Steam... lots of it!

[VeeFour]

One of the heater hoses which run from the back of the block near the coils into the cockpit sprung a leak today.

Seems they run as part of the pressurised part of the cooling system....

Aside from producing loads of steam, I had issues with overheating and lost a whole radiator's worth of water in just a few miles earlier.

Would I be right in assuming the hose alone can cause such issues on a Mk1 MX5?

Also... they look like a real bd to replace, as they connect up somewhere between the block and the bulkhead - anyone have tips to make it easy?

I've ordered the hoses from MX5 Parts, so they'll hopefully be here by the weekend. Shame it means I'll miss out on a day or two of sun, though.

[scrwright]

yep, had one go on mine, take the coil pack off to get more room to work on them

[towelie]

its not too difficult to replace the heater hoses, the hoses will have welded themselves to the metal pipes, so it is usually easier just to cut them off or use a screw driver to unstick them..

[scrwright]

be careful though, the 2 pipes into the bulkhead are fairly soft copper, easy to bend them

[Xenocide]

It goes to the heater matrix inside. If it's not the hose and it's the copper that's split then you can just connect them to each other so you can use the car to get around whilst waiting on bits. Used that a few times now (you'll get alot of practise doing the job if you own a puma).

It's not too bad of a job but you'll get a bad back while doing it .

[furtive]

Is it the hose directly above the crank angle sensor, and have you recently had your timing advanced? If so you need to replace the CAS o-ring as the failure of the hose was caused by hot oil dripping on it.

Happened to me too. I vanished into an impressive cloud of smoke on a trackday at Anglesey.

[MX-5 Lazza]

Below

[furtive]

Sorry, I thought he was Australian

[VeeFour]

What a complete bh of a job.

Coil packs off, hoses cut.... and over an hour later, I have 1 hose replaced, but still need to remove the stubs of the 2nd one and replace that. But I ran out of time.

I'm also covered in scratches and cuts now, too.

'kin thing.

As a bonus, I noticed my Ducati has a leaking front fork, too.

[Xenocide]

MX5's and Ducati's - good choice!

[VeeFour]

Xenocide said:

MX5's and Ducati's - good choice!

Hmmm, I'm not happy with most things I own at the moment!

MX5 - needs these hoses finishing

Ducati - needs cam belt and fork seals

VFR - needs radiator fan (sat on kitchen table)

Alfetta GTV - needs MOT

Only my BMW R100 is working... ish, as that really needs a pair of silencers fitting (they're in the garage, but the bolts on the bike are rusted solid)

As I was working on the MX5 tonight, I was thinking that I should sell everything, then buy a nice new-ish car and nice new-ish bike to replace the lot.

Then I came to my senses and realised I'd be bored and it would be financially not a great plan, as everything I own is either maintaining its value or appreciating.

[Turtle head]

I had mine go as well, i'm told its quite common to happen. It when while i was bombing up the m6. And yes it is a bit of a pain in the ass job doesn't look it though.

[NiceCupOfTea]

VeeFour said:

Shame it means I'll miss out on a day or two of sun, though.

Good one!