coolant loss. what to check before thinking "catastrophic" failure
#16
Racer
Thread Starter
Wow! those pics make me nervous.
When I bought the car, I had thought that the clutch was shot. I just figured that I would be pulling the engine to replace the clutch/slave/mc and would deal with welding up the coolant stubs at that time... and have all new and a good piece of mind. As it turns out, I was lucky. My mechanic merely bled the clutch lines and the clutch funk largely went away... no need to pull the engine, upgrade the clutch mc/slave... so I didn't get in to weld the cooling stubs. Go figure, now I'm worried about the coolant lines and am putting up with finding the clutch release point . I am also putting off tuning as I don't want to burn up the clutch (unknown condition).
Sometimes getting lucky is not good for the piece of mind... but there might be another story there. lol
When I bought the car, I had thought that the clutch was shot. I just figured that I would be pulling the engine to replace the clutch/slave/mc and would deal with welding up the coolant stubs at that time... and have all new and a good piece of mind. As it turns out, I was lucky. My mechanic merely bled the clutch lines and the clutch funk largely went away... no need to pull the engine, upgrade the clutch mc/slave... so I didn't get in to weld the cooling stubs. Go figure, now I'm worried about the coolant lines and am putting up with finding the clutch release point . I am also putting off tuning as I don't want to burn up the clutch (unknown condition).
Sometimes getting lucky is not good for the piece of mind... but there might be another story there. lol
#17
Three Wheelin'
Wow! those pics make me nervous.
When I bought the car, I had thought that the clutch was shot. I just figured that I would be pulling the engine to replace the clutch/slave/mc and would deal with welding up the coolant stubs at that time... and have all new and a good piece of mind. As it turns out, I was lucky. My mechanic merely bled the clutch lines and the clutch funk largely went away... no need to pull the engine, upgrade the clutch mc/slave... so I didn't get in to weld the cooling stubs. Go figure, now I'm worried about the coolant lines and am putting up with finding the clutch release point . I am also putting off tuning as I don't want to burn up the clutch (unknown condition).
Sometimes getting lucky is not good for the piece of mind... but there might be another story there. lol
When I bought the car, I had thought that the clutch was shot. I just figured that I would be pulling the engine to replace the clutch/slave/mc and would deal with welding up the coolant stubs at that time... and have all new and a good piece of mind. As it turns out, I was lucky. My mechanic merely bled the clutch lines and the clutch funk largely went away... no need to pull the engine, upgrade the clutch mc/slave... so I didn't get in to weld the cooling stubs. Go figure, now I'm worried about the coolant lines and am putting up with finding the clutch release point . I am also putting off tuning as I don't want to burn up the clutch (unknown condition).
Sometimes getting lucky is not good for the piece of mind... but there might be another story there. lol
#19
Racer
Thread Starter
I pulled the nose off yesterday to check for leaks, I had wanted to vacuum out a few leaves that had gotten picked up anyway. I decided to pull off the ducting and A/C evaporators to get a better look.... really glad I did:
Business card, credit card receipt, cigarette butts and a lot more leaves.
While both sides showed similar debries and dampness, I couldn't tell if it was coolant seepage or if it was just wet from the road. I can see how this packed-in wet junk could wick up water; freeze/expand and really cause damage to your radiator tank seams. I had no idea it was so dirty by just a quick look thru the bumper cover.
#22
Burning Brakes
Yep, been there. Cleaned mine, ran fine for several months, then the LF radiator failed. Not at the tank seam, but the lower tube area formerly covered by dirt, trash, dead bird, etc. Freezing not an issue here, but simple age. Replaced it with an AKG unit, next one to fail will get both remaining units replaced.
#23
Racer
Thread Starter
"Uhhhh" ...Yes Dock, these are coming out! New hoses and radiators should arrive early next week. Someone here once mentioned that "on a 15 year old car, things are either broken, or are in the process of breaking". These seem to fit that bill.
How hard are the side radiators to get out? Do you have to disassemble the freon lines to remove the a/c condensors, or can you merely slip the radiators out from behind?
How hard are the side radiators to get out? Do you have to disassemble the freon lines to remove the a/c condensors, or can you merely slip the radiators out from behind?
#24
Yep, been there. Cleaned mine, ran fine for several months, then the LF radiator failed. Not at the tank seam, but the lower tube area formerly covered by dirt, trash, dead bird, etc. Freezing not an issue here, but simple age. Replaced it with an AKG unit, next one to fail will get both remaining units replaced.
Here in SoCal you got to get all the cooling you can here in the summer.
#27
Rennlist Member
#28
Rennlist Member
"Uhhhh" ...Yes Dock, these are coming out! New hoses and radiators should arrive early next week. Someone here once mentioned that "on a 15 year old car, things are either broken, or are in the process of breaking". These seem to fit that bill.
How hard are the side radiators to get out? Do you have to disassemble the freon lines to remove the a/c condensors, or can you merely slip the radiators out from behind?
How hard are the side radiators to get out? Do you have to disassemble the freon lines to remove the a/c condensors, or can you merely slip the radiators out from behind?
Read this thread
https://rennlist.com/forums/996-turb...placement.html