Now its my turn for a water leak

[S2central.net]

99% sure its the little turd bucket, son of a bee-a-atch, link hose for the turbo... I can just see some evidence of dripping under the water rail. I am really not in the mood for all the effort needed to replace that wee sod of a hose. Real PITA cos I had a notion for getting the car off the road this winter for long awaited refurbishment, but nobody told the car that now is NOT a good time to break down. So do I run the gauntlet with this or bite the bullet and just do it.

Knowing my luck, it will go pop at 4000rpm in 6th on the M6 in the middle of darkest Cumbria if I don't fix it. Dangit


Paul

[Mihnea]

Ouch, that hurts, get it sorted ASAP before it costs you an engine m8...

M.

[audiman]

Sort it out Paul, dont risk it, you know it makes sense. If it was anyone else you would tell them to do it.

[Crawford_S2]

I replaced this recently along with a cambelt change and ended up doing the water pump as well. The new tension on the belt made the old unit leek!! BTW thehose comes from audi in something stupid like 3 metres and is 45 quid ish, you only need bout ten centimetres! Fortunately, when the driver delivered it a bit the right length fell off and she took it back.

[S2central.net]

Yeah I know - I already have the parts - in early prep for jobs to do this winter - or as an emergency kit for someone else. Its just the thought of all the mess of coolant and hydraulic fluid all over the place. I don't need the hassle right now, but I also don't feel lucky enough to believe that it will hold up long enough till the winter. Then again - I don't really know how long it has been doing this... It only loses a small amount of water over a week, but common sense is going to have to prevail. Dangit.


Paul

[audiman]

You know it makes sense Paul. If you dont do it, you know you will have a post about an engine rebuild in the projects section

[Martynf]

You know the answer Paul what a crap answer it is though!!! one of the crappiest jobs there are S2 related! Cut the old one off and use a load of WD40 on the ends to slip the new pipe on. BTDT.

[S2central.net]

BTDT - Last night, started at 8:30 and finished about 1am. Which was no mean feat considering the time spent cleaning bits and the odd photograph slowing things down.

I changed the coolant link hose for the turbo (which felt a bit squidgy with evidence of a slow leak at one end), the link hose to the thermostat housing and the thermostat itself. For once in my life I actually had all the parts in stock (except new copper washers for the PAS pump pipes).

All that remains now is a top-up of coolant and hydraulic oil and all should be as right as rain.

Oh and yes - the WD40 trick is thoroughly recommended - I didn't see Martyn's post but I must have got his tip thru some sort of 6th sense

I might post the 'How-To' onto S2 Central soon, but it its briefly as follows -

Drain coolant
Defuse the bomb with 50-odd brake pedal pumps
Drain hydraulic fluid - breaking the system at the join with the cooler pipe
Remove auxiliary radiator along with front panel
Remove the metal bracket between radiator & front panel to improve access
Remove PAS pump lines - careful with the washers and keep dirt out
Remove PAS pump
Now you can just about access the two link hoses and the thermostat

Other tips - note the position of the thermostat for refitting a new one.


Paul

[s2driveruk]

top work.....thats a crappy job for sure, thankfully managed to do mine whilst doing the cambelt at Gregs Garage meet when access was much better!

David

[Greg_S]

Yeah, its alot easier when the rad is out of the way.

as well as the front cross member

[S2Roo]

This would be the little b*st%rd(top left). It took me longer to get this off than it did to take the rad out !!! (Pictured is the new one obviouly)

Has anyone replaced the turbo water return fitting (core plug etc...)

[S2Roo]

This is the best pic I have of the little blighter!

[Josh-stateside]

raise your hand if your water pump started leaking.



hmmm that would be me.

Crappers, hasn't left the garage yet.

Cheers
Josh

[GrahamS2]

*hand up*. He he, yeah, my water pump started p!ssing all over the place on Saturday night (shortly after giving a nice, black RX8 a good drubbing ). Sent it in yesterday. Seems like there is a small hole just behind the pulley that is leaking? Oh well, the new pump is in, along with a new thermostat, brake fluid, gearbox & diff oil, etc. etc. Also had a chance to check the belts and pulleys condition so I'm not too fussed.

My wallet is already hiding away in anticipation for the bill!

[Josh-stateside]

*hand up*. He he, yeah, my water pump started p!ssing all over the place on Saturday night (shortly after giving a nice, black RX8 a good drubbing ). Sent it in yesterday. Seems like there is a small hole just behind the pulley that is leaking? Oh well, the new pump is in, along with a new thermostat, brake fluid, gearbox & diff oil, etc. etc. Also had a chance to check the belts and pulleys condition so I'm not too fussed.

My wallet is already hiding away in anticipation for the bill!

I changed my water pump today. Should the thermostat be changed every 80,000 miles too? Or is this a part that lasts a long time?

Thanks
Josh