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[artsoul_no1]

Been losing coolant and filling up about once a week when getting a low level warning.

Got car up to temperature with header cap off to check there was no airlock as it seems to dump a certain amount of coolant and then not leak. Once I put heater on full lots of drips from back of engine but without heater no drips. I assumed its HBV and got a new one, been checking all week but HBV never seems wet or any of the pipes near it.

Damp smell in car but cant feel dampness on carpets been checking either side of console and up behind centre radio console for wet but nothing.

Today i pulled back carpet under glovebox and found semi circle of foam (shown below) that was soaking wet when pushed. I regularly check pollen filter area after it flooded last christmas and it is always clear.

Are the two connected? Any ideas?  heater matrix?

Many thanks

[Andy B]

Dab your finger in the wet carpet/sponge & taste it. If it's clean water it's over spill from the pollen filter/scuttle, if it's the most foul bitter taste you've ever tasted (pink/orange coolant) or very sweet (blue/green) then it's your heater matrix.

Don't taste it too much cos anti-freeze is toxic 

[Broomies Mate]

Dab your finger in the wet carpet/sponge & taste it. If it's clean water it's over spill from the pollen filter/scuttle, if it's the most foul bitter taste you've ever tasted (pink/orange coolant) or very sweet (blue/green) then it's your heater matrix.

Don't taste it too much cos anti-freeze is toxic 

What Andy is saying, is, get the Wife to taste it. 

[Andy B]

.....

What Andy is saying, is, get the Wife to taste it. 

Bugger! Why didn't I ever think of that? 

[05omegav6]

Passenger/lefthand side won't ever be coolant, especially not that high up in that foam

Pull that carpet out completely,  then remove all that foam so that it can dry properly. Point of ingress should then become obvious...

Looking for any dislocated wiring grommets or rusty patches

[plym ian]

Dab your finger in the wet carpet/sponge & taste it. If it's clean water it's over spill from the pollen filter/scuttle, if it's the most foul bitter taste you've ever tasted (pink/orange coolant) or very sweet (blue/green) then it's your heater matrix.

Don't taste it too much cos anti-freeze is toxic 

What Andy is saying, is, get the Wife to taste it. 

or the local cat that shits on your lawn, if he's dead by morning it's antifreeze

[Andy B]

...
or the local cat that shits on your lawn, if he's dead by morning it's antifreeze

I think some tw4t did similar with a cat of our years ago .......... fortunately Billy survived

[amba]

Doudt the coolant lose and wet carpets are related.

Nothing on passenger side footwell plumbing wise related to coolant system ,but "taste test" would be conclusive.Leaking heater matrixes tend to be from the 2 pipes up behind the underdash trim on drivers side and also push coolant out through the under seat vents on drivers side and make back passenger drivers side carpet wet also.Sticky film on windscreen also can point to matrix leaking as its pushing heated air on to front screen.

Coolant system really needs pressure testing to be more conclusive ,but if coolant loss is related to varying the heat inside car then HBV is still the prime suspect .Given the height of the damp carpet/soundproofing as picture that seems to be pointing to passenger side scuttle drain blocked and overflowing.Heavy rain over the last couple of days coupled with plenty of leaves is always a receipt for blockages . 

[artsoul_no1]

Thanks for all the replies

just did the taste test and thankfully its just water. Checked the scuttle drain on passenger side and as I said, since it overflowed  last christmas I always keep a check on it and even today its as clear as ever. cant see any missing grommets or holes in the drain scuttle either. its just in that semicircle of foam and nor running into the footwell, is this the foam I should take out TAXI Al and how do i get it out? is it the white plastic "screw washer" at the top of the picture?

Thanks again for your help

[05omegav6]

The white (and black) plastic washers hold the foam in place, although some tearing might be involved... you really need to remove all of it rather than just that small piece...

This is for two reasons... firstly it will never dry out properly in the car, leading to mildew and breathing issues, not to mention rotting the floor from the inside out... and secondly, it holds alot more water than you think.

Until it's removed you're going to struggle to find the leak, especially as the scuttle is clear. Be prepared to remove the glovebox and heater blower box in order to check the bulkhead properly

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Dab your finger in the wet carpet/sponge & taste it. If it's clean water it's over spill from the pollen filter/scuttle, if it's the most foul bitter taste you've ever tasted (pink/orange coolant) or very sweet (blue/green) then it's your heater matrix.

Don't taste it too much cos anti-freeze is toxic 

What Andy is saying, is, get the Wife to taste it. 

Yep....I did this with wife number two. I still miss her.

[steve6367]

...
or the local cat that shits on your lawn, if he's dead by morning it's antifreeze

I think some tw4t did similar with a cat of our years ago .......... fortunately Billy survived

Its a very unpleasant poison (especially for cats) and really not something to ever leave lying around.

[Gaffers]

...
or the local cat that shits on your lawn, if he's dead by morning it's antifreeze

I think some tw4t did similar with a cat of our years ago .......... fortunately Billy survived

Its a very unpleasant poison (especially for cats) and really not something to ever leave lying around.

Afghans like to drink it on purpose because they cannot get the real stuff.  Occasionally they overdo it.  Dealt with 4 at the same time once, 3 of them didn't make it the fourth is blind for life