Astro - Coolant Seal blown?

Gremlin

Hi All,

Car: 06 Opel Astra HB.

I'm sorry to ask but I know next to nothing about car engines. On the way home from work this evening, I noticed I had no heat from the aircon. I know that could suggest no coolant. When I got home, I had a look and sure enough there was no coolant in the well. I had some engine coolant so I went and poured some in (after letting the engine cool) only to notice it was spilling out of the other side of the engine. Please see the attached photo. It was pouring out of the hole inside the white ring. A friend told me that that might be a kind to seal which blows to stop the engine block cracking. Can anyone tell me if this is sounds correct?

As to why it happened, again a theory. When I looked closely at the connection on one of the coolant hoses to the engine block, I can see that the retaining spring clip has come loose. Perhaps the coolant leaked from here and this seal thingie blew because there was no coolant? As the car was only in for the NCT last week, I checked and there was a full resevoir of coolant last Monday. I would imagine it there was no coolant during the NCT test this would have been picked up?

Genuinely appreciate any feedback.

Photo:


Dave.

shamwari

See below. It looks like the small pipe has broken off waterpump. It's the brass pipe beside the plug connector, although yours may have been plastic originally. The remains of that pipe may still be inside the hose that's dangling over the pulley in your pic.

Gremlin

Ah-ha! Thanks shamwari. Spot on, just went and took another look. The hose with the spring clip on it originally attached to that point. There is a plastic nut on the end of the hose which broke off at the connection point. The black bit you can see inside the white washer in the photo is the remains of what used to be the end of that nut. Now how to fix it. I assume that bit inside the block is threaded so it should screw out? So if I can carefully remove the remains then it should be just a case of screwing a new one in and reconnecting the hose? Or am I being too simplistic?

I would be happier bringing it to a garage but of course there is no way to drive it without that hose attached

Nissan doctor

You'd have to check if that nipple is available separately, if not you'll have to replace the water pump.

I would also have the condition of the head gasket diagnosed. They don't last very well on these engines when run without coolant.

shamwari

You might be able to get a replacement pipe from Opel or a motor factors, then remove and replace the broken bits from the waterpump and hose. If a replacement pipe isn't available separately then its either get one from a scrappie or shell out for a new pump I'm afraid. I;m pretty sure the new pumps like the one in my photo have brass instead of plastic bits as the plastic was troublesome.

By the way, the engine didn't overheat?

Gremlin

shamwari wrote: »

By the way, the engine didn't overheat?

I don't think so. I wouldn't have known there was a problem if I didn't turn on the aircon heater.

I don't mind if I have to get a new water pump. I guess I could find a mechanic locally who could do this. I'll ring DG Opel in the morning and see if the brass connection bit can be bought separately.

Really appreciate the input, i'd be lost otherwise.

Gremlin

Hi. Just wanted to report how this all turned out in case someone else ends up with the same issue. It turns out that the plastic coolant hose stem breaking is a common enough issue with the astra. The bad news is there isn't a direct replacement part without buying the whole coolant pump assembly for around €140. The good news is there is another stem available that with a bit of workshop skills can be made to work. The part is another stem (GM#: 90466779 cost €5) but the thread is a lot larger than the one needed so you need to be able and willing to drill out and re-tap the hole in the coolant pump assembly. It turns out the thread (on the replacement) is not metric but 1/8 NPT. Lucky me, the only NPT tap I had in the workshop was 1/8 NPT. How lucky is that!!

Anyway the hole was drilled out (I used 8.5mm drill) and tapped and it went in like a dream. You need to keep hold of the nylon washer that come out of the old stem and widen the hole to fit the new part.

Anyway all done, coolant flushed and filled and I'm back moving again. Considering what a new pump would have cost to buy and get fitted this was the best hours work, I've done in a while:)

Thanks to all for the help.

Nissan doctor

Gremlin wrote: »

Hi. Just wanted to report how this all turned out in case someone else ends up with the same issue. It turns out that the plastic coolant hose stem breaking is a common enough issue with the astra. The bad news is there isn't a direct replacement part without buying the whole coolant pump assembly for around €140. The good news is there is another stem available that with a bit of workshop skills can be made to work. The part is another stem (GM#: 90466779 cost €5) but the thread is a lot larger than the one needed so you need to be able and willing to drill out and re-tap the hole in the coolant pump assembly. It turns out the thread (on the replacement) is not metric but 1/8 NPT. Lucky me, the only NPT tap I had in the workshop was 1/8 NPT. How lucky is that!!

Anyway the hole was drilled out (I used 8.5mm drill) and tapped and it went in like a dream. You need to keep hold of the nylon washer that come out of the old stem and widen the hole to fit the new part.

Anyway all done, coolant flushed and filled and I'm back moving again. Considering what a new pump would have cost to buy and get fitted this was the best hours work, I've done in a while:)

Thanks to all for the help.

Fair play...just one concern though, did you remove your water pump to drill/retap the hole or do it in in place? If you did it without removing the pump, I'd be concerned that some of the filings would have got into the pump or cooling channel.

Gremlin

Nissan doctor wrote: »

Fair play...just one concern though, did you remove your water pump to drill/retap the hole or do it in in place? If you did it without removing the pump, I'd be concerned that some of the filings would have got into the pump or cooling channel.

Good point, which I did think of at the time. It was done in place. I used drill steps of 0.5mm to work up to the correct hole size so that any filings would be tiny. Also I have a vacuum which I use in the workshop, got the missus to hold it for me to suck away any of the tiny filings.

sburns353

I've had the exact same problem, removed the broken bit from the water pump with an almost red-hot flat blade screwdriver and have just been down to my local Opel dealership and ordered an authorised replacement part, comes in brass, the plastic has been discontinued.. wonder why :-/ Should have it in the morning... 15 bucks.

sburns353

Ok Just picked it up from the dealership, I've included a pic with the part number on it to make it easier for anybody with same issue. Rgds.

Tyrant^

Sorry to resurrect an old thread... But anyone have any ideas where I could get one of these parts this weekend ? All Opel garages around Dublin are closed !

Gremlin

Tyrant. Did you get sorted?