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[henryd]

just noticed that my mig has lost a litre or so of water this last week which is unusual as I have never had to top it up before,turned the heater to hot and water pi$$ing down the back of the engine although strangely does not leak when temp set to normal so looks like I need to empty the swearbox in readiness

[SMD]

Thanks for the comments and the link. I take it you dont need to access the underside of the car..?

Where is the drain off for the coolant? (or can it be done without draining?)

[SMD]

Well I gave it a go and I gave up after a couple of hours! Its impossible to get to with the tools that I have (waterpump pliers). I moved the tubes and hoses I could out of the way and removed the breather tubes (?) although I couldn't get the black support plate off (don't have torx bits). 

I didn't even get one hose off! The clip on the hose to the passenger side which is impossible to get to anyway, is facing downwards.

Any moral support and guidance would be appreciated.

[henryd]

It is a bloody awkward thing to change, I did mine today and I removed the plenum but I did not touch the scuttle panel, I have set of remote hose clip pliers that made the job a little easier. If you can borrow a set of these it will help

[SMD]

What part is the plenum? Why didnt you remove the scuttle?

I dont know anyone with remote hose clip pliers, wanna lend me yours?   

[henryd]

The big silver bit in the centre of the v of the engine, I just thought it was easier to remove that bit instead of the scuttle, gave me a chance to clean the breathers out at the same time

Edit I would gladly lend you my pliers if you were closer,mine are made by snap on and were quite expensive but there are cheaper one available

[geoffr70]

I changed mine last week whilst doing other work, so had the plenum and other bits off already. I would say to take the scuttle off, it takes 2 mins and is much quicker and easier than plenum etc.

Use a flathead screwdriver to prise caps off end of wiper arm fixing. Use 13mm socket undo nut on wiper arm. Spray a little penetrating spray on thread, it will be a little stiff. Ease your wipers off, best to keep threads parallel so comes off easier. I find it easier to do it with bonnet up. Undo fixings on scuttle, torx 25 or 27 IIRC. Move to one side. You should have access to your HBV. I used mole grips because they lock, long nose pliers and normal pliers to get hose clips off. Remember which order pipes connect (take pic on your phone). Tale vacuum pipe off, and coolant pipes. Fit new one. There is no need to drain coolant. But make sure it's not hot when you do it so you don't burn yourself.

I was doing mine as I say whilst doing other work, but individually I'd have thought it'd take no longer than half an hour.

If you can't get a purchase on the clips, I would try lubricating them and gradually moving them round so you can. Either with pliers or rotating HBV, or whichever you can.

In my (limited) experience, most jobs are awkward and fiddly, but straightforward. HTH

[SMD]

Yeah I took the scuttle off and drained the coolant because I wanted to flush the system at the same time. The scuttle and the wipers are sitting in the boot so I hope it doesnt rain.

I think I will buy a pair of long nose pliers and some torx bits tomorrow and give it another go.

[Kneepad]

I topped it up yesterday when I got the warning on the computer and twice today (roughly 2-3 litres total). As I drive up to my parking slot I can see a long trail of coolant left behind on the road. 

Whats the cause and whats the fix?

Cheers

I wonder if SMD has just overfilled it and the water was coming out of the expanson tank breather pipe.   

[geoffr70]

You can get your hand in under the HBV to check for leaks without removing anything. It's a little tight but possible. Take your watch off! When mine went it wasn't gradual, one morning i'd lost a load of coolant and that was that. Don't put your hand in when hot!

[SMD]

I wonder if SMD has just overfilled it and the water was coming out of the expanson tank breather pipe.   

I hope that is the case TBH but I remember it dripping after every journey before this incident, when I used to regularly look underneath the car for oil leaks. Just ignored it. 

As for overfilling, how would this happen? I always top it up to the mark on the expansion tank. 

[Kneepad]

I wonder if SMD has just overfilled it and the water was coming out of the expanson tank breather pipe.   

I hope that is the case TBH but I remember it dripping after every journey before this incident, when I used to regularly look underneath the car for oil leaks. Just ignored it. 

As for overfilling, how would this happen? I always top it up to the mark on the expansion tank. 

Then ignore my comment. It was just a thought. 

[Welung666]

There isn't an overflow pipe! The coolant bottle is fitted with a pressure cap.

[Kneepad]

There isn't an overflow pipe! The coolant bottle is fitted with a pressure cap.

Foot has now been removed from mouth. 

[SMD]

It was a pain in the arse but it got done in the end. Removing the support plate helped lots and no plasters required. It made sense to flush out the cooling system at the same time and put VX 5 year stuff in so thats another job out the way.

Cheers guys