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Coolant leak spilling out from under centre console

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Coolant leak spilling out from under centre console

Postby Lac » Mon Jun 29, 2015 8:41 am

image.jpg
I have a fluid leaking out into the footwell from under the centre console. I've worked out its coolant, as the coolant resovoir was filled up 2 weeks ago and now well below minimum mark level.

There are no leaks visible in the engine bay. And there is no leaking from underneath the van onto the ground.

What part could be broken? Heater matrix? I am in France currently campervanning around Europe, and so would prefer to get advice here than try visit a local garage and have the communication problems. Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks.
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Re: Coolant leak spilling out from under centre console

Postby Brains_transit » Mon Jun 29, 2015 9:17 am

Yep matrix as it's the only coolant part inside
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Re: Coolant leak spilling out from under centre console

Postby Altransit » Mon Jun 29, 2015 10:34 am

If you don't want the hassle of getting it fixed in France, find the heater water pipes under the bonnet, remove both of them, and join them together with a piece of copper tubing. You'll have no heater, but it won't leak any more :D
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Re: Coolant leak spilling out from under centre console

Postby Lac » Mon Jun 29, 2015 11:22 am

[/img]
Altransit wrote:If you don't want the hassle of getting it fixed in France, find the heater water pipes under the bonnet, remove both of them, and join them together with a piece of copper tubing. You'll have no heater, but it won't leak any more :D


Thanks Altransit, much appreciated. Is this the heater water pipes?
image.jpg


I don't have any copper tubing on hand, what's an alternative fix? Would K-Seal be okay to use? Much appreciated.
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Re: Coolant leak spilling out from under centre console

Postby MinorMatt » Mon Jun 29, 2015 1:54 pm

Yes thats them. You could probably get away with squahing the pipes (hose clamps or similar) to stop the flow.

K seal may or may not work... but in my experience radweld/k seal etc rarely work
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Re: Coolant leak spilling out from under centre console

Postby Lac » Mon Jun 29, 2015 3:40 pm

MinorMatt wrote:Yes thats them. You could probably get away with squahing the pipes (hose clamps or similar) to stop the flow.

K seal may or may not work... but in my experience radweld/k seal etc rarely work


Thanks for your response. So they solely have the job of making the heater work? Do I clamp both of them, how tight and anywhere particularly on the hose to clamp?

If I were to connect them together as per Altransit's post, could someone so kindly provide step by step instructions on how to disconnect and connect them together, however brief they may be. I'd prefer to connect them together with some copper tubing and tighten with hose clamps. At least the water could continue to run through a cycle of you know what I mean.

will these above suggestions just temporarily fix it and require me to head straight to garage to get fixed, or could I drive for another few months easy? In other words, will this problem I have affect the engine/radiator etc and cause damage.

Thanks in advance, I appreciate it.
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Re: Coolant leak spilling out from under centre console

Postby MinorMatt » Mon Jun 29, 2015 4:42 pm

Mine would be a temporary fix...

Altransits you could use forever... or at least as long as you could put up with the heater not working
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Re: Coolant leak spilling out from under centre console

Postby Lac » Mon Jun 29, 2015 7:09 pm

Okay sounds like connecting the two hoses up is the way to go for now.

Can someone please kindly advise how to disconnect the hoses and connect them up together? I just don't want to accidentally screw it up so if you provide a step-by-step list that'd be super good.

Thanks in advance!
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Re: Coolant leak spilling out from under centre console

Postby Brains_transit » Tue Jun 30, 2015 8:41 pm

They are like push fit plumbing stuff. I've never disconnected mine but I found this

4th,you can now pull the heater hoses out from under the bonnet and release the quick release clips from the matrix pipes easily with a small screwdriver(just push the 2 white tabs under the black pipe end)
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Re: Coolant leak spilling out from under centre console

Postby gotgcoalman » Wed Jul 01, 2015 5:43 pm

Check for water marks on the metal pipes for the heater matrix (quick couplers might be weeping)

I had a matrix fail and the floor in the cab was swimming in coolant :shock:

I had to put a bottle of Krap seal in to get me home (with frequent stops to top the header tank up)

It sealed the hole on the 20 mile journey and actually held for about 6 months.

I sourced a good second hand unit but put off fitting due to Mr Haynes claiming the dash had to come out to do it (it doesn't)

Personally because it's summer I'd be inclined to bypass the matrix rather than dumping stuff in the cooling system.
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Re: Coolant leak spilling out from under centre console

Postby Lac » Fri Jul 03, 2015 8:02 am

Thanks for all your advice and help.

Found a garage in rural France, and using very very broken French and a lot of hand signals, explained i wanted him to cut the hoses and connect them to oneanother, bypassing the heater matrix. Seems to have worked well and (almost) stopped the leaking, and cost just 20 euros.

There is still a little coolant leaking into the footwell 3 days on, only a few drips an hour, i would be thinking its just the remaining coolant that is slowly emptying from the heater matrix unit.

Cheers
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Re: Coolant leak spilling out from under centre console

Postby gotgcoalman » Fri Jul 03, 2015 5:43 pm

Yep its the residue from the matrix.

Now you have to find a usable matrix before winter (plenty of time)

Hope they didn't cut the pipes too short though.
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Re: Coolant leak spilling out from under centre console

Postby Lac » Mon Jul 06, 2015 11:06 am

Thanks for your replies and help! All fixed now.
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Re: Coolant leak spilling out from under centre console

Postby GerryVega » Wed Aug 10, 2016 9:13 am

Hi,
I've got pretty much exactly the same problem as the previous poster: leaking heater matrix, in France, seeking quick fix. I've got the pipe and clamps, now trying to tell myself it's Ok to cut the hoses. Any recommendations where? Should I expect much coolant to come gushing out? Ideally if the original poster had a photos of the quick fix bypass that would be fantastic but no worries if not.
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Re: Coolant leak spilling out from under centre console

Postby fortyeight » Wed Aug 10, 2016 4:58 pm

alot off coolant wont come out ,a cold engine,disconnect the pipes if possible at the matrix,if you cut them you may need new ones when you fit another matrix,dont put anything in to try cure the leek as it might make it overheat
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