1 HOT MX - Literally...

Post by **zorruno** » Fri Apr 25, 2003 9:47 pm

Hi, just went for a short spirited drive tonight, & on the way back noticed
the heater was cold... and the temp guage was hot.

It is parked for the night now & I'll have a good look tomorrow, but as the
heater core was not working, it is obvious there was no flow.

I'll try a fill and flush, but what could be other probs? How likely would
it be the water pump? There was no heat light on on the dash - does that
come on when the pump fails? (When does it come on?)

There didn't appear to be any leaks (I'd know, we have carpet in the garage)
and a quick glance seemed to say all hoses in tact.

Any other ideas?

Thanks
zorruno

my2cta · Post by **my2cta** » Fri Apr 25, 2003 10:06 pm

I've had a similar thing happen on other cars when there was too little
water in the cooling system. Temperature gauge was showing the steam temp,
no water in the heater to make it work

If its that the only question
is, why has the water all gone? Guess you've checked the water levels
already though...

Tim Dutton
MY2CTA

Post by **zorruno** » Sat Apr 26, 2003 5:21 pm

There was no water. And yes it was leaking. The problem is, I'm not
exactly sure where the leak is. The car is a 94

It must have leaked out quite rapidly whilest I was driving as there was
none to be seen in the garage.

I filled it, and there was good flow, but I could see it leaking somewhere
between the aircon pump and block. It was parked on a slope and seemed to
come out at the connection shown here
http://www.mx5club.org.nz/downloads/howard_leak1.jpg
(below manifold etc) so I replaced the hose (one from a hillman humter
fitted nicely!) but the leak was still there as it was just running backward
from somewhere else.

Looking closer, it seems to come from behind this elbow which rises
vertically in the middle of the aircon & p/s belt. (hose removed) Is there
a water pump gasket in behind there or something?
http://www.mx5club.org.nz/downloads/howard_leak2.jpg

What is the possibility that the elbow is cracked where it joins the block?

Mike Pearson - WYSIWYG... · Post by **Mike Pearson - WYSIWYG...** » Sat Apr 26, 2003 6:21 pm

What is the possibility that the elbow is cracked where it joins
the block?

Probably quite a good one - isn't this the same piece that broke on
someone's car at the Taupo race day? I seem to remember Don McLean fiddling
around with a similar looking bit for someone, who drove home with copious
bottles of water.

Regards,

Chic & Morven · Post by **Chic & Morven** » Sat Apr 26, 2003 9:51 pm

Morven's car had a leak around there and it turned out the hole was on the under side right at the elbow. Impossible to see and almost impossible to find because the water didn't drip straight down. I had to use a nail and feel for it.

I cut off the elbow and plugged the hose in horizontally, it goes through one of the belt, so I'll need to disconnect it when I change the belt but that's not a biggie.

[...]

Blts · Post by **Blts** » Mon Apr 28, 2003 5:13 pm

Yes that was me!
The (first) connector that broke in Taupo was actually attached to the inlet
mainfold, the hose going from there to the choke. Back in Auckland I
managed to get a friend of mine at an engineering company to heat temper a
new connection into the inlet manifold which is as good as new noow.
Minutes after I had fixed that one and replaced all the manifold, fuel rail
etc, the bottom part of the "T" connection on the thermostat body broke
away. I believe one of those hoses is the other end of the one zorruno is
having problems with.

Can't think of an easy fix for that connection though...

Cheers
Bill