or try a friendly independant 
Jason2
Well-Known Member
"Core plugs" are steel plugs that block up the holes in yeh engine block that were used to get the sand out that creates the waterways when casting the block!
No you do right mate! get it fixed you dont want to be forgetting to fill up with coolant and blowing yeh engine!!Then you can tell me and I'l fix mine
I'm realy after a fix, but thanks for the tip about leaving the cap off.
At leats core plugs aren't hideosley expensive. But still don't know where they are or how to get to them/it. I'd have thought that under pressure they'd leak less, which may make sense as the leaks not so bad when the filler cap and expansion cap is on.
I'm still on my removing facia panel plan to search out the leak, all going Ok apart from the clock and coin holder - held in by magic it apears.
Thanks for advice folks,
At leats core plugs aren't hideosley expensive. But still don't know where they are or how to get to them/it. I'd have thought that under pressure they'd leak less, which may make sense as the leaks not so bad when the filler cap and expansion cap is on.
I'm still on my removing facia panel plan to search out the leak, all going Ok apart from the clock and coin holder - held in by magic it apears.
Thanks for advice folks,
Jason2
Well-Known Member
I think that you are barking up the wrong tree! If it was your heater matrix leaking you would have wet carpets and smell of anti-freeze!
For info clock comes out with 2 credit cards pushed down either side
Core plugs are only mild steel, and rust real easy epecialy if you put water in the system instead of coolant! Then when they go as they are very thin due to rust the pressure blows em open!
Ahhh, righty then.
Any idea where to start looking for my core plugs looked in haynes but can't find any info on where they are.
Cheers for the info on the clocks. edited to add - just tried cards but the manual says that there's retaining clips underneath to release then push out from behind, mine seams to have one spring loaded clip that appears to release nothing and I can't get round the back, Grrrr!!
I've had it filled with coolant 99% of the time we've owned it but for the last day or so and when the radiator went last time it had mostly water in for a day or so.
So sounds like it could be coolant plugs.
Any idea where to start looking for my core plugs looked in haynes but can't find any info on where they are.
Cheers for the info on the clocks. edited to add - just tried cards but the manual says that there's retaining clips underneath to release then push out from behind, mine seams to have one spring loaded clip that appears to release nothing and I can't get round the back, Grrrr!!
I've had it filled with coolant 99% of the time we've owned it but for the last day or so and when the radiator went last time it had mostly water in for a day or so.
So sounds like it could be coolant plugs.
well it dosen't look like core plugs, there's 2 I can see on the passenger side of the engine and they're looking fine.
The water only comes out when either the filler cap or the expansion cap are off.
Does that give any one any ideas?
I'm sre it's coming from behind the main engine are there any core plugs back there or could it be a strange leak from the heater matrix coming ot into the engine bay, my carpets aren't wet.
STill having isses with the clock and coin holder
The water only comes out when either the filler cap or the expansion cap are off.
Does that give any one any ideas?
I'm sre it's coming from behind the main engine are there any core plugs back there or could it be a strange leak from the heater matrix coming ot into the engine bay, my carpets aren't wet.
STill having isses with the clock and coin holder
It's a core plug. Which is quite good but bad news is that it's one on the back of the engine right up against the back of the engine bay.
I'm going to try and clean it up and araldite it, it's not a big hole so I hope that araldite will hold it as I can't see any way of getting to the plug to repalce it without moving the engine out a bit.
Still had fun wasting my day trying to check the heater matrix!
I'm going to try and clean it up and araldite it, it's not a big hole so I hope that araldite will hold it as I can't see any way of getting to the plug to repalce it without moving the engine out a bit.
Still had fun wasting my day trying to check the heater matrix!
Jason2
Well-Known Member
Well, it's not fixed yet. HAd to put the dash and wheel etc back on after going looking for the leak - thought it may have been from eater matrix, it wasn't. Other half walked out yestreday looked inside the car swore and went in slamming the door on the way, so thought it best to make it look like a disco again .
I've drained the coolant out and cleaned the core plug as best I can without seeing it. Not done it yet as I'm trying to work out where the coolant drain plug on the cylinder block is
I think it's just below the front core plug on the passenger side of the block but I'm unsure and don't want to take out a vital bolt.
Spent alot of time practising a route that I can get my hand in and able to apply araldite without getting the stuff everywhere and getting it where I want it - thinks it's gonna be a pain in the arse.
. I've drained the coolant out and cleaned the core plug as best I can without seeing it. Not done it yet as I'm trying to work out where the coolant drain plug on the cylinder block is
I think it's just below the front core plug on the passenger side of the block but I'm unsure and don't want to take out a vital bolt.
Spent alot of time practising a route that I can get my hand in and able to apply araldite without getting the stuff everywhere and getting it where I want it - thinks it's gonna be a pain in the arse.
Well thats not really worked
Still got a slight dripping leak, I think when the engines not running and all the caps are on the cooling system it dosen't leak but it was definetly dripping when I went for a test drive last night.
I reckon the only way to fix it is to take out the radiator and all the stuff at the front of the engine bay and then lift the engine forward slightly. BUt not got a engine lift crane thingy. SO probably gonna be a garage job .
And I bet that'll cost £££ just for the time it'll take, to fix a £1 core plug.
May change my radiator first as It needs doing and see how I go but if waters coming out I guess that means air could be going in, which won't be great either.
Still got a slight dripping leak, I think when the engines not running and all the caps are on the cooling system it dosen't leak but it was definetly dripping when I went for a test drive last night.
I reckon the only way to fix it is to take out the radiator and all the stuff at the front of the engine bay and then lift the engine forward slightly. BUt not got a engine lift crane thingy. SO probably gonna be a garage job
. And I bet that'll cost £££ just for the time it'll take, to fix a £1 core plug.
May change my radiator first as It needs doing and see how I go but if waters coming out I guess that means air could be going in, which won't be great either.
Jason2
Well-Known Member
Well thats not really worked
Still got a slight dripping leak, I think when the engines not running and all the caps are on the cooling system it dosen't leak but it was definetly dripping when I went for a test drive last night.
I reckon the only way to fix it is to take out the radiator and all the stuff at the front of the engine bay and then lift the engine forward slightly. BUt not got a engine lift crane thingy. SO probably gonna be a garage job
And I bet that'll cost £££ just for the time it'll take, to fix a £1 core plug.
May change my radiator first as It needs doing and see how I go but if waters coming out I guess that means air could be going in, which won't be great either.
I would try some of the liquid metal stuff!
Engine's going no where so I can't see you popping it forward 20cm, unless you undo all engine,gearbox,transfer mounts,prop shafts, etc...
It's actually not as bad as I first thought, it dosen't seams to be leaking much now. I've got a slight drip but left a pan underneath and been checking coolant and not suffered any major loss.
I considered some liquid metal stuff but had araldite in so had a go with that. Now I don't really want to mix diffrent types of adhesive/sealent so I'll probably have another go at aralditing the patch up some more next week.
Think I'll get on and fix the radiator soon - think I've found one for £50, not new but gotta be in better nick than mine.
And my axel stands just arrived so gonna really start on waxyoling all the chassis now.
So it's patched but not repaired in my book right now - any bets on how long it'll hold?
Teshu
I considered some liquid metal stuff but had araldite in so had a go with that. Now I don't really want to mix diffrent types of adhesive/sealent so I'll probably have another go at aralditing the patch up some more next week.
Think I'll get on and fix the radiator soon - think I've found one for £50, not new but gotta be in better nick than mine.
And my axel stands just arrived so gonna really start on waxyoling all the chassis now.
So it's patched but not repaired in my book right now - any bets on how long it'll hold?
Teshu
Dickymoore
New Member
Look on ebay for your rad - I got a brand new one last week for just over £100 inc p&p.
If you can get near enough with a stubby screwdriver, and if you can see the pinhole, try to drive in (straight) a small stainless-steel self-tapper with a small fibre washer under its head.
I have done a few like this and it lasts a very long time - not had one fail ever afterwards, but I appreciate you are tight for space.
CharlesY
I have done a few like this and it lasts a very long time - not had one fail ever afterwards, but I appreciate you are tight for space.
CharlesY
i used aradite to fix a rad that had a hole about 3" long where the fan had gone into it.
i mixed up both full tubes and smathered it all over, it wur left to dry fer ages and once dry didn't cause a problem during the next 2-3,000 miles that i did before selling vehicle.
if yer rad is slowly rotting as opposed to having had something make the hole then it probably wint work as the any rot around the aradite will soon give up the ghost.
i mixed up both full tubes and smathered it all over, it wur left to dry fer ages and once dry didn't cause a problem during the next 2-3,000 miles that i did before selling vehicle.
if yer rad is slowly rotting as opposed to having had something make the hole then it probably wint work as the any rot around the aradite will soon give up the ghost.
Well folks,
I followed advice (thank you all
Untill now..........
Spent a good hour or so in traffic this evening, didn't move much and I guess the disco got hot. So coolant starts spraying out just above the patch I araldited.
So I let the car cool some and gingerly drive home thankfully only had a few minutes left to spend in standing traffic and then a ten minute drive to home, the temp appeared to stay at normal level - suspect this was a lie from my thermostat.
Get home let her cool down and araldite the hole and pour some water in to check it's not leaking. WELL it's now leaking from near the back of the engine, it's running down a braided hose that I think runs round the back of the engine.
The previous owner said he'd replaced the water jacket gasket - could it be this again?
Any help or advice on what to look for would be greatly appricated. It's gone dark and I can't see too much but will happily nip oyut and poke around with a torch in my mouth if I can pinpoint the problem now.
Please help thank you
Teshu
The system isn't over prssurising is it? It's a bit weird to burst a leak every time you plug a hole.
Riggaz
