It’s only a small leak, honest

[Saltire]

Please can I have the prize for the OP whose thread has strayed furthest in 2020?

On the other hand, please don’t stop, because I’m greatly enjoying the banter

[Brit-Car-Nut]

I'm still having a bit of a struggle trying to figure out how a coolant leak evolved into a paint code discussion.

[GeoffSmith]

Well, my coolant is blue.
Pinky's car is blue.
QED

[japtojo]

Well, my coolant is blue.
Pinky's car is blue.
QED

What is the correct level for the coolant to be in the header tank.Cheers

[Fredjohn]

What is the correct level for the coolant to be in the header tank.Cheers

The moulded line on the tank with 'full' written next to it!

[GeoffSmith]

[Rambo]

What is the correct level for the coolant to be in the header tank.Cheers

The moulded line on the tank with 'full' written next to it!

[dapinky]

What is the correct level for the coolant to be in the header tank.Cheers

The moulded line on the tank with 'full' written next to it!

Ah, bugger! - another job to do on the car.... I have no moulded line with "Full" (or "Cold / Kalt" etc) on it.......

Either I need to fabricate something, or just use the sight glass in the aluminium tank and hope it is correct.


Geoff,

You are correct that my car is blue, 'cos that's what it says on the V5 (but I never changed it after having it sprayed)...... I have decided to draw a line under this now and simply refer to the colour as "Unicorn Tears"....... (Paint code GM355)

[GeoffSmith]

So, getting back on topic (almost) I think I have found the reason for an occasional random clunk:

32.03A #40 - A910E6490F Hose clip 15/20mm, low pressure hose securing (PAS).


Interesting that the pipe is 16mm OD yet the P clip is clearly stamped 15mm - possibly the reason why it's sheared. New 16mm stainless on order.

[Simon_P]

Please can I have the prize for the OP whose thread has strayed furthest in 2020?

No! See below.

I'm still having a bit of a struggle trying to figure out how a coolant leak evolved into a paint code discussion.

The OP raised the question of paint codes.

You are correct that my car is blue, '

I did say Geoff was being really really obscure.

"Unicorn Tears"....... (Paint code GM355)

use blue primer.

[Simon_P]

32.03A #40 - A910E6490F Hose clip 15/20mm, low pressure hose securing (PAS).

Interesting that the pipe is 16mm OD yet the P clip is clearly stamped 15mm - possibly the reason why it's sheared.

No - the 15/20mm is the size range.

[GeoffSmith]

Interesting that the pipe is 16mm OD yet the P clip is clearly stamped 15mm - possibly the reason why it's sheared.

No - the 15/20mm is the size range.

15/20 is from the manual and we all know how accurate that is! DIN3016 specification is the maximum diameter and 15mm is stamped on mine and the EPDM is squashed so much there is no give whatsoever which was why I've gone for 16mm.

[GeoffSmith]

I'm sure I didn't remove that in January!

[GeoffSmith]

Rather than hijacking Justin's thread, I thought I'd carry on posting on Jonathan's.

Cam belt etc. done with some cheap PAS and alternator belts.
Samcos fitted and no leaks under pressure but the cooling system needed a good dose of radflush because I'd flushed it with water before we went to Spain but there is a puddle left at the bottom of the engine and the water pump had rusted to buggery.
Replaced missing nut and bolt - nothing important, just one of the two connecting the front and back sections of the offside front wishbone.
Replacement silicone vacuum hoses fitted.
The old girl runs but with nowhere to go, so time for some odd jobs:
Throttle cable repaired.
New gasket for oil filler cap fitted so it now reads Oil from the front of the car rather than the offside.
Worked out why the washers are so bad - the non return valve is operating as a no admittance valve so new one on order. The pipes are brittle and gunky as well so new pipe on order. I've never been happy with the retaining clips on the mist spray heads so they're being worked on.



The more observant (and anally retentive) amongst you will notice that there are only two washer hose retaining clips and the turbo heatshield is unbolted. Having removed said clips and placed them on the top of the engine while I removed the washer jets, I knocked one and it disappeared down behind the heatshield. Cutting a long story short, I chased it down behind the turbo with various improvised tools until it cannot be seen from anywhere so the heatshield is going to have to come off. Oh well, if I'm doing that, I might as well fit the pre-cat eliminator I bought in 2008. Project creep!

[Saltire]

My progress on the communal CoVid project this week:

- cambelt, pulleys, other belts all done and back in
- new crank pulley fitted and much better
- powder coated brackets delivered back by the blaster and refit started
- slight rust on the headlamp pod bonded brackets treated and repaint today

Next, reassemble the headlamp pods (I can do the mean beam lights as I’m rescuing those, but still waiting for the replacement H4s to arrive).

I must also drill out the fasteners for the n/s sidelamp/indicator. The o/s came out like a dream, with a screwdriver, but the n/s is heavily rusted and some oaf of a mechanics prior to me has rounded out all the cross-head screws No luck with PlusGas, and I can’t use heat because the unit (which is in excellent condition) is plastic, so time to break out the drill bits - and then recut the threads, I expect.

I had originally left the VED in force when I started the work, but I’m now thinking to SORN it at the end of March, for obvious reasons. The MoT doesn’t run out till mid-May, so that’s not a problem. Thinking about it, I might as well SORN the Golf as well; we only really have a need for one car for food and meds (dog and human) at present, and Pauline prefers driving the Volvo.

Oh, and just as a reminder, this originally started as a project to replace the radiator and fit the Samco hoses . . .

[NewLogik]

I keep following here After all, it's only a small leak with a few other things arround

[dapinky]

Okay, okay........

..... it appears that there are those amongst the group who think it is acceptable to take this thread way and continue to hijack it mercilessly.

In order to try and bring some decorum to the procedings, I feel that it is sensible, proprotionate and necessary to bring your attention to the following picture, to (hopefully) bring the thread back to the original topic.

images.jpg (4.56 KiB) Viewed 16294 times

Thank you for your support at this awkward time.

[GeoffSmith]

You scallion!

[TorqueHorse]

Is that a small leek, or a new lotus racing empire green onion that is making me cry?

[Saltire]

Back on topic for a while - I finally managed to repair the power steering switch this weekend:

New brass switch plunger turned . . .

. . . and fitted to switch body

Meanwhile, back with the gear cables; I stripped the linkage down prior to fitting BCN’s replacement cables and short shift, and here’s what I found:

Gear linkage bush disintegrated

Thank goodness for JC’s excellent replacements, which are now fitted and just need adjusting up.

Also started to reassemble the headlamps and pods, but still waiting for the replacement dip beams to turn up. Not holding my breath as many automotive suppliers are closed for the duration

And finally . . . As it’s the end of the month and we can’t go anywhere, I’ve SORNed both the Elan and the Golf to await happier times. That just leaves Pauline’s Volvo on the road for food shopping etc. Looking forward to having them all back in harness in happier times