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Author Topic: Vectra coolant leak  (Read 4769 times)

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terry paget

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Vectra coolant leak
« on: 22 September 2019, 13:48:00 »
[/img]https://www.dropbox.com/s/ftc2fwijxqiuhw5/VECTRAleak2.jpg?dl=1[/img]
Vectra C 1.8 petrol manual
Found a puddle under this car this morning. Seems to be coming from a metal pipe beneath the thermostat, which then disappears behind the front heat shield. It's a simple joint, torx screws either end, got no excuse to leak now. Does anyone know, is it a flat paper gasket seal, or an O-ring?
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terry paget

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Re: Vectra coolant leak
« Reply #1 on: 22 September 2019, 13:52:39 »

pic of leaking joint
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dave the builder

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Re: Vectra coolant leak
« Reply #2 on: 22 September 2019, 14:04:13 »
looks like a flat fiber gasket ,but ,as I said before(when you replaced the wet stat), the thermostat housing is prone to cracking
especially if any fixing is over-tightened
a smear of instant gasket on the old gasket should solve a leak from the gasket
it won't solve a leak from a crack in the housing
so examine closely ,torch and magnifying glass is a help  :y
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Doctor Gollum

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Re: Vectra coolant leak
« Reply #3 on: 22 September 2019, 14:05:14 »
Neither...

It's normal condensation from the aircon system. Ignore it and do something more important  :y
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Doctor Gollum

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Re: Vectra coolant leak
« Reply #4 on: 22 September 2019, 14:39:55 »
Quote from: Doctor Gollum on 22 September 2019, 14:05:14
Neither...

It's normal condensation from the aircon system. Ignore it and do something more important  :y
That said, if it's dripping down to that then it may well be the thermostat seal.
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Sir Tigger KC

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Re: Vectra coolant leak
« Reply #5 on: 22 September 2019, 14:42:07 »
Quote from: Doctor Gollum on 22 September 2019, 14:05:14
Neither...

It's normal condensation from the aircon system. Ignore it and do something more important  :y

Terry said he came out this morning to find a puddle.  An aircon condensation drip would have dried up overnight.  ;)
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Doctor Gollum

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Re: Vectra coolant leak
« Reply #6 on: 22 September 2019, 14:46:17 »
Quote from: Sir Tigger QC on 22 September 2019, 14:42:07
Quote from: Doctor Gollum on 22 September 2019, 14:05:14
Neither...

It's normal condensation from the aircon system. Ignore it and do something more important  :y

Terry said he came out this morning to find a puddle.  An aircon condensation drip would have dried up overnight.  ;)
Had a further look at the picture, hence my subsequent post :y
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terry paget

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Re: Vectra coolant leak
« Reply #7 on: 22 September 2019, 15:55:07 »
Thanks for advice, gentlemen. Taste test confirms it is coolant.
Odd it should decide to leak after 11 years service; I reckon Dave could be right, that the housing has cracked. I see on e-bay I can get a thermostat for £15, or a thermostat with housing for £23. The housing assembly will involve more connections, but seems safer route to me. Any comments?
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Doctor Gollum

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Re: Vectra coolant leak
« Reply #8 on: 22 September 2019, 16:03:12 »
Change it as an assembly :y
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terry paget

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Re: Vectra coolant leak
« Reply #9 on: 22 September 2019, 19:52:59 »
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FOR-VAUXHALL-INSIGNIA-1-6-VECTRA-C-SIGNUM-1-8-THERMOSTAT-WITH-HOUSING-SENSOR/251437585024
This thermostat and housing assembly has what looks like a coolant connection below the thermostat. I imagined it was an aircon pipe. It seems to go below the thermostat to connect with the heater input hose.

If so, that poor connection could be my coolant loss.
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Doctor Gollum

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Re: Vectra coolant leak
« Reply #10 on: 22 September 2019, 20:08:27 »
Quote from: terry paget on 22 September 2019, 19:52:59
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FOR-VAUXHALL-INSIGNIA-1-6-VECTRA-C-SIGNUM-1-8-THERMOSTAT-WITH-HOUSING-SENSOR/251437585024
This thermostat and housing assembly has what looks like a coolant connection below the thermostat. I imagined it was an aircon pipe. It seems to go below the thermostat to connect with the heater input hose.

If so, that poor connection could be my coolant loss.
If, as that link suggests, the housing is plastic, I would be inclined to change the whole assembly as the plastic is likely to be getting brittle, and therefore leaky :y
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terry paget

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Re: Vectra coolant leak
« Reply #11 on: 22 September 2019, 20:38:19 »
The thermostat housing is indeed plastic, thus prone to cracking if screws are overtightened.

My theory is that the thermostat housing does not need changing. The leak is the junction between the heater pipe from the block at its connection to the base of the thermostat housing. Do you agree?
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Re: Vectra coolant leak
« Reply #12 on: 22 September 2019, 20:44:28 »
Not necessarily, that pipe flange could be below the leak...
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dave the builder

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Re: Vectra coolant leak
« Reply #13 on: 22 September 2019, 20:45:26 »
Quote from: terry paget on 22 September 2019, 20:38:19
The thermostat housing is indeed plastic, thus prone to cracking if screws are overtightened.

My theory is that the thermostat housing does not need changing. The leak is the junction between the heater pipe from the block at its connection to the base of the thermostat housing. Do you agree?

Quote from: dave the builder on 22 September 2019, 14:04:13
as I said before(when you replaced the wet stat), the thermostat housing is prone to cracking
especially if any fixing is over-tightened
a smear of instant gasket on the old gasket should solve a leak from the gasket
it won't solve a leak from a crack in the housing
so examine closely ,torch and magnifying glass is a help  :y


we can't remote examine where the leak is Terry
you can get the housing off and physically look at it  :y
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terry paget

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Re: Vectra coolant leak
« Reply #14 on: 22 September 2019, 20:47:34 »
Or maybe you think that a crack in the thermostat housing is the cause of the leak in the heater pipe junction. So the cure is to change the thermostat housing.
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