I feel a bit welsh due to the large amount of leaks i have

FCS Event Manager Joined: 04 Jan 2005 Posts: 3680

Well not only is my power steering rack leaking but now so is my water pump . . .

it must have been slowly getting worse over the last few weeks, noticed the car temp sitting a bit higher than normal and thats been increasing too, also been using more coolant than normal, at first i put it down to the higher temps in the weather lately or a possible head gasket problem starting to emerge.

anyway, had the car up on the jack to check the steering fluid leak which is steadily getting worse (i've emailed infinicar for a price on a rack, waiting for him to get back to me) and noticed another wet patch on the subframe directly under the water pump, so ran the engine for a good 25 minutes with the cap off the expansion tank, this was to try to get some air out of the system, water in the expansion tank is all foamy and u can see large air bubbles going into the expansion tank on the return pipe, let the fan cut in a few times and topped up the coolant 3 times!
I had topped it up to the max mark before running the engine and it had practicly emptied the expansion tank 3 times in 25 mins.
looked down at the water pump and no obvious sign of leakage but i do have the cap off so not much pressure in the system.

so now after 3 refills and 25 minutes running, its not emptying the expansion tank anymore but still getting loads of air bubbles thou and a nice foamy surface to the water in the expansion tank, put the cap back on to pressurise the system.

yep, getting some water on the subframe again under the water pump, cant see any water coming from the pump itself thou, the pump is not making any nasty noises so i belive its just maybe the gasket that seals the pump to the block leaking ?

so replace gasket and bleed the cooling system ?

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

ben clio is leakign from the front of the engine, I thought it was th epump at first but its not.

its runnign down the sump.

New pump is about 20 quid anyway, just slap a new one on it.

Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2005 6:05 am

Better safe than sorry, with the Scotland trip not to far away!

FCS Event Manager Joined: 04 Jan 2005 Posts: 3680

I got a new water pump so will slap that on.

just ordered my new (infinicar) PAS Rack - Â£70 incl postage

so gonna be a fun weekend this one, change out rack, column, and water pump, oh joy lol

Forum Moderator Joined: 18 Feb 2004 Posts: 7432

water pump Crying or Very sad

FCS Event Manager Joined: 04 Jan 2005 Posts: 3680

Neal 19 16v wrote:

water pump Crying or Very sad

oh god, now u have worried me Neal with that cry face, something you have had to do, bad experience?

from the haynes it does not look like too hard a job but then again, they did not have to do the job on a 12 year old car.

Forum Moderator Joined: 18 Feb 2004 Posts: 7432

yeah ive done one, pain the arse with the engine in the car.

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

crack off the 3 pulley bolts before you take the aux belt off.

You can then remove the 3 bolts when the belts off. The pulley can sometimes come off depending on the condition of the engine mounts other times it has to stay on.

Loosen all the bolts then pull the pump off, might need 'pulled' with a hammer right enough.

Its not that bad, try doing it on a clio 16V

Gay Rights Activist Joined: 07 Apr 2004 Posts: 1268

I would never try it on my clio with the engine in. I could honestly say it is likely to be quicker to take the engine out!

Spammer Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 5717

in that case i believe you invested in a uprated water pump Laughing

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

if the bolts etc are nice and free then yes whip th elump out. when the engines beenin the car for 15 years and the downpiep has never came off the manifold etc things tend to break and cause problems.

FCS Event Manager Joined: 04 Jan 2005 Posts: 3680

yes the engine has never been out as far as i know, been in there 12 long years

anyway today's purchases are a 5 litre bottle of renault coolant Â£12 from GSF, a Low Temp Thermostat, a tube of blue hylomar as no one seems to do a gasket for the water pump, power steering fluid and 2 track rod ends, 5 litres of semi synth engine oil and a new oil filter.

just need to get a new aux belt, may as well change that too whilst i got the belt off and some hose clamps for the power steering hoses for when i change out the rack, hoping the rack is gonna get delivered for tomorrow so i can change it out this weekend.

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

hose clamps for the PS pipes, lol you'll be lucky.

They are high pressure braided steel efforts. I had a hard enough time hacksawing through em!

Forum Moderator Joined: 18 Feb 2004 Posts: 7432

i concur. those PS pipes be tough buggers!

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

160BAR the pumps rated at I think? Or 200, I cannae mind.

Mr Quoter-vator Joined: 16 Feb 2004 Posts: 7405

there is a section with hoseclamps tho....at least there is on mine Confused

if u look at the rack, drivers saide gaiter, the pipe coming over the top of itand down, there is a small section of hose, jubille clipped on.

??

Spammer Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 5717

whats is it between the welsh and being leaky then ? is it to do with the rain or is neo being rude ?? Laughing

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

thats the return line JB, no pressure in that, same with up to the bottle. The main line from the pump round the subframe to the rack is braided steen and woven outer.

Schakal even you must know the leak represents wales!

Mr Quoter-vator Joined: 16 Feb 2004 Posts: 7405

its LEEK

and thanks chris, put my mind at rest.

other thing, on the hatch there,s a sensor pluggin into the piping coming out of the ps pump...whats that for?

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

thats the switch to raise the idle speed when the steerign turned to prevent the idle dipping.

Its a ph1 thing, it was removed on later cars as they had issues with the switches raising the idle all the time after a run.

Spammer Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 5717

did not know that ,whats a "leek" ?