Driving home from work this morning, only a six
mile journey and stopped at a junction about a half
mile from home and there was a puff of steam from
the front of the car.

The heater was blowing cold. Left the car to cool for
an hour and then went out to have a look under the
bonnet and noticed coolant on the ground. Opened the
header tank and it was empty and gurgling and coolant
was now running out from underneath.

I noticed a small wet patch in the passenger foot well
as well.

I am going to jack her up tomorrow and get underneath
to try and see where the leak is coming from.

I fear this may be serious but would like initial opinions
from the above symptoms described.

All help appreciated.

 

heater matrix under the dash , bstard of a job,if you had steam on the windscreen and water in the car thats it

 

The steam came from the front grill, just one smallish
cloud really, enough for me to notice it.

The coolant was seemingly running from directly below
the header tank, but couldn't tell for sure as it was coming
through a hole in the undertray.

Like I say, gonna get the undertray off tomorrow and have
a nosey. I presume I can just pour in plain water to gauge
where the leak is?

Here's hoping it is just the heater matrix and not anything
bigger/more expensive.

 

There was also a gurgling sound coming
from behind the dashboard and reading
various threads on here it would suggest
it is the heater matrix.

The next couple of hours will tell.

 

Couple of pics showing the pipe that sits in front of
the sump with the leak.


I don't think it's the pipe itself but rather something above it leaking.

Any help with this appreciated.

 

Yhh most likely the heater matrix I had a similier problem but there was no water in my car, it turned out to be the two small pipes on the throttle had expanded over time and were leaking, So I just got the throttle coolant bypass done.

 

This is a small pipe that sits above the one in the
shots above and looks like it's the problem.

This is a shot of it from directly above the front of
the engine.


What is this pipe for?

 

Water pipe to modine importcarparts sell them.
Jay

 

power steering belt looks like its gonna have to be changed soon too, Its starting to crack up on the grooves.

 

So does coolant run through this?

 

Yeh its a long metal pipe with small rubber pipes at each end.

 

ok, so here's a edit of the top two pics with what I think has
happened.

The water pipe-modine has cracked/rusted causing the leak?


The leak has run down the pipe because it is on a angle
and run off here


Is there a lot of work involved in replacing the pipe or
is it a straight forward remove and replace job?

 

http://www.importcarparts.co.uk/part...en=&searchKey=

 

Easy enough to replace.

 

Easy enough to get at if you remove the front bumper and the radiator. It can be done easily in a half day.

Me and Andy (Chocolate O'Brien), did his in front of his house one day earlier this year.

However, looking at the sump and exhaust heat shields, be prepared to have to replace the front bumper support bar too, they can be had for about £15 on ebay.
Then look for some trim clips, packs of ten or twenty, ebay again.

 

Just out of interest, does a oil cooler kit bypass this?

 

No it does not, the oil cooler fitting block fits between the Modine and the filter.

 

Ah ok, was just wondering.