New Member - West Byfleet Surrey

[Telfyn]

Hello All

I've had my pacific blue SE for about 11 years, i've not been aware of this site before but my mechanic at Bell and Colvill thought i should try here as i'm after a part that's he thinks is not available .

More on the part later, as, on entering the site , i got very distracted by "simons" hardtop in elan of the month, which looks great i've always wanted one. The page states to go and look in the products section for details, but i don't seem to be able to find it, can someone point me in the right direction please .

The part: not sure of official name, i'm leaking engine coolant currently , two hoses come from below the top up resevoir and go into a valve attached to the engine block, i think it's this valve that's leaking he says they often corrode away ( although i still need to take it to him and get this confirmed, i guess there's a small chance the hose has perished ) Anyone familiar with this problem know a a source ?

My car : a standard blue SE except for stainless exhaust, BBR turbo chip, and uprated front discs (cross drilled BBR)

Thanks

[DaveB]

Welcome to LEC..

I am afraid I cannot help with the part...but there are plenty of people who can and will help on this site...

I have owned my Elan for 15 years and like you took a while to find this site...but I am glad I did, you will not find a better source of information and friendly advice.

David

[Monty]

Welcome to the Forum,

Thats sounds like the heater valve and they do rust away, there's only on f in Geof Smith did do a group buy on the plastic version but i think they all sold, here`s the thread viewtopic.php?f=85&t=13921 might be worth dropping Geoff a message.

I believe there is also a Jag cross ref, here you go another thread to read lol viewtopic.php?f=46&t=7388

Don`t forget to check out http://wikilec.9600.org/index.php/Main_Page a wealth of information

[dapinky]

Hi - welcome to LEC.

It sounds from the symptoms that it may be the heater valve (green circle in picture - hidden below big intake pipe), but from the description of where it is, it sounds like the thermostat housing (red circle).

Can you clarify (or if it is somewhere else, indicate which bit you mean!)?

[abmunro]

Hello and welcome!!

I have posted a link to show you what my Pacific Blue SE looks like with Hard Top Fitted

http://s15.photobucket.com/albums/a382/abmunro/Elan%20Hardtop/


Tony

[Telfyn]

My drip is coming more from where the red circle is, thanks for the help, although i still have to establish that it's not just a perished hose in that location first.

Tony the hardtops look great how do i get hold of one ?

[dapinky]

Okay then - it seems to be the thermostat housing!

There is another thread running at the moment with a similar problem, see here

Basically, the thermostat housing is in two parts, the main body is bolted to the end of the engine and has the sensors set into it, then the 'cover' bolts onto that with a couple of 12mm (head/spanner size!) flange bolts.

It is a common(ish) area for leaks - usually due to incorrect levels of antifreeze/corossion inhibitor.

It will probably be a matter of taking it apart (hopefully without shearing any bolts!), clean the faces with a bit of wet & dry and/or wire wool, and replacing the bits with a new gasket (easily available at most motor spares places) and a smear of silicone sealant.

It would be a good idea to take the oportunity to replace the thermostat while you're there - it is a known weak point on the engine, failing in both the open or closed position.

[Telfyn]

Okay i've been to my mechanic tonight, and it isn't the thermostat valve as i thought previously but the heater valve instead. What was happening when i filled it up was the water was running down the hose from the heater valve and dripping off at the location of the thermostat , which is why i thought it was coming from the red circle. However we've had it all apart and it's definately the heater valve . My mechanic says the standard bell and colvill solution in the absence of a replacement heater valve is simply join the two hoses together and be without a heater valve.

Anyone know a better solution ?

[dapinky]

Anyone know a better solution ?

Yep.......

(but your method will work as a temporary one)


......one of these


but that one seems quite dear compared to what i paid - but it is the only one listed on flea-bay at the moment.

We paid a tenner as a group buy - it may be worth asking there's only on f in Geof Smith who the supplier was?????

[markv]

Anyone know a better solution ?

Yep.......

(but your method will work as a temporary one)


......one of these


but that one seems quite dear compared to what i paid - but it is the only one listed on flea-bay at the moment.

We paid a tenner as a group buy - it may be worth asking there's only on f in Geof Smith who the supplier was?????

If we can get another group buy going, I'd definitely be in. You explained to me at Donington why it would have been worth going into the last group buy and I asked Geoff straight away if he had any left - no luck

[Telfyn]

When you paid a tenner as a group buy , is that for exactly the same item - a volvo heater valve ? If i get the flea bay one, will it be a straight replace or will the hose diameters be different ?

many thanks

yours v.surprised at how quickly a solution can be found !

[texas2201]

Phoned up Classic Components (telephone +44 (0)1325 722777--also known as Eurojag) and found them to be very helpful. Basically the heater valve part no. C41051A is the one I fitted. It's off a series 3 XJ6 and a also fitted to the XJS. The price is £17.95 plus VAT plus postage and packaging of £1.50. Another option (and I recon the slightly better one) is to fit a valve part number CBC2536. This vacuum operated heater control valve is off a Jag XJ40, it's the same price but apparently a little bit smaller as valve part no. C41051A has a small bracket on it allowing it to be mounted to the bulkhead.

aparently they just fit straight on - but if you go to Jaguar direct it will cost you over £50!!!

Martin

[dapinky]

When you paid a tenner as a group buy , is that for exactly the same item - a volvo heater valve ? If i get the flea bay one, will it be a straight replace or will the hose diameters be different ?

many thanks

yours v.surprised at how quickly a solution can be found !

The ones Geoff sourced are definately a Volvo 740 item, and is a straight fit in the elan. What I can't guarantee is that the item i linked to is exactly the same - hopefully Geoff can confirm

[GeoffSmith]

They're the boys Pinky. I have one left for DavidJT which I am willing to send if you can arrange with David to replace his. Some of you may be interested in this.


PS I ran with a bit of pipe for many months after mine fell apart - the fan blows slightly warm air on the cold setting but hey, Summer's gone!

[Telfyn]

I've bought a volvo heater valve as mentioned in a previous post from ebay, will let you know how i get on .

Apologies for not doing the group buy, i thought it might take a long time to materialise

[Telfyn]

Thought i'd bought off ebay, 6 were listed , did a "buy it now" to find they were out of stock after all with some coming in the following week , which never did so money refunded..........arse have to find one from somewhere else now!

[GeoffSmith]

Sorry to hear of your FleaBay woes. I'm in the middle of the next group buy and as a said above, I have an uncollected one in front of me. I can post it to you on Monday if you PM me your address.

Geoff