Help :( :( Fluid pouring in the footwell

[J_A_C_K_Y_D]

Heyy guys, ive only just bought my first e30 and ive come accross my first problem, i jumped in the car this morning and there was a puddle (a good inch of standing fluid) in the passenger footwell, my first thought was that it was water but it hasnt been raining, then i mopped it up with kitchen roll and it was green... and didnt smell like water, i mopped it all up, drove to tesco 5mins down the road and the puddle was back, same thing mopped it up and by the time i got to my mates it was back again, i have no idea what it is or where its coming from

please help?

Thanks

[BadDave]

Are you losing any coolant?

if so, it could be the heater valve

[Banjo1981]

Sounds like the valve on your heater matrix has gone mate. That green fluid is engine coolant.

Have a read through this thread as I had the same issue earlier in the year:

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... highlight=

[Morat]

I got a 2nd hand replacement from spadge (a zone trader) and got my local garage to fit it. I don't think it came in much over £100 all in.

[Brianmoooore]

Sounds like the valve on your heater matrix has gone mate. That green fluid is engine coolant.

Have a read through this thread as I had the same issue earlier in the year:

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... highlight=

Especially the bit about the pressure cap recall!
Replacing the heater valve is a simple DIY job, using minimal tools. Remove the heater hose under the bonnet, remove the panels above and beside the glovebox and you will see the valve. I can't remember if the centre rear and front consoles have to come out to change it, but they are easily removed if they do.
Two small bolts to remove to undo the flange joint for the valve, and a cross head screw that is very difficult to unscrew because of part of the brake linkage in the way. Remove this screw by whatever way you can, and replace it with a hex headed one for future ease of work.
Wrap tape around the flange of the new valve to keep the square nuts in place.
the replacement valve, reconnect the lower heater hose, remove the top one and fill the coolant bottle so that fluid is coming from the top heater pipe and the hose, push it back on and tighten the clip.

[Banjo1981]

The front console definately needs to come out. I also found it easier to undo the brake linkage to get at the screw.

I took the carpet out to clean it and dry it off too and took the oportunity to generally have a good tidy up around the dash area wiring etc after some butcher had fitted the stereo.

Took me about 2 hours in all to strip and repair, then another couple of days for the carpet to dry!

[J_A_C_K_Y_D]

ah cheers guys, much appriciated, looks like a job for the weekend then :/

its stopped doing now though, but i think i'll definatly change that valve any way

thanks

[J_A_C_K_Y_D]

it was nice to come back after work to see a MASSIVE puddle under my car where it had emptied whatever cooling fluid was left in the car all over the carpark

am i okay to drive it aslong as i keep an eye on the temperature as i wont have chance to do any work on it till the weekend, also where can i get one of those new valves for it?

thanks in advance

[Brianmoooore]

MOST DEFINITELY DON'T DRIVE IT!
Fluid under the car is worrying. The heater valve is completely inside the cabin.

[J_A_C_K_Y_D]

hmmmm.... what could be the cause of the coolant fluid under the car then?

starting to worry a bit now

[Brianmoooore]

Short answer is to see wherever its coming from. I can't tell from here.

[J_A_C_K_Y_D]

Aright will do, thanks

[E30BeemerLad]

Is the car a facelift 6 pot car? i.e. 320 or 325 with the expansion tank over on the passenger inner wing?

If so, worth checking if it has been chucking coolant out the expansion tank overflow, should be a rubber pipe that comes from it and goes down inside the wing/ strut tower area from memory.

I had a 325 years ago, would drive fine & not overheat when in use, but as soon as I parked up it would then chuck coolant out of the overflow due to heat soak and presumably a pressurised system.

Suspecting the headgasket was the culprit I just did a bodge and chucked in some K-Seal into the expansion tank and it stopped doing it.

I would refill the cooling system and start the car and warm it up and just look for any signs of leaks whilst it is coming up to temp (keep an eye on the gauge). See if anything obvious can be seen. Also then see what happens when you shut it off and leave for 5 mins.

[J_A_C_K_Y_D]

Yes its a face lift 325i, thats what this is like, it drives fine, stays at the 1/4 mark on the temp gauge but then when its stopped it first filled the passenger footwell up but then today emptied from just behind the front passenger wheel

i'll get some coolant and try it, did you say the head gasket may be gone?

[E30BeemerLad]

I don't know, I just figured my cooling system was pressurised too much and that exhaust gases were getting in, so did a bodge and poured in a solution called K-Seal which sorted it in about 3 minutes. Although it is an alleged permanent fix, I would use it as a temp measure to get the coin together to get the head off and do the job properly.

keep us posted.

By the way,, I'm just offering suggestions and relaying my experience here, I ain't a mechanic and Brian who has posted earlier has forgotten more than I'll ever know.

[Brianmoooore]

If the coolant is coming from just behind the front wheel on the passenger side, then it's probably coming from the coolant tank overflow pipe, as suggested above. If this is so, then it's just possible that the heater valve hasn't blown its top.
Why it's building up such high pressures is anyone's guess at the moment - head gasket is a possibility, but one thing is certain; if you take any liberties with the cooling system on a M20B25 engine, you will end up with a head cracked under the camshaft.
Are the two O rings still in place on the side of the pressure cap?

[J_A_C_K_Y_D]

Heyy sorry for the late reply, ive by-passed the heater matrix by joining the pipes together in the engine bay and have had no further problems which makes be think that is in fact the heater matrix, how can i tell if its the valve that has broken or whether the whole matrix needs replacing?

thanks

[magpie]

i have a full matrix with valve no leaks any where ,
pm me if needed

[skipunda]

moved to tech help

[Brianmoooore]

You tell if it's the valve that's leaking by looking at it! It tends to be streaked with evaporated coolant if it's faulty.

[RM2186]

When my valve blew, I could feel the split between the two halves so I knew it was this.

On magpies picture the burst occurred between the white and black parts of the valve.