Hi,

As title says I'm losing coolant on an Octavia Mk1 1.9tdi

I seem to have traced it to the passenger side bulkhead, a brass block with a metal pipe inlet and a narrower metal pipe that looks like a leak-off/vent pipe?? Guessing this goes to the heater matrix. Been hearing a gentle hiss inside the car when i turn engine off after a journey.

 

Here is a link to the area i mean....

 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/02g2z3i42q6e8rv/skoda%20coolant.jpg?dl=0

 

Assuming that a gasket or o-ring has failed, or could it be corroded pipes??

How straight forward is this to fix and what do i have to do? Anything to watch out for?

Any advice appreciated. Parts diagram would be helpful.

 

Also temp sensor has just gone - just my luck. Seen on Youtube that this is pretty easy to sort but where on my model is this located is i would like to do this at the same time.

Car could do with a coolant change anyway so makes sense to deal with both issues at the same time.

 

Thanks in advance

Ed

Thats item you have in the picture is the air con juction that goes into the car. Coolant hoses are rubber hoses going to the heater matrix. If you are loosing coolant I would assume that you are topping up the expansion bottle often then? With regards to the air con I would get it taken to an air con specialist to check for leaks and rectify accordingly. The coolant temp sensor is an easy job to do even for the novice mechanic, you just need to purchase a genuine CTS, seal and securing clip from either your local dealer or TPS centre. Its located just under the vacuum pump on the righthand side of the engine (as looking from under the bonnet).

Hope that helps you somewhat?

Thanks simspj,

 

I did wonder about the brass junction box. Thanks for that about aircon. Never thought of that but obvious now you mention it.

Thanks for sensor location too.

 

I am topping coolant up regularly since i discovered the problem a week ago. Drive an hour and falls from max to min.

Obviously need to check other areas for leakage, hose connections etc.

 

Cheers

The only place really on a TDI is the radiator, heater matrix or head gasket (just had to do that on my TDI) as mine was loosing coolant over a week not every time I used it though. Might be worth getting a pressure test done on the cooling system to see if that brings up any idea of an area thats leaking. If the heater matrix is leaking you will have a very wet carpet around the centre of the front around the centre consoul area. If there is liquid there and it is has a greasy texture and tastes sweet (only a vey small amount on your finger is needed and it will not taste nice).

Cheers simspj,

 

Its not the heater matrix as all dry inside the car.

Wife just got back from trip out so off to go and check. Will get back later.

There's a hard plastic boxy/pipe fitting thing that often warps or cracks and leaks under the engine cover towards the right, it might even be the bit the CTS fits into, sorry can't be more specific as it was a long time ago!

 

Oh, and the expansion tanks sometimes develop a crack/leak.

Edited 10 July, 20169 yr by Kandy