Silly cooling question

[the jiffle king]

A bit of a silly question, but I cannot get the blue cap off to check the water. Any tips for loosening it so that I do not contaminate the water/coolant. (3 of us have tried and it is stuck)

I read I can fill up by unscrewing the brass screw on the nearside of the engine bay, but I want to get the cap off. Any ideas?

T-J-K

[k4trv]

I sometimes use a tool which is used for loosening oil filters - its has a webbing strap which goes around the filter (cap) and metal bar which then traps the webbing, all of which can then twist in the off-direction (or turned over and turned in the tightening-direction).

I'm sure using a rag (to protect the plastic cap) and large mole-grips you could unscrew it reasonably successfully. Turn anti-clockwise to remove!!!

Trev McM

[M@H]

the jiffle king said:

I read I can fill up by unscrewing the brass screw on the nearside of the engine bay

this is lower than the swirl pot, so no chance I'm afraid.. (well not unless you park it nose up on a VERY steep hill


Re the blue cap, just grip it with something like a large plumbers wrench (or oil filter wrench as mentioned) having put a rag over it to protect it first, and pull. At worst if you scuff it up, its a standard Audi cap that you can get a replacement from a scrappy for pence.

Cheers
Matt.

[shpub]

Don't bother with a scrappy one as you don't know if it leaks. A new one is about 3 quid from Halfords... Early Golf.

Be careful as it is possible to rip the threaded bit out of the ally! See bible for warnings.

>> Edited by shpub on Friday 5th March 09:26

[pbrettle]

shpub said:

Don't bother with a scrappy one as you don't know if it leaks. A new one is about 3 quid from Halfords... Early Golf.

.... and not forgetting the Ford washer bottle and power steering resevior.... aint it great...!

[shpub]

Except that the later cars have a VW made washer bottle. The PAS fluid reservoir is from Land Rover BTW.

[pbrettle]

shpub said:

The PAS fluid reservoir is from Land Rover BTW.

Really? Mine looks the absolute spit of a Ford one... complete with that funny cap that they used to put on them. I stand corrected of course....

[wildego1]

Mine stuck once. I tried when the engine was warm and it came undone easilly.
Obviously only undo it less than a quarter turn, just to loosen it then wait till engine cools before trying again.

Disclaimer; Do it with a nice thick rag over it just in case - if you scald yourself, sorry but don't blame me