Radiator Issues

[James Cornell 10]

When I got my 205 GTI 1.9 phase 1.5 it had a pinhole leak in the rad and because I had to use the car for work I decided to just top it up every day for a few weeks whilst the new rad came.

 

Now I have bought a new radiator and I drained the system and fitted it on Saturday (using very pricy antifreeze/coolant) and now I have notice a line of coolant and it seems to be coming from the temp gauge (the big 30mm screw in thing).

 

I'm a bit pissed of with the car at the moment because for the last 4 weeks it has been up on the ramps every Saturday in a mad rush (normally stating at 05:45 to get it done) to get little things fixed (rear beam rebuild, bump stops, new brakes, new tyres, fuel/oil filters, plugs and all ignition components etc etc etc).

 

In essence if I am going to have to drain the coolant out this weekend I really want to make sure this is the last time I have to touch the rad (within reason) so I wanted your opinions on the best way to make sure the little bugger seals.

 

I was thinking a boat-load of PTFE-Gas tape but if anyone else has any suggestions or tricks I would really appreciate it

[Anthony 1,003]

That's the thermoswitch for the radiator cooling fan.

 

There's normally a sealing washer present - is this missing on yours? PTFE tape would probably work, but I've never needed to resort to that and with the washer present they've always sealed fine for me.

 

Keep the faith - it does take a while to bring these cars upto scratch and rid them of the inevitable signs of age, wear and past neglect, but once done they're normally pretty reliable so long as you keep up with servicing and preventative maintenance

[welshpug 1,661]

Its an M22 copper crush washer you need, if you can't find one at a motorfactor or similar then the o.e part number is 0243 18, cost you about a quid, that'll be for any Pug or Citroen dealer, many others like VW also use the same size.

 

if the thermoswitch is unkown then it may be worthwhile getting a new one from a motorfactor, have a search as the part numbers were posted quite recently with a few different options for you.

Edited October 8, 2013 by welshpug

[James Cornell 10]

Thanks for the response I will pop over to Peugeot and see if they have one in stock, I did think it was a little odd that a brand new radiator would spring a leak.

 

I will see how I get on ​

[James Cornell 10]

I have just been to my local Peugeot dealer and picked up this

 

 

I will see if I have a chance to fit it tonight and see how much coolant i lose

[Anthony 1,003]

Part drain the cooling system first, and you'll lose next to nothing

[Tom Fenton 1,542]

Bowl under the car, catch what comes out, pour it back in .

[welshpug 1,661]

as above, especially given most replacement rads these days don't have a drain screw.

[James Cornell 10]

luckily this rad has a drain screw which is nice, it is not a bad buy really if anyone needs a replacement rad...looks nice and shiny in silver too although I am sure after a few 1000 miles on the road it will dull and not look quite so cool.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281091567164?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2648

 

I will make sure I catch all of the coolant as I don't really want to buy any more

[Tom Fenton 1,542]

I've fitted a couple of those rads for folk, they are a decent enough item at a very good price. Its not worth messing about with second hand tat when a new one is that cheap.

[James Cornell 10]

My thoughts exactly, although it is always worth fitting all of the required washers as well..........You learn something new every day

[James Cornell 10]

Well I have taken the radiator out (again) and refitted the thermostat switch with a new washer and some PTFE and a the great news is it has stopped leaking YAY!!!

 

More alarming is that I am still losing coolant at a rate of about 1.5l or every tank of fuel (320 odd miles).

 

I have no idea where the bloody hell this is leaking from now, the oil looks fine so I do not think it is a head gasket but short of changing all of the hoses (which I really can't afford at the moment) I don't know what to do.

 

It's not overheating and I can't see any pink residue anywhere in the engine bay which I would expect if there was a persistent leak.

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated

[allye 530 3 Cars]

Get it up to temp and open the throttle a little to get some pressure in the hoses. Might be a perished hose with a pin prick that only leaks under high pressure?

 

Matrix?

[James Cornell 10]

The matrix was replaced just before I got the car so that would be less likely but it may be that it was a poor replacement or badly fitted. I think running it up on the stands may show the gremlins if there are any, I will just try not to get too much coolant in my eyes/mouth...

 

I am really worried if it is the matrix because it must have lost 5L over the last month or two so it will have made a right bloody mess of the blukhead if that has been happening.

 

I will try and get a dry evening and give it a go...

[welshpug 1,661]

why did you take the rad out to change the thermoswitch?

[James Cornell 10]

Because when I bought the car it had a pin-hole leak in the bottom of the radiator so I replaced it, however when I put the thermo-switch back in the old washer was knackered and it did not seal properly so I took the rad back out last week and refitted the thermo-switch with a new washer and some PTFE.

 

That does not leak any more but I am losing quite a bit of coolant now so there must be another leak somewhere...

[James Cornell 10]

Ok I think I have sussed it! I ran the car up the motorway keeping it at 4,000RPM and then pulled straight into a layby and the block was wet to the left and below the thermostat housing so I think it must be either the top hose or the thermostat housing.

 

I have called Spoox and they are putting me a top hose to one side so I will pop it on this weekend and see what happens...

[welshpug 1,661]

could be the joint between the housing and the head.

[James Cornell 10]

That is my hope, as I can't imagine new thermostat housings are that easy to come by...

 

I will whip it off and refit with a sizeable wedge of Hylomar Blue

[welshpug 1,661]

I would get some decent sealant for a start!

[James Cornell 10]

Oh dear, how a little job can escalate!!!

 

I took the ancillaries off on Saturday to change the top hose and reseal the thermostat housing and when I removed the breather housing I noticed the block looked quite wet...So I though I know I will dry it and run the engine to see where the water was coming from, however as soon as I dried the block I noticed that it started to weep coolant from the head

 

So it is head gasket time so I have ordered full head rebuild kit, new head gasket, new cam belt, cam belt tensioner, new aux belt, new water pump and new exhaust bolts.

 

The plan is to rebuild all of the inlet components and clean them and then take out the valves and re-lap and replace all of the seals...

 

However I did not realise what a total cow it is to work on the engine in-situ, It has taken me three nights to remove the inlet, exhaust and remove the cam covers, I am now looking at the cam tensioner and water pump and really wondering how I will get my fingers/hands to bend into position to change them...

 

I really wish I had a bit more time as I would drop the box off and lift the engine but I am a bit committed now!

 

I have been told about a chap who will come over with the correct tensioning tool and setup the new cam belt but apart from that I am on my own so if anyone has any wisdom or advice on doing this alone on a driveway with a limited knowledge of the XU engine please feel free to post your two penneth as I really seem to be making a bloody hard job of this...

[welshpug 1,661]

Not likely you will need a tool to tension the belt, 8valve xu engines up to mid 1992 have sprung sliding tensioners.

Edited October 23, 2013 by welshpug

[James Cornell 10]

Sadly it does not give me any more space to work in

[welshpug 1,661]

Maybe not, but does save trying to get a tool down there in the first place.

 

Never thought it was that bad for space tbh, plenty far worse.

[James Cornell 10]

I suppose I just have fat hands and I was treated as the last engine rebuild I did was completed out of the car...