Coolant in footwell

[PainswickEType]

Series 2 OTS

Just looking for opinions before I start ripping things apart again!

I have found that the carpets in the passenger footwell are wet again with coolant. Last year I replaced all of the dreaded steel return pipes and the heater control valve and O ring. All of the hoses are nice and tight.

I have occasionally seen a bit of coolant on the firewall around the header tank, but thought that was coming from the overflow.

I can only think that the heater matrix is now leaking and being blown into the footwell? SURELY can't be anything else?

Neil

[mgcjag]

Coolant preasure test will show your leaks......Steve

[Heuer]

Had that. Caused by joint between behind dash water pipe and heater outlet.

[Allrand]

Yes had that too, there's a seal ring (not an O ring) behind the heater control valve where it attaches to the steel pipe at the bulkhead.

[politeperson]

You could always just bypass the heater! That takes a few minutes.

As David says, it could be coming from the heater valve O ring. The is quite accessible on the outside of the bulkhead.

I leaking heater matrix would be a relatively easy fix, but I think the leak would be visible around the heater box area, not inside the car.

If you fold down the instrument panel you will be able to see the wiper motor and quite a lot of the heater pipes through the main access hole. Shine a torch in there, you might spot the leak on the bulkhead heater pipes.

I have replaced the bulkhead heater pipes with the dash and windscreen in situ. It is a bit of a fiddle though.

Doing the bulkhead heater pipe flange rivets with the engine in situ would be challenging.

[PainswickEType]

Thanks all.

The bulkhead return pipes and heater valve are all brand new, although I paid someone to do it for me. (Couldn't face it)! It might be that the bulkhead seal isn't seated properly. I guess that the easiest thing to do would be to have that off and re-make it to make sure. I like the idea of a pressure test, but not sure how to go about that. Apparently the matrix can leak into the car, but it is rare.

Just had a brainwave - durrr!! Checked the bolts securing the heater control valve to bulkhead joint and they were quite slack. Nipped them up a turn. I will dry out the footwell and see if that makes a difference.

[PainswickEType]

Just checked online. I can get a pressure test kit for about £60 on Amazon.