Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: matt on 07 September 2007, 16:30:27

Title: Loss of coolant... how to bypass?
Post by: matt on 07 September 2007, 16:30:27
smell of coolant closely followed by half pint of hot water on left foot.  I was only pootling round town.

Only had the damn thing a day...  I know previous owner has changed header tank and HBV - dunno how recently.  Local garage I trust can't do anything til Tues  :(

Anyone know a good mechanic near blackpool?

1. can i safely limp it a mile back to home when it cooled?
2. what are the likely causes / complexity of fix.

Supposed to be going on hols tomorrow eve.   >:(  :'(
Title: Re: Loss of coolant... onto feet.  HBV?
Post by: Markie on 07 September 2007, 16:32:59
Heater bypass valve the normal suspect, an easy albeit cumbersom job. No need for mechanic.

VX part should see change from a £30 note  ;)

If driving keep some spare fluid in the boot - and do it soon as often the leak will end up causing problems with the coil pack ( dispack)
Title: Re: Loss of coolant... onto feet.  HBV?
Post by: IrmscherKris on 07 September 2007, 16:33:07
Sounds like the heater matrix to me... not too difficult of a job  :y
Title: Re: Loss of coolant... onto feet.  HBV?
Post by: Markie on 07 September 2007, 16:43:11
...actually left foot...where were you standing  :-/
Title: Re: Loss of coolant... onto feet.  HBV?
Post by: ians on 07 September 2007, 16:45:59
Quote
Heater bypass valve the normal suspect, an easy albeit cumbersom job. No need for mechanic.

VX part should see change from a £30 note  ;)

If driving keep some spare fluid in the boot - and do it soon as often the leak will end up causing problems with the coil pack ( dispack)

I've never heard of HBV resulting in coolant dumping INSIDE the car.   I am inclined to think heater matrix too.

Can someone confirm - if you switch AC on, does that take the heater matrix out of the coolant circuit?  wondering if their is a temporary solution given the chap's off on holiday tomorrow.

Title: Re: Loss of coolant... onto feet.  HBV?
Post by: davlad22 on 07 September 2007, 16:46:14
Standing!?! I'm guessing he sits down to drive like the rest of us!  ;D ;)
Title: Re: Loss of coolant... onto feet.  HBV?
Post by: Markie on 07 September 2007, 16:55:46
Quote
Standing!?! I'm guessing he sits down to drive like the rest of us!  ;D ;)
:-[

aye awrite i had read that originally as left hand side thinking hbv which clearly this is not....must not be on here whilst working as clearly i cant multi task..CLEARLY this is not hbv  ;D
Title: Re: Loss of coolant... onto feet.  HBV?
Post by: matt on 07 September 2007, 17:03:22
Appreciate the speed of replies - thanks!!!

car isnt far away, so I'll go get it in an hour or two...   heating to cold.

Only mention HBV as previous owner mentioned he'd changed it.

All coolant seems to be inside.

So I presume its dash out.  and dig out the haynes manual.

(oh and yes I was sitting!!!  ;D )
Title: Re: Loss of coolant... onto feet.  HBV?
Post by: tunnie on 07 September 2007, 17:10:25
could be a number of things, hbv, some pipes, oil cooler....
Title: Re: Loss of coolant... onto feet.  HBV?
Post by: davlad22 on 07 September 2007, 19:53:42
Not the heater matrix then?
Title: Re: Loss of coolant... onto feet.  HBV?
Post by: TheBoy on 07 September 2007, 20:06:27
Water inside on drivers side is likely to be heater matrix.  Bit of a pig to change...
Title: Re: Loss of coolant... stupid questions time...
Post by: matt on 07 September 2007, 23:57:04
OK, thanks for the clues guys...

To *check* if it is the heater matrix - what's easiest method (i.e. can I check easily without pulling the dash?)

How feasible is it to bypass the inside from the engine side of the bulkhead?  I am assuming this will be easier (like couple of right angles from wherever they come out the block and some jubilee clips), than a dash out, change, dash back in.

I'd rather have a week with no heat than start completely messing up plans by trying to do a rushed matrix swap.

And cars/bikes were much simpler with more last time I did much DIY mechanicing.
Title: Re: Loss of coolant... onto feet.  HBV?
Post by: johnc46 on 08 September 2007, 09:20:32
Bypass the heater Matt its the best solution  :y
Title: Re: Loss of coolant... how to bypass?
Post by: matt on 08 September 2007, 11:55:36
OK, before I start buying some 19mm hose and jubilee clips, I found this:

http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1185891036
They're not jubilee clips   :o

So I take it length of 19mm flexible hose & two jubilee clips isn't going to cut it...  Am I gonna need to slice the OE hoses and cobble some sort of join??

Title: Re: Loss of coolant... how to bypass?
Post by: CaptainZok on 08 September 2007, 12:17:39
Does it still leak when the heater is set to cold both sides?
I think the HBV should close off the heater matrix when the controls are set to cold.
Might be a temp solution till you get a new matrix installed.
Title: Re: Loss of coolant... how to bypass?
Post by: ians on 09 September 2007, 00:21:38
that's the kind of thing I was thinking about - but not sure if the AC should be on or off.   Worth some experimenting before cutting the pipes..
Title: Re: Loss of coolant... how to bypass?
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 09 September 2007, 09:15:57
If you pop the inlet setup out, you will be able to get to the main coolant pipes at the back.

Disconnect the main pipes which are part of the heater bypass assembly where they attach to

1) The coolant bridge between the heads

2) The maain coolant transfer pipe at the rear of the block.

Then fit a short length of hose to join the two connections back up again.

Either that or clamp the two pipes where they pass through the bulk head.
Title: Re: Loss of coolant... how to bypass?
Post by: matt on 09 September 2007, 16:25:00
Thanks for the hints...  I am becoming baffled with this ...

The scuttle drain was blocked - now dripping happily on nearside wheel  :)  Bonnet now opens and is adjusted.  Haven't solved original problem.

There's now a slow but steady drip drip of coolant from approx front of gearbox, driver side  (near the downpipe on the drivers side)

everything in the engine bay appears fine - and very *DRY*... except:

The bottom hose from the bulkhead runs to a T piece - the top of the T is kinked over and then runs to the bottom of two connections on the right side of the HBV.  It's certainly enough to restrict flow heavily - maybe enough to nearly stop it.  Dunno if that's the cause, or caused a pipe to pop off inside cabin due to pressure.

All of this & HBV are bone dry.  This is 80% by touch - access is not the best.   ;D

The two connectors that run forward from the HBV are the two I need to link, yes?

Think it's put off til morning anyway as I have no torx sockets to take plenum off - didn't bother to look before going to halfords for hose and torx bits (separate trips of course!!!)  ;D

Oh well I learnt plenty.  Hols postponed til tomorrow