Coolant pipe at rear of petrol engine

[TL17]

Hi all.

I have a damaged flexi water hose (seems driveshaft has been touching it and worn) that goes up to the back of the engine - 1.6 petrol - it’s the pipe connected directly to another pipe that goes to the bottom of the coolant expansion tank.

it seems a bit of a bu**er to get access to where it is connected behind the engine. Has anyone done this job before? I can see that removing the alternator drive belt tensioner might give a bit more room, also I’m working from the wheel arch. Underneath seems to be too cluttered to be of use.

Ideas?

 

[TL17]

I think I’ve found a simple solution. Pipe stays connected at rear of engine. Where it is damaged (and I have easy access to that) I will cut it and insert a connector. Problem sorted and no need to disconnect from the rear of the engine. Needs must!

 

[DKZ5745]

Sounds like a good solution. Keep us informed if it works out Ok.

 

[TL17]

Ok, to update on this. I split the hose at the damage and inserted a connector, seems to have done the job. Perhaps I was lucky - the damage was where I could get to it. Seems cause was a lose plastic pipe mounting bracket where it is mounted at the front of the engine above the sump. It moved just enough to allow it to touch the drive shaft - clearances are not enormous there. I had a final look at alternative methods if the whole pipe needed changing - sad to say in my opinion only subframe out or engine out - horror - all to change a simple coolant pipe. Crazy.

 

[chrismac]

Good news that its a quick fix. I bet a replacement pipe would cost a fortune.

 

[TL17]

The pipe was cheap - €25. I wouldn’t like to think what the labour would be to change it. Unless of course they have some clever articulated tool for the job and it takes them 5 minutes!

 

[Pedro]

Good news that its a quick fix. I bet a replacement pipe would cost a fortune.

Good job done on that one they are a pain to get at but I wouldn't be at all surprised if someone has been in that engine before the fault occurred those pipes follow there own pathway around the back of the block & are pretty well secured unless they have been tampered with so as you suggest it was rubbing on the driveshaft then obviously its been uncoupled somewhere possibly/maybe to remove the water pump ?