RedM Posted March 1, 2006 Share Posted March 1, 2006 Sorry no pics. Too dark but I'll describe as best I can. Standing at the front of the car, look underneath. About level with the battery and about a forearms length under, there is a hole in the undertray with a pipe just about visible. It looks like a overflow type thing. It was damp with a kind of sweet smelling fluid. Not oil, not strong enough. Any ideas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soonto_HAS_soop Posted March 1, 2006 Share Posted March 1, 2006 Radiator drain pipe? Battery tray overflow pipe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uk-rich Posted March 1, 2006 Share Posted March 1, 2006 that will be your battery tray drain, i think from your desciption Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedM Posted March 1, 2006 Author Share Posted March 1, 2006 Why does that need a drain? Do batteries overflow? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uk-rich Posted March 1, 2006 Share Posted March 1, 2006 they tend to breathe out the vents, can boil if alternater is fucled, its a precaution see as its acid in there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soonto_HAS_soop Posted March 1, 2006 Share Posted March 1, 2006 It doesn't work very well though, as my battery tray is falling apart after my battery decided to empty the centre two cells contents all over the tray, battery strap and the surrounding area..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uk-rich Posted March 1, 2006 Share Posted March 1, 2006 my battery tray is plastic,how did yours fall apart ? ive binned the pipe, optima battery all the way, no leak tastic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soonto_HAS_soop Posted March 1, 2006 Share Posted March 1, 2006 It's falling apart as the acid soak into it, it's only made from fibreglass type material, not sure what it is made from exactly, but it's bubbling up and fecked, must buy a new one really.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uk-rich Posted March 1, 2006 Share Posted March 1, 2006 how about fabbing one from stainless, its only really a rectangular plate with the edges folded up, 3 bolts holes and 1 drain hole Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soonto_HAS_soop Posted March 1, 2006 Share Posted March 1, 2006 how about fabbing one from stainless, its only really a rectangular plate with the edges folded up, 3 bolts holes and 1 drain hole And a locator for the battery strap. It could be done I suppose, but I'm not bothered about it at the moment. If and when it becomes an MOT failure, I will look into it further. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted March 1, 2006 Share Posted March 1, 2006 It's the coolant overflow pipe. The sweet smell (and taste if you try it) is the ethylene glycol in the antifreeze. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedM Posted March 1, 2006 Author Share Posted March 1, 2006 Chris, Am I right in thinking that the coolant overflows from the black, bent pipe at the top of the expansion tank and that this pipe under the car shifts the coolant so that it doesn't pool in the bay and/or trays? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prof. Monkey Posted March 2, 2006 Share Posted March 2, 2006 Do not forget that the charcoal canister vents on that side, near the engine, virtually underneath the fuse box. I seriously doubt that it is acid, as sulphuric acid does not smell sweet and if it is reacting with the rubber in the tube, it would be an acrid smell not sweet. I would go with either CW's suggestion, which is reasonable as Ethyl glycol is aromatic. -Or- Could be from the charcoal canister, which scrubs the fuel vapours, you have an awful lot of aromatics in Unleaded, more if you use 98RON. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eyefi Posted March 2, 2006 Share Posted March 2, 2006 is it the coolant drain? a small hose drops out of the undertray that is connected to a valve that drains the rad, maybe your drain valve needs a bit of tightening? charcoal canister drains behind the front wheel. what are these pipes? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedM Posted March 2, 2006 Author Share Posted March 2, 2006 I've just been out for a good look at the pipe. Fluid is definitely pinkish in colour and smells like coolant. The top of the rad by the rad cap has a dried white residue on it and leading off from there is a little pipe that has one of those spingy clip things (the kind that knack your fingers) on it. That clip seems loose. Is that pipe (under the car) the far end of this pipe? Any thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eyefi Posted March 2, 2006 Share Posted March 2, 2006 Any thoughts? yes Is that pipe (under the car) the far end of this pipe? no, that pipe that pokes out the bottom of the undertray comes from the bottom of the rad, it's a drain tube. the valve for it is at the bottom of the rad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeyb10supra Posted March 2, 2006 Share Posted March 2, 2006 this pipe leads to your expansion tank I think Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedM Posted March 2, 2006 Author Share Posted March 2, 2006 no, that pipe that pokes out the bottom of the undertray comes from the bottom of the rad, it's a drain tube. the valve for it is at the bottom of the rad. Is it a bugger to get to? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eyefi Posted March 2, 2006 Share Posted March 2, 2006 you need to jam your hand/arm down where the intake piping goes with a bit of feeling around (right at the bottom, but still on the back of the rad) you should be able to find it. it will probably be quite difficult to apply a reasonable amount of pressure to it with your arm in this position (and stuff burning you) so it would then have to be jack up (or chase the dragon) and the undertray off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eyefi Posted March 2, 2006 Share Posted March 2, 2006 is definitely pinkish in colour snigger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnA Posted March 2, 2006 Share Posted March 2, 2006 Yeah, with the undertray in place it could be a bit of a stretch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedM Posted March 2, 2006 Author Share Posted March 2, 2006 How difficult is the undertray removal and how long would it take? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnA Posted March 2, 2006 Share Posted March 2, 2006 ¦¦ i.e. depends on how corroded the bolts are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted March 2, 2006 Share Posted March 2, 2006 The pipe from the top of the rad goes to the expansion bottle in front of the rad. that vents via a little hooked pipe. the pipe under the car I *THINK* you mean is the drain pipe off the rad drain tap. If the drain is leaking coolant will be dripping from this pipe. Often it's missing altogether, fallen or knocked off because of undertray removal in the past. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedM Posted March 2, 2006 Author Share Posted March 2, 2006 Cheers Chris. Sounds like one of those annoying little jobs that'll cost in nothing but labour. Bloomin cars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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