86 TII

Evening gentlemen -

On my way to the store I started the smell coolant and by the time I got to the store - (About a half of mile after I started smelling coolant) There was coolant pooring out of the turbo rear of the engine. At the stop light turning into the store - The idle was funny like it was missing.

I can't really see anything sitting here and I am waiting on a tow truck. I really can't imagine there are any coolant lines above the turbo that could/would have ruptured ...

Any ideas on a leak source? Coolant was running off the oil pan and transmission bell housing...

 

Check the lines running by the firewall. I think those are the heater core lines if I remember correctly.

 

Ok - Got it over to the shop and up on the lift - It looks like its coming from the back runner of the intake manifold ... Is there an O-ring there?

 

yes. you might also check the little hose that goes from the top right rear of the engine to the throttle body.

 

theres a cppl places to check ... 1st the the heater hose at the firewall on the passenger side if not that then check the little 90 degree hose that goes from the back iron to the throttle body ... if it snot that check the two o-rings between the LIM and the block

 

J9F - Any chance of a picture?

Is that the hose under the intake that is part hard line??

The car seems to run fine - I imagine that when all the coolant went out of it the thermowax didn't know up from down ... How do I determine a blown intake gasket or oring? With the turbo in there - It is so hard to see!

Thanks guys - I apprecaite your help - Right now this is my only wheels ...

 

If I take the upper intake off am I going to get coolant?

I was thinking about taking it off to see if I can get a little more visability...

 

yes take off the UIM and find where it is coming from, if it is leaking from the LIM you will need to remove the turbo first.
From experience i've encountered both the blown coolant o-ring in the LIM and the 90 degree hose that goes from the rear iron to the UIM.

 

Barnett - Thank you for the response. So I am clear - I am reading your response that when I take off the UIM I will have water coming out. . . or were you saying yes to taking off the UIM?

I guess what I am trying to avoid is creating a mess where I don't actually find the orginal leak - In other words - if the UIM has coolant running through it and I take it off- any coolant up there is going to run down ... thus I would need to take care so I can figure out where the orginal leak is coming from!

I truly hope/pray the leak is not in the LIM - I don't believe this turbo has EVER been off ... It looks quite happy where it is!

Is the best thing to do remove the entire manifold via the 4 bolts that hold it to the exhaust ports??

 

rent a cooling system pressure tester. you will see where it drips.

 

Ok, to the best of my knowledge there isn't coolant running THROUGH the UIM, but there are lines running to the TB and around the UIM that will have to be removed to get it off.

The O-ring is in the LIM where it meets the block, if that is indeed the leak then yes, it must be removed. In order to remove it you have to remove the turbo first. Drain the coolant, drain the oil, remove the turbo, then remove the LIM.

Hopefully the line from the LIM to the turbo is leaking and you don't have to remove any manifolds....

And do as arghx has said, get a coolant pressure test and dye kit, then you will find out exactly where the leak is.

 

More likely one of the hoses than the o-ring. Especially the one that goes into the top of the rear iron from the back of the TB water valve/fast idle thermo. Use a good worm clamp there with the bolt head facing in a good direction so you don't have to take the Upper Intake Manifold off in the future.

 

Thanks guys - Ill report! I have so many other cars to work on today and I want to fix my own!

 

As a rghx said, Get a pressure checker to find it before starting to tear everything apart. Too many places on those where it can leak.

 

Thanks guys - I did pressure test it today - Its the hose that comes out of the rear iron to the tb.

Is there a way to change that hose without taking off the upper intake?

Anything special about taking the upper manifold off?

It looks like that hose is going to have to come from the dealer - Im not sure bulk hose is going to make that 90 degree turn without being huge...??

 

Its possible to get it w/o taking off the manifold, but it is a PAIN in the ***, and you WILL pinch fingers/ drop hose clamps / want to blow it up.

 

Gentlemen -
Sorry to dig up an old tread - I just wanted to post some feedback for those that come behind me!

I am just now getting back to finishing this job. I did end up having to take the upper intake off. The hose that comes from Mazda (a must use) is a little long and doesn't want to make the bend - I spent many a night trying to do it - I took the upper manifold off and it was easier - I am not going to say much - but it was better.

Now I am just praying I get all the vac lines back in the right place!

Eating some dinner and then finishing it up -