Sagaris - access to coolant expansion bottle

[RAS]

When I remove the service bonnet I still cannot gain access to remove the blue cap let alone see inside the expansion bottle as it is completely covered by the main bonnet.

This just seems wrong to me, so I'm not sure if my expansion bottle is correctly fitted, if this is a feature of my car or if it is a common problem with all Sags?

Any suggestions, photo's of how it should be fitted, or mods to avoid removal of the complete bonnet would be much appreciated.

Thanks
Roger

[Laser Sag]

Hi Roger

Mine is covered by the main bonnet but there is just room (to the mm) to remove the cap if the bonnet is pulled up a little,then shine a torch in to check level.
Would assume it's a case of they are all like that sir, certainly is on all the ones I have seen.

[Don1]

Mine was like that, but I figured out if you used thin cardboard as a dipstick, you could do it (if you could get the top off).

That's why I had this done:

[blackiepaul]

The newer cars like mine have a offset filler cap so you then do not have that problem.

[Don1]

Sir has been playing again?

[RedSpike66]

Most are like yours where it's just covered by the main bonnet....
I've had a sight glass fitted to mine along with a self bleeding kit at TrackVRoad... fantastic little mod.... Done 10,000 miles since fitted and never had to top it up once. !!

Check it out here...
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/t...

[blackiepaul]

Don1 said:

Sir has been playing again?

Always - its slightly different from that picture now, the fuel rail system has a loop on it.

[RAS]

Hi Guys, thanks for all the responses and ideas.

I tried slightly lifting the side of the bonnet and by adjusting the position of the tank I can now just about check it using a dipstick, assuming the top is not to tight!

I had considered strapping the expansion tank to the side of the swirl pot, but was unsure if this was wise, but it obviously works with the TrackVRoad mod.

I will leave for now (only had the car a couple of months) and re-visit if undoing the top becomes a problem.

At least for now I should be able to do it on my own.

I do like the idea of opening bonnet(great looking car Don) along with cutting the vents out etc.........................

[Don1]

Cheers

There are two ways of doing it - this way (bodywork by Brendan at Concept Performance in Sheffield), and the other is by PDQ.

You can see the difference in this photo:


Pauls are far 'sharper', with a toothed notch, mine are far squarer, but with far more open. I think it would be a step too far to make a perfect combination of the two...

[clive f]

slightly off topic, but anyone have some close up pics of the pdq vents? front and rear if poss.

[Don1]

I do... I'll throw you an email.

[clive f]

thanks mate, just realised I should use google more as well

have booked the sag in for having this done in the next week or so.

[alex_gray255]

Have some shots from Chatsworth this year which show PDQ ones up close as well.

Shoot me an email if you need them.

[RedSpike66]

clive f said:

thanks mate, just realised I should use google more as well

have booked the sag in for having this done in the next week or so.

A-Ha! I wondered what you were having done up at S&D the week before Back Home !!!

[paul1962]

I've never seen the expansion tank with offset cap before and mines a late car.

I had PDQ cut the wings a few weeks ago and I think it looks brilliant, don't really see the point in having them cut and then blocking them with mesh. Good that there are different options though.

[alex_gray255]

paul1962 said:

I've never seen the expansion tank with offset cap before and mines a late car.

I had PDQ cut the wings a few weeks ago and I think it looks brilliant, don't really see the point in having them cut and then blocking them with mesh. Good that there are different options though.

Its all personal taste, mate. As we discussed before in great detail - each to their own

Btw - hows the new flaps going?

[paul1962]

alex_gray255 said:

Its all personal taste, mate. As we discussed before in great detail - each to their own

Btw - hows the new flaps going?

Agreed Alex, which is why it's good there are different options available.

Flaps are good, taking it back in a couple of weeks for a final tweak.
The parameters for allowing them to open need changing so I've sent those to Paul Smith.

[clive f]

RedSpike66 said:

A-Ha! I wondered what you were having done up at S&D the week before Back Home !!!

wont be at the back home though, heading back south on the Friday, for a childrens hospice charity track day on sunday.

[alex_gray255]

paul1962 said:

Agreed Alex, which is why it's good there are different options available.

Flaps are good, taking it back in a couple of weeks for a final tweak.
The parameters for allowing them to open need changing so I've sent those to Paul Smith.

Cool. I'll push an update your way next week. Need to discuss something with someone first

[JonRB]

paul1962 said:

I've never seen the expansion tank with offset cap before and mines a late car.

You might want to look more closely at that pic and see if you can spot anything else that's non-standard, apart from the offset expansion tank.