I need to remove my coolant reservoir tank because of a leak between the filler neck and the tank itself, the stock adhesive wrap wore out and now when my cooling system puts pressure into the tank, it will overflow at that leak and onto the ground, this in turn doesn't let coolant to be drawn back into the motor on cool down.

I've spent the last couple days searching how to remove it online, since the shop manual doesn't explain it. It appears I need to remove the front bumper cover. Is there an easier way? Once I get it out, I'll use some good ol' duct tape to make sure the part doesn't come off again.

Thanks in advance

 

i removed the wheel arch cover. There are 2 bolts securing it (size 10?) I would advise removal of wheel of course if you have big hands.

 

You need to remove the passenger front tire and remove the fender liner. That should give you full access.

If you have a leak between the neck and the tank, that's no biggie. The system is sealed since the tube that pushes water into the tank is down at the bottom - if it's leaking, either the tank is way overfilled or something is wrong with your cooling system.

I would make sure to replace your radiator cap if you haven't done so and check the rubber line going to the overflow tank for any holes or leaks. The cooling system is pushing coolant into the tank, but if it's overflowing it's not sucking it back in. This can either be due to a bad radiator cap, hole in the line, or (sadly) a bad water seal in the engine.

Dale

 

1. jack car (at least the right side)

2. remove the right front wheel to give you more access for the next step.

3. remove the fasteners from the forward half of the right fender liner

4. the filler neck for the tank is held with a 10mm bolt access with the hood open.

5. the tank is held with one bolt & one nut (both 10mm socket size). It also has a alignment tab on the side that hooks in. You gotta wiggle it a bit to pull the tank.

Damn you Dale. I can't type fast enough

 

Failure of the black adhesive wrap at the junction of the filler neck and tank body should not cause the tank to leak - the coolant level should stay well below that point even when hot. You must also have a failure of the coolant return system (the hose to the tank from the AST or the AST pressure cap), or an engine problem as Dale Clark said.

The stock RX7 has no hose clamp on the AST end of the hose that runs to the overflow tank. Apparently the hose is just wedged on the nipple. It can develope an air leak and prevent coolant from being sucked back into the AST when the car cools, so I put a spring clamp on it.

I fixed the torn black adhesive wrap on mine. I replaced it with a short section of thin walled washing machine drain hose and a bit of black duct tape. It wasn't necessary to remove the tank body from the car - just the filler neck.

 

Well I thought I fixed the problem, and basically I placed a high pressure hose inine with the filler neck and the tank and clamped them down. When I test drove it I got home and saw coolant coming out from the tank like a faucet. I don't believe it's from where the AST pipe connects. Could I just order that piece? I may end up just having to replace the whole damn tank itself and go from there.... Any suggestions?

 

See DaleClark's post above for the likely problems you need to investigate.

The overflow tank is not a pressure tank - it operates more or less open to the atmosphere since the filler neck cap is just a cheezy plastic snap-on cap like a windshield washer tank cap.

 

Thanks for the info. I'm in the process of refilling the engine with coolant. My buddy told me to try the radiator cap first. I purchased a 13lb one from Schucks. I don't believe there's a hole in any of my lines. I guess I'll find out in a bit.

 

I had the same issue a few weeks ago (cracked rubber between tank and neck) and noticed a bit of coolant had come out from that area.

I replaced the entire tank/filler neck with a new one from ray and made sure I had the reservoir only filled to the F mark. I believe I had the tank too full before and this resulted in the "overflow". Of not is the fact that there are also release holes on the top of the tank, roughly at the same level where the neck meets the tank, thus not a closed system above that point.

 

If it is leaking where the neck meets the tank, the tank isn't your problem. The problem is a leak somewhere in the system letting air in and keeping coolant from being sucked back into the system when the car cools down. Look over all the hoses and replace all of your caps.

-Charlie

 

may be a clogged AST line that was my problem with the same symtoms

 

i dont think the neck to the tank is the problem either. I mean like some one said already. The coolant shouldnt even reach that high anyways. Worst case scenario is u might loose some coolant pouring it into the tank but thats about it. I would be guessing that it is the hose that goes to the ast cause i believe thats the only hose going to it. I am still in the process of fixing this problem.