Had my cam belt and metal water pump done yesterday which was dandy, but when i got home i decided to have a good poke around the engine bay to check they did things properly.

I started off by loosing one of the plastic engine cover clips as it popped out and dissapeared into the engine bay! Bit annoying! Where do i get just one?

Then I noticed an open hole on the top of the gearbox casing, allowing me to see the flywheel. Im guessing its the timing hole. Should there be a rubber plug in there?

Then while crawling underneath the car, i noticed that there should probably be some sort of splash guard going from the front bumber to the back of the engine bay. It's not been there since ive had the car, but do i need one?

Then the only worrying one, what looks like an aircon hose right at the front of the engine behind the radiator, seems to be leaking some sort of oily stuff where the hose enters an aluminium crimped fitting. Whats leaking? Is it serious? can it be repaired?

So many questions! I feel like im abusing the forum a bit here with all my problems, but any advice would be great.

Andy:thumbup:

"Engine cover clips" - You mean the top obsfurcation cover yes?

If so, then the cover is secured by 3 nut and stud fixings; the plastic is just for embellishment.

The splash guard is there mostly to keep the engine bay clean(er), but has some noise reduction and aerodynamic benefits. It's not crucial though.

The leaking hose is probably an intercooler hose which seals up properly when the hoses are pressurised (When your creating boost) and relax when the engine is off, its normal for a little oil in the IC pipework and that bottom joint can get a little messy but its nothing to worry about.

So many questions! I feel like im abusing the forum a bit here with all my problems, but any advice would be great.

Andy:thumbup:

If you really do feel that guilty, then perhaps joing FREEDOM might ease your feelings of guilt a bit.....................LOL

one problem solved! just found the little rubber bung for viewing the flywheel in the engine bay! the guys at the garage must have forgotten to put it back. tools.

by engine cover clips i mean the little plastic sprung things that are really fiddly and spazzy. i might just do away with the engine covers. just a shame the cam covers so ugly!

i wont worry about the undertray.

the leaking hose leads down to some big pump thing driven off the auxillary drive belt and into a small aluminium 90degree tubular section which has some bleed valve or something in the top of it! surely thats aircon piping? the leak does seem to have dried up now. it leaked a kind of odourless oily substance which confused me!

cheers.

oh and ill look into freedom thingy...

The hose is definately aircon. Cant tell whether its condensation or its leaking freon from the joint. Does anyone know if you can repair the hose end fittings or will i have to replace the whole piping system, it doesnt look like you can just replace one section thats all. Could it be possible that the seals have dried up due to lack of use? I'll give the aircon a pounding cold style and see what happens!