Mystery of the leaking coolant...

[Harvs82]

I had another look today, and it looks to be leaking from 2 points about 100mm apart that run across the car. That's from looking at the drip pattern on the ground. I've had problems with the evaporator tube before and had it fixed (again) about 6 months ago. I can't be sure, but I don't think it is coming from the evaporator. I'll check the repair link though - thanks for that.

There is two evaporator drain points by the way, and they probably are about 100mm apart. Is it dripping basically at the centre of the car, near the transmission etc?

 

[Rickman]

There is two evaporator drain points by the way, and they probably are about 100mm apart. Is it dripping basically at the centre of the car, near the transmission etc?

Yes, I'd say it's definitely coming from under the dash/console area off centre but slightly on the passenger side. Sounds like that's the problem - a leaking heater box. At this stage I'm gonna keep on filling it up, not paying $1000 or going to pull apart myself.

 

[hako]

You could also just block off the heater hoses where they enter the firewall. Summer is just about here and with climate change you may never need a heater again.

 

[NeilB]

I would block the heater off at the waterpump you can but those rubber caps so you just get your heater hoses off and put the caps on. I would then phone around and ask if you made the heater core accessable what might be the price of repair prob save most of the money.

 

[hako]

You need to do it at the firewall as the heater on/off vacuum operated tap also acts as a bypass to allow water to circulate thru the head until the thermostat has opened. You could put those rubber caps on the hose ends where they exit the heater tap but its not possible at the waterpump. Some people simply shove a sparkplug in the hose and tighten with a jubilee clip or bent the hose in two and tie off.

 

[Rickman]

Thanks for the tips. I just filled the coolant tank up again this morning and it took about 1 litre, but that's in about a week, so looks like it's getting worse. The car has climate control, so not sure if you block off the heater hoses will it cause problems?

 

[hako]

That shouldn't matter.