Small water leak Mk1 S 2003

[Dickie Dastardly]

Took the Tuscan out for a brisk run tonight. On getting home I left the car running while I moved Mrs B's car out of the drive to get access to the garage, when i then moved the Tuscan there was puddle of water underneath and a trail following the car back into the drive; at this point the engine was hot and both fans were on.

I lifted the service bonnet and removed the main bonnet, the leak was unquestionably coming from the blue coolant cap, trickling down the filler neck, onto the oil tank and down from there.

The cap seemed tight but as yet I have not removed it as the system was still hot and pressurised.

Does the cap have a pressure relief valve within it or a rubber seat which could fail? anyone else had a similar experience?

Taking the car and my young son to Blackpool next weekend so could without any mechanical difficulties at this time...

Cheers

Richard

[nawarne]

The coolant pressure caps can fail - quite randomly.

The cap is from a VW Golf Mk2. DO buy one from a VAG outlet, DO NOT buy a pattern part from a certain parts supplier for German, Swedish and French cars (clue in name). You might pay an extra 10 quid but it's so worth it.

I had the misfortune to buy a pattern part in 2010...lasted about 500 mls, and gave up the ghost in Le Mans.
Luckily, went to a VW garage near the town, they didn't have one but the parts guy 'phoned a SEAT dealership who did. The VAG part number is on the top of the cap - about 8/10 digits long, IIRC.
Nick

[Dickie Dastardly]

nawarne said:

The coolant pressure caps can fail - quite randomly.

The cap is from a VW Golf Mk2. DO buy one from a VAG outlet, DO NOT buy a pattern part from a certain parts supplier for German, Swedish and French cars (clue in name). You might pay an extra 10 quid but it's so worth it.

I had the misfortune to buy a pattern part in 2010...lasted about 500 mls, and gave up the ghost in Le Mans.
Luckily, went to a VW garage near the town, they didn't have one but the parts guy 'phoned a SEAT dealership who did. The VAG part number is on the top of the cap - about 8/10 digits long, IIRC.
Nick

Thanks Nick, I phoned Hexham H.C this morning and spoke to their service manager who was very helpful. He advised similar to you on both the possible diagnosis and replacement part. Part now ordered from them with delivery tomorrow.

Fingers crossed that will resolve the issue,

Cheers

Richard

[Basil Brush]

I also found out to my cost that one of the main TVR parts places supply pattern caps rather than gen ones, despite charging more than some VW dealers.

[wongthecorrupter]

Just ordered a new cap for mine today £18 from vw,they have had to order it

[nawarne]

Basil Brush said:

I also found out to my cost that one of the main TVR parts places supply pattern caps rather than gen ones, despite charging more than some VW dealers.

Yep, one of the dealerships darn Sarf had a batch of dodgy caps...Don't know what they charged for them though.

Funny thing was, when I bought the pattern part the nipper taking my money said "Oh yes, these seem to be almost service parts, the way they seem to fail". The genuine part has been on my car now for 3 plus years - -and France in July 2010 was experiencing temps up to 35 degC. Just remember to add antifreeze after you have got the new cap...I didn't and reckon this caused my heater matrix to 'blow' later in the year.

Nick

[minkybob]

I also got a cap from one of the so called TVR suppliers only to find it failed on first use!
Thought the engine had a problem, after lots of checks it was the new cap so bought one from VW sorted.

[Dickie Dastardly]

The cap I bought from Hexham Horseless Carraiges has done the trick, they were also very aware of the cheap caps available from "other" parts outlets and gave sound advice accordingly.

Cheers