Fitting a lower water hose

[Dave350iTVR]

How easy is it to replace and fit the lower water hose. Can you simply take the hose off and replace or will that cause coolant to go everywhere? It looks simple enough - but i'd prefer to run it past people who have done this before.

[shpub]

If I was to say that disconnecting the lower water hose is a good way of draining the cooling system, would that give you a clue

Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk

[Dave350iTVR]

So should I be ready to collect 11 litres of coolant? And also have enough new coolant mix to replace the old coolant from the system.

[GreenV8S]

quote:So should I be ready to collect 11 litres of coolant? And also have enough new coolant mix to replace the old coolant from the system.

Well after you've gone to the trouble of collecting the old coolant, you might as well reuse it?

Cheers,
Peter Humphries (and a green V8S)

[Dave350iTVR]

Okay fore-warned about the coolant issue! Where do I get the hose from? I'm loathed to go to the main dealer after my previous dealings with them. Where did the bottom water hose start life? Rover? Ford? Renault?

[GF350]

I have a similar problem with the top hose, does any one khow where to get a replacement for this?

[shpub]

quote:
Rover? Ford? Renault?

How about TVR? First identify which radiator layout you have and find out which day of the week the car was made. The layouts and plumbing vary wildly! I have seen cars built weeks apart that have different plumbing.

I tend now to use 90 degree bends and metal joiners as it makes replecement a lot lot easier.

Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk

[Dave350iTVR]

TVR dealerships like to add a couple of zero's to the end their invoices - I think £20 for a 12 inch water hose seems a little steep. It also needs to be ordered via the factory, as my local dealership doesn't have them in stock. The TVR Centre suggested I might try a Ford part. Anyone else done this before?

[shpub]

quote:
TVR dealerships like to add a couple of zero's to the end their invoices - I think £20 for a 12 inch water hose seems a little steep.

You obviously haven't bought a Samco one recently.... A six inch reducer bend is around a tenner.

The way I look at it is how much does it cost to faf around trying to find a cheaper replacement, You only need a few trips or several phone calls and any saving you make goes out the window. Then there is the time issue as well. the problem with a hose is that you really need a solution now so you can drive the car in which case...

You could try some of the reinforced flexible ones that Halfords sell or do as I did and make all the pipework simple angles which I can easily buy as standard parts. Whatever you do get two hoses and keep a spare. If you don't you now which hose will go!

The problem is a lot of the hoses were from old donor cars but are these are no longer made. QH had a huge clear out of parts and now some of these hoses are made to order and this costs a lot of money.

Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk

[Brm Brm]

If I remember rightly you can get all the SAMCO hoses mail order from Demon Tweeks.

[Dave350iTVR]

quote:

The way I look at it is how much does it cost to faf around trying to find a cheaper replacement, You only need a few trips or several phone calls and any saving you make goes out the window. Then there is the time issue as well.

Steve, its not that I'm being a cheap skate - I just don't like the attitude of the local dealership and therefore don't like dealing with them. I'm a young driver (25) with an old TVR, so they tend not to give me the time of day! Unless you are well dressed and look like you have money falling out of your pockets, they are not really that helpful. Its seems to be just this particular dealship, as I have been to other dealerships and the staff have been more than friendly. To top it off everytime I've phoned regarding a quote for a service or part, you are assured to get a silly figure back! Anyway...I'll get off my soap box now.
As for the water hose, I'll take a drive down to Demon Tweeks to pick up a new hose. It looks like someone has done some modifications before, as there are metal pipe interlinks between hoses.

[Dave350iTVR]

Dohh! I drove the short journey to Demon Tweeks but alas none of the 90 degree Samco hoses where long enough for my car. As for Halfords, they just don't do 90 degree hoses. In the end, I had to admit defeat and go to the main dealer. The part has to be ordered from the factory and will be there on Tuesday. I'll let you all know how i get on.

>> Edited by Dave350iTVR on Friday 8th March 20:27

[gavinr]

Dave
I know how you feel about main dealers. I'm 22 with a 350i. I've given up dealing with my local dealer. I have found them massively dearer than a lot of specialists, and I don't like the way they look down their noses at you. They tried to charge me nearly £180 for trailing arm bushes when I got them from Peninsula for £35!! I also found them really friendly and helpfull. A definite recomendation for future parts.

Gavin

[Rus Wood]

Check the top hose while you are at it, the front edge of the bonnet tends to scrape a bit off the top hose every time you open it.

Russ

[Dave350iTVR]

In the end I refitted the hose with new clips and added what I think to be the correct amount of coolant to the system. Things look good at the moment - I'll keep you all posted with how I get on. Thanks again for all your help.

>> Edited by Dave350iTVR on Sunday 10th March 16:18

[GF350]

I've just ordered the top and bottom hoses from David Gerald TVR (01386 793237) They have to come from the factory also, and I have been quoted £12 inc vat each. They do seem to carry lot of other things in stock though.

[Dave350iTVR]

The Ba5t4rds! Christopher Neil TVR charge me £25 for the same factory ordered part!
David Gerald are okay - I actually bought my 350i from them! Doug & John are nice guys.

>> Edited by Dave350iTVR on Saturday 16th March 19:48