LHM leak (wold famous in BX land)

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kiwi
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LHM leak (wold famous in BX land)

Post by kiwi »

I have a little puddle of LHM under the front of the car! Location dripping somewhere in the area of the accumulator. Problem cant see it or get easy access to it because of the Air Conditioning pipes.

After some thoughts on Cause and possible corrective action.

1st point is the Radiator was removed when they did the Head gasket, my thoughts are they disturbed something because it didnt leak before. The question is what?

Thinking might have to realign some pipes jining into the accumulator, whats the risk damaging a O ring seal etc? (btw, is blardy freezing at the moment unheated Garage with single digit temps aka winter).

Never a dull moment in BX ownership!
1991 BX19 TZS 04/01/91 (Deceased)
1990 BX19 TRS 27/10/89 (Reborn)
1992 BX19 TXD (Ex UK - K 744 SDF) 15/06/92
1990 BX19 TZS Auto 06/11/1989
1992 BX TZD Turbo Estate (Ex UK) 1/07/91
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DLM
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My Cars: Historically, lots of BX hatches/estates in the 90s/00s - 16/19i/17td/19d
Recent scruffy diesel n/a estate - "The Red Shed" - is no longer mine.
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Post by DLM »

Suggest you try looking (with torch perhaps) from topsides first: then you can confirm whether it's the the FDV leaking down onto the PR, or the PR itself. I've had PR leaks from the end opposite to the accumulator, possibly due to a worn o-ring. In this case it seems to ooze from the area of the 11mm(?) bolt which fixes the triangular clamp on at this end.

On second thoughts I'm thinking of the Diesel layout: it may possibly be different on your car (petrol?), though I can recall a TZI having the same layout. If it is a petrol, then at least you don't have to remove the turbo induction piping to look down from above.
Back on two wheels and pedal power for the moment.
kiwi
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Post by kiwi »

Hey DM is this (circled in picture where you mean? Because there is where the LHM seems to be driping from? I cleaned the area and a small trace is appearing where the accumulator sphere is with no obvious origin as well as this on that bracket. No pipes are leaking at all.

What is the cure I assume its a O Ring where the bolt sits in? Repairable? or replace the whole unit?

Image

Image
1991 BX19 TZS 04/01/91 (Deceased)
1990 BX19 TRS 27/10/89 (Reborn)
1992 BX19 TXD (Ex UK - K 744 SDF) 15/06/92
1990 BX19 TZS Auto 06/11/1989
1992 BX TZD Turbo Estate (Ex UK) 1/07/91
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DLM
Our Trim Guru
Posts: 1620
Joined: Mon May 16, 2005 6:41 pm
Location: Gosport, Hampshire, UK
My Cars: Historically, lots of BX hatches/estates in the 90s/00s - 16/19i/17td/19d
Recent scruffy diesel n/a estate - "The Red Shed" - is no longer mine.
x 9

Post by DLM »

Crikey - that's a commendably clean PR! Where I had my problem it seemed to be welling up from around the bolt just down in the 2nd pic from the area you've circled. I took the coward's route out and replaced the whole PR with a secondhand but known-good item as the leak was slow but steady enough to leave a noticeable puddle each time the car was parked. Still have the old one somewhere.

This doesn't look like a major leak, but I'd be tempted to look further in the region of the padded pipe-clip in the pic, which the upper bolt in the 2nd pic holds in place. In particular, I'd investigate whether that pipe has been disturbed in the course of all the HG work. A careful nip-up of the pipe bolts at the unions may be a useful course of action.
Back on two wheels and pedal power for the moment.
kiwi
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Post by kiwi »

Found the leak, well think I have and yep its the Old leaky FDV. Yes I read the stickey about overhauling one as well. So now just waiting for a warm enough day to do the swap which more likely to be able to get the bits for overhaul before hand.

Looking at it will be a mission with the radiator in place has anyone done a swap without removing the Rad?

Last thing want to do is remove the rad after having the head recently done.
1991 BX19 TZS 04/01/91 (Deceased)
1990 BX19 TRS 27/10/89 (Reborn)
1992 BX19 TXD (Ex UK - K 744 SDF) 15/06/92
1990 BX19 TZS Auto 06/11/1989
1992 BX TZD Turbo Estate (Ex UK) 1/07/91
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