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[brianp38dse]

That was my thoughts when i looked at the price its not worth mucking about when you have a nice tidy motor like that , might be worth doing all the hoses then you know there good for years to come.

 

[Scipio Africanus]

That was my thoughts when i looked at the price its not worth mucking about when you have a nice tidy motor like that , might be worth doing all the hoses then you know there good for years to come.

I agree; I will replace the rubber hoses as well. The car is a keeper, so it's worth putting the money and effort into maintaining it correctly. I'm just disappointed that the garage, who I have used for years and have a very good reputation, forgot to secure the rubber hoses correctly. Luckily, when the heater suddenly ran cold (probably because the water level had dropped) I pulled over and noticed the weeping at the join with the corroded pipes. At first I didn't notice that the clips on the other end were missing, but I did as soon as I squeezed the pipes and hot coolant shot out from the ends all down the bulkhead! Idiots! Anyway, luckily the engine was no where near overheating, but we had to go out this afternoon in my wife's Fiat 500 - which normally fits in the boot of the Rangy! Thanks again Brian.

 

[Datatek]

Hi everyone,View attachment 253999
I have just bought my second RR - a 1999/T P38 4.0 for £995. 91k on the clock, and almost everything works! The only thing that didn't work was the heater matrix, but I have had this fixed by my local garage...almost! The rubber pipes that attach to the metal pipes that come through the bulkhead into the engine bay from the heater matrix haven't had their clips reattached, so as this is pressurised coolant is leaking from the pipes - no surprise there! I will be taking the car back tomorrow to get this rectified. The rubber pipes then travel down the right bank, along side the rocker cover, and attach (with jubilee clips this time replaced!) to metal pipes, the ends of which are a little rusty and I could do with replacing these. I think one of these metal pipes goes to the thermostat?? Please forgive my ignorance, but I am trying to locate a description and part number for these two metal pipes - can anyone assist me please? I have had a good rummage on the web for over an hour but can't find any diagrams etc that describe the metal pipes. I am purchasing a full workshop manual which will obviously prove invaluable! Many thanks - I look forward to contributing to the forum as often as I can - I have been a contributing member of Volvo and Ford forums for some years. Dave.

RAVE, the official manual can be downloaded FOC.

 

[pete12345]

When you say the heater matrix didn’t work but had it fixed what do you mean it wasn’t getting hot or cold or was it leaking

 

[pete12345]

Oh +1 on the colour and price looks tidy

 

[pwood999]

I think this may be the upper metal pipe I need shown in the last pic above. View attachment 254010

That looks like the GEMS heater return. Yours is Thor, so the pipe is probably different.

 

[Scipio Africanus]

When you say the heater matrix didn’t work but had it fixed what do you mean it wasn’t getting hot or cold or was it leaking

Hi Pete,
Well, not an easy answer! Seller said that someone had started to repair a leaking matrix, replaced the matrix, but for some reason the job stalled. I actually don't believe the matrix was leaking, or in fact replaced - in fact it's usually the o rings or pipes/hoses that leak. The hoses had literally been cut off for some reason, so I had these replaced, reconnected everything, smoke and pressure tested and all seems to be working fine. It was probably leaking pipes. Someone had stripped down part of the underside of the dash, but left out half of the screws when they rebuilt it! These have all been replaced.

 

[Scipio Africanus]

Oh +1 on the colour and price looks tidy

Thanks! Yes the bodywork is generally very tidy, just a little lacquer peel here and there. I wanted a car that was mechanically/electrically sound, with straight, rust-free bodywork with a view to refreshing some or all of the paint if necessary at some point in the future. The car is to keep (hopefully!) so I am happy to throw a few quid at it to get it as straight as it can be over the next 12-18 months.

 

[Scipio Africanus]

That looks like the GEMS heater return. Yours is Thor, so the pipe is probably different.

Hi, not sure to be honest....I would have said that mine was the GEMS engine?? I intend to replace all the heating and cooling system pipes and hoses in the spring.

 

[brianp38dse]

Hi, not sure to be honest....I would have said that mine was the GEMS engine?? I intend to replace all the heating and cooling system pipes and hoses in the spring.

Looking at the pics you posted yesterday the engine is a later bosch Thor

 

[Scipio Africanus]

Looking at the pics you posted yesterday the engine is a later bosch Thor

Thanks Brian! I am happy to be corrected as, at the minute, my knowledge of P38's is....limited!

 

[brianp38dse]

Thanks Brian! I am happy to be corrected as, at the minute, my knowledge of P38's is....limited!

As said yesterday yours is on the cross over, you have the later engine but still have the early amber indicators and early headlights

 

[Scipio Africanus]

As said yesterday yours is on the cross over, you have the later engine but still have the early amber indicators and early headlights

Having read a few posts about the difference between the GEMS and Thor variants I guess I am happier with having the later engine. Missing clips on the heater hoses replaced today and all seems well. Took a couple of pictures whilst at my friends farm today....great view...not the Rangy but the fantastic view from the back of the farm!

 

[Rubberknees]

Having read a few posts about the difference between the GEMS and Thor variants I guess I am happier with having the later engine. Missing clips on the heater hoses replaced today and all seems well. Took a couple of pictures whilst at my friends farm today....great view...not the Rangy but the fantastic view from the back of the farm!View attachment 254071

Snap

 

[Scipio Africanus]

Snap
View attachment 254087

Oooh VERY nice! Thanks for sharing that!

 

[pete12345]

Just keep a check on the underside of the carpet then mate I’ve they didn’t do the o rings

 

[Scipio Africanus]

Just keep a check on the underside of the carpet then mate I’ve they didn’t do the o rings

Cheers for that mate, will do. I think actually the o rings had been done, so all should be well. There were no leaks during or after the pressure test, and I've been keeping an eye on it since then, just to make sure.

 

[Rubberknees]

Cheers for that mate, will do. I think actually the o rings had been done, so all should be well. There were no leaks during or after the pressure test, and I've been keeping an eye on it since then, just to make sure.

Any problems just change the heater matrix for the Audi one from Nissans like quite a few of us have done on here. Does away with the O rings altogether

 

[Scipio Africanus]

Any problems just change the heater matrix for the Audi one from Nissans like quite a few of us have done on here. Does away with the O rings altogether

Cheers mate...the last owner said he'd planned to do that...but never got round to it!

 

[Scipio Africanus]

Rather odd one this morning....took the dog up t'hill in the Rangy for his morning walk and when I stopped there appeared to be vapour/smoke coming from the top righthand corner of the bonnet. Jumped out and lifted the bonnet but the vapour/smoke dissipated within a couple of seconds. No real smell of burning (i.e. plastic/rubber etc) and temp gauge normal for that length of journey - no coolant loss either. Mentioned it to a mechanic friend and he said it could have just been coolant spilled when the heater hoses were refitted and the coolant topped up yesterday, and this may have settled somewhere and then dropped onto the exhaust or heat-shield. The garage did take off the bottom hose from the header and drained the header prior to topping the coolant up - allowing the coolant to spill down the block, onto the floor...not acceptable! Must admit I find this theory hard to believe. Can't find any evidence of burning/burnt wires or components in or around the area (i.e. fusebox, header tank etc), all fuses seem fine and everything (electrical) works as it should. Driven the car three times since, left it running (away from anything even remotely flammable!) and nothing. Strange! Still no odour or visible sign of anything hot or burnt in the engine bay. I was planning to have the car subjected to a full electrical health check in the New Year, and don't really want to bring this forward with Christmas looming....however, neither do I want the truck going up in flames! Any thoughts on this one would be greatly appreciated. Driving it at the minute is probably ok as its absolutely hammering down so would just have to lift the bonnet and let the climate do its job!!!