Intercool Pipe

[rogersbenj1989]

Good afternoon,

 

Typical newbie here so apologies if overlap but do love the forum and help you provide.

 

I have a 2004 Fabia VRS and yesterday the boost pipe popped off the intercooler. Looks like I need some new horseshoe spring clips - https://www.darksidedevelopments.co.uk/products/horseshoe-spring-clip-for-intercooler-on-seat-ibiza-vw-polo-skoda-fabia.html

 

Is this an easy job to fit, as in just simply put the clips back on. Can this be accessed from the normal engine bay or do we need to start dismantling the headlight/bumper/under carriage.

 

Thanks all

 

[Paws4Thot]

1 hour ago, rogersbenj1989 said:

Good afternoon,

 

Typical newbie here so apologies if overlap but do love the forum and help you provide.

 

I have a 2004 Fabia VRS and yesterday the boost pipe popped off the intercooler. Looks like I need some new horseshoe spring clips - https://www.darksidedevelopments.co.uk/products/horseshoe-spring-clip-for-intercooler-on-seat-ibiza-vw-polo-skoda-fabia.html

 

Is this an easy job to fit, as in just simply put the clips back on. Can this be accessed from the normal engine bay or do we need to start dismantling the headlight/bumper/under carriage.

 

Thanks all

 

It's a fairly easy job, but I'd recommend fitting proper Terry Jubilee clips rather than new horseshoes.

[rogersbenj1989]

So I replaced the pipe and clip but still feels a bit loose. Will put another jubilee over it. But read somewhere it’s more to do with the intercooler side? The ears/lugs worn out as pictured?

 

What’s the actual permanent fix?

[sepulchrave]

As long as it's not leaking then it's fixed.

[rogersbenj1989]

Sorry silly question how do I know if leaking 

[Paws4Thot]

2 hours ago, rogersbenj1989 said:

Sorry silly question how do I know if leaking 

Do you still have black smoke?

[rogersbenj1989]

Plenty of black smoke when accelerating hard. 

[Paws4Thot]

25 minutes ago, rogersbenj1989 said:

Plenty of black smoke when accelerating hard. 

Ah, you may still have a boost leak then.

[HeavyMetalRich]

The most common semi permanent fix is to drill a hole put a self tapping screw through the pipes close to where the clip is.

 

The pipes are pretty expensive to buy if you can find them new, used ones are likely to be in a similar state to what you have already.

[rogersbenj1989]

Yeah will give that a go too. 
 

So I just replaced the knee pipe (number 8 in diagram). But I think the leak will probably be more the connection at the intercooler, and from looking at the diagram only way to solve that would be a new one?
 

I certainly don’t have the skills to replace that and probably wouldn’t as would guess even a local would need to charge £600 and then becomes uneconomical. 
 

Got the car 4 years ago from a friend and it’s done 180,000 miles. And to be fair in the last 4 years completely stress free apart from a fuse relay and general wear and tear items. 
 

Will see how many more miles can

squeeze from it and then call it a day. 
 

 

[HeavyMetalRich]

Changing the intercooler is a bumper off job which is probably more daunting than it actually sounds. There is a decent video on YouTube on how to do it and the guy even removes the intercooler too. Worth considering if you're not adverse to getting your hands dirty.

[rogersbenj1989]

Thank you. Will give that a go next if it doesn’t hold up. At the moment, seems to be pulling okay and less smoke. Would love to get the block to 200,000 🤞🏼