Coolant pipe failure danger

[Graham]

Hi, with all the main Radiator failures (Usually either the bleed plug surround cracked, or a nozzle blown off) auxillary water pump failures (Cracked housings, nozzles broken off) i developed a leak in the next plastic component which is the one which sits just above the bell housing in the block (Visable looking down along and too the right of the downpipe), when i removed it the nozzle which fits into the block fell to pieces, also the other end of the fitting which the heater matrix hose fits onto is like a spiders web of micro cracks and fractures, if it fails it will empty the engine of coolant in seconds and there is no quick roadside fix. I have e-mailed for a new one and sleeved mine with a steel insert to get me going. As we have seen the plastic components in the cooling system fail after 10-12 years, this part gets more heat than any other plastic part being mounted directly into the block and next to the downpipe. The part number is on my 94 aby is 034 121 143 E. It also has an o-ring (Parn No. Unknown it is a 3mm X Section by 21mm ID o-ring of high Grade (Fluroelastomer-Viton with a Shore rating of about 70) It might be worth while to carry a spare as it can be accessed and fixed by only removing the Airbox, and it takes about 1/2 - 1 hour to change (As long as it is cool).
All the best from Down Under

Graham

[rotoryboy]

These

[Graham]

Thats the kiddies alright, although the one in the pic is a 90 degree elbow, mine is just a straight nozzle i e-mailed VAG parts yesterday for a new one as i drive to Perth in the old girl in a month or so (1700 Miles)- Why whenever i plan a nice drive out, or a meet, etc does my car throw wobblers. E.G. GTI international 2004 Timing belt came off (Dodgy garage work-not cars fault) Scotland 2003 aux water pump **** it., Australia- Main radiator blew up, then was replaced by 3 substitute rads (1 crap nissens, one faulty OEM (Already Cracked before fitment) Then Me and Graham B made a good Radiator out of 2 bad radiators, then the new one arrived <1 week before the car left for Oz, now i'm getting ****ed off with this housing which just weeps and weeps. Need a new one asap.
Graham