol and levels...
Ive just come back from morrissons and on the way home it seemed as though the car wanted to stall on load, 1st gear start off .. had to give her afew more revs to move and eradicate a stall. Strange, not had that before.. these cars a pretty temperamental!

Neale

dj219957

its not a metal tank on a 93 wrx, its plastic. yes they do split with age. nothing sinister. just replace like for like. £60 from subaru. might get one a bit cheaper of egay.
the little bottle next to the battery is the expansion bottle. the big bottle is the windscreen wash.

Hobstar82

It will do when hot! Check when cold

nealejames

Thanks all for your comments...
I am alittle confused now though... so as i look at the engine.. the plastic bottle below the battery passenger side is the expansion bottle?? and the plastic tank on the left of the bay is the resevoir?? which do i fill up?? sorry for the very stupid and inaccurate text. Just trying to pick up as go..

Cheers guys for the help!

myblackwrx

iTrader: (1)

Problem is neale is that it is 16 years old so expect some odd moments.
i've had mine for 6 years now (93wrx) and have had some things happen (nothing serious) on minute then never again.
Also it may depend on how old some of the sensors are as well.
But for all the niggling issues you may have in your ownership they are worth it and you do have a large community that can help you

Hobstar82

Yes. Make sure res. is full and expan. is between min and max.

myblackwrx

iTrader: (1)

same engine bay

The expansion tank (lhs) should be virtually full
The plastic tube (bottom rhs) is the overflow has a rubber tube coming off it that is not connected to anything (it does have markings on it showing how full it should be)
The big bottle is the washer fluid (as has been mentioned)

Hobstar82

Sorry neale to be confusing but i call the reservior the one on the left and expansion bottle on the right that has the overflow pipe. LOL

Hobstar82

Hay blackwrx, how'd you adjust pic size??

myblackwrx

iTrader: (1)

I adjusted it before i uploaded it to photobucket using ImageResizer Powertoy

Microsoft PowerToys for Windows XP

Hobstar82

Cheers!!

nealejames

ALL.. thanks for the info... i will work on this now...probably will opt for a new expansion tank.. blackwrx, your pic is identical to my engine bay...

I am very happy i got the car, i can from a 2004 st220, and this wipes the florr with it!

Cheers again

Neale

GMballistic

iTrader: (1)

Stick with it Neale, do her up abit at a time and she will reward you.

dj219957

yes, the bottle/tank on the right is the expansion bottle/tank. the tank on the left is the header tank. the water expands into the bottle on the right not the left. as said the tank on the left should always be full (if your cap is working correclty, never open when hot) and the bottle on the right above the minimum line.