rjw81 0 Posted January 19, 2011 Hi my rado vr6 is losing water! After drivin for about 5 miles my header tank is dangerously low! I have a clean engine. (No mayo) and my engine temp doesn't look bad! Sits around the 80 to 90 mark on the dash! Av had a monoxide test on the header tank done and that was all fine! All the coolant pipes to the engine are hot, there are no leaks from the car what so ever! It has 84000 on the clock and is regulary serviced! please help! Ta Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
swiftkid 1 Posted January 19, 2011 Have you done/had any work done to the car recently? Did it have anti freeze in over the winter? Do your heaters blow hot air? It could be an airleak working its way through, it could be a hole in your radiator you can't see, it could be a split in a hose somewhere. Lots of things to check for! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
big ben 10 Posted January 19, 2011 carpets wet? most likely the matrix. Otherwise probably the radiator Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mrbeige 0 Posted January 19, 2011 check the area below the thermo housing and aux water pump. Tell tail signs of leakage would be white water marks. Our Golf is losing water from both :oops: :oops: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kevin Bacon 5 Posted January 19, 2011 If no visible external leaks, it's usually always the heater matrix. But I would expect losing a litre in 5 miles would leave a hefty clue in the engine bay or in the car, though. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim Bowen 1 Posted January 19, 2011 have you got the pink G12+++++++++ coolant? really helps when spotting leaks, i found mine hard to trace as the VR6 bay is quite a warm place so leaks dry up. I've had them from Aux water pump, thermostat housing, radiator, underside of a coolant pipe Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
C488ADO 0 Posted January 19, 2011 If it's not matrix I bet it's the small coolant pipe under the crack pipe.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fla 9 Posted January 19, 2011 might be a silly one, is the header tank cap tight? When you come to a stop do you see some steam coming from the pass side of the car? Check that the cap is allowing the system to hold pressure. Might be simple to just replace it i think its about £7-8 from GSF or the dealers. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Diesel Junior 0 Posted January 19, 2011 Sounds like the dreaded heater matrix to me, if not the infamous crack pie (as i know.....), sorry to be gloomy but would put money on one of those. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
big ben 10 Posted January 19, 2011 the matrix of dooooom :crazyeyes: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Diesel Junior 0 Posted January 19, 2011 I defy a priest not to swear when doing that little job, or a trappist monk not to talk..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
big ben 10 Posted January 19, 2011 I defy a priest not to swear when doing that little job, or a trappist monk not to talk..... :lol: its great fun isnt it.. the best bit is when you break the heating control unit, then find out its £200 off VW :suprised: still, you cant be classed as a corrado owner until you have changed one :D :lol: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Diesel Junior 0 Posted January 19, 2011 :clap: :clap: :clap: I avoided that fate but what a job, it rhymes with ditch i think. Meanwhile to lighten the mood look what the Germans do to their inlet manifolds http://cgi.ebay.at/Ansaugbrucke-Abdecku ... 1c0d3ebf34 :pukeleft: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rjw81 0 Posted January 19, 2011 Thanks for your replys! O rings were gone on the crack pipe so replaced them as it was clearly leaking from there at one point, put in new thermostat whilst I was at it! There is hot air comin throughj the heating system into the car so I originally didn't think it was the heater matrix! Could it still be the case even if I have hot air in the car????? Ta! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
big ben 10 Posted January 19, 2011 yep, i had hot air when mine leaked. It might only have a crack in it... Be easy to see if it is the matrix, check the passenger foot well under the mat, will be wet... Also you would have condensation on the inside of the windscreen Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Timbo 0 Posted January 19, 2011 The most obvious sign of a blown/cracked matrix is that the air coming from the heater smells of anti-freeze. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rjw81 0 Posted January 19, 2011 YEP! Soakin wet passenger footwell!!! Thanks a million guys! Hopefully I can get me rado back on the road sooner rather than later!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Diesel Junior 0 Posted January 19, 2011 May the force be with you Luke...there must be a wiki for this job somewhere, hope we haven't put you off the job by some of the posts!! Ben is right watch out for the heater control unit...........Good luck and let us know how it goes :? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dukest 0 Posted January 19, 2011 advanced search for heater matrix (by topic not post) - _Kris_ (i think) did a very good write up on it. allow yourself at least a day if you havent done it before though.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Diesel Junior 0 Posted January 19, 2011 Here's a start http://wiki.the-corrado.net/heater_matr ... ement.html But this is the one most use viewtopic.php?f=45&t=83262&hilit=heater+matrix Good point about the canadian corrado club web its really good Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
borders16v 0 Posted January 19, 2011 WD 40 at the ready especially for the bulkhead nuts. Can be done without having to take full dashboard out by the way,i did. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
