The trusty Triton has sprung a leak.
Submitted: Wednesday, Feb 27, 2013 at 13:56
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100791
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Fred G NSW
Drove
home from
Mildura to the Hunter Valley NSW, weekend before last. Had a great run up the Newell to Dubbo and then across the Golden Highway.
Around about
Dunedoo I noticed a strong smell of coolant in the cabin. At first I thought it was a smell from fertilerzer in the lush paddocks all around, but wet green feet soon put that right, and my worst fears were realised.
I managed the last 250 k's by taking the radiator cap off, and keeping the water topped up without any problems, even though I was towing.
It is a 2001 MK 3ltr petrol/lpg, not airconditioned. I suspect a blown heater core or maybe a hose.
I am hoping the learned members here on our EO
Forum can give me a heads up on the degree of difficulty/cost involved should they have experienced a similar situation. At this stage I have not spoken to any repairers, and the old steed sits patiently in the driveway.
Reply By: Ozhumvee - Wednesday, Feb 27, 2013 at 14:08
Wednesday, Feb 27, 2013 at 14:08
Like lots of vehicles it may
well be the heater core and again like lots of vehicles it may be the heater core comes down the production line hanging on a piece of wire and they build the vehicle around it ;-)) so you have to just about remove the dash to access it.
The rubber connecting hoses are usually under the bonnet in most vehicles these days so it is probably the heater core.
I've not had to fix one on a later model Triton so can't help, best to speak to a radiator place as they will have an idea of the complexity involved.
If it is a big job they might allow you to remove most of it yourself which will bring the labour cost down.
A squiz in a the workshop manual or agoogle search may also provide answers.
AnswerID:
505688
Follow Up By: edwin - Wednesday, Feb 27, 2013 at 14:28
Wednesday, Feb 27, 2013 at 14:28
agree with ozhumvee, also for a temp fix to still be able to use the vehicle, you can just bypass the heater core by looping the hose back onto itself from the manifold, done this many times in the old days and usually never end up fixing them as didnt need the heater up in
Darwin anyway.
could also just be a leaking hose that has split or rubbed thru,or the actual adjusting valve leaking.
if you have a spare few hours and beers grab a phillips head screwdriver and start pulling it apart and have a look, cheaper than $80-$100 an hour for someone elses apprentice to do it
edwin
FollowupID:
782623
Reply By: Dave B ( BHQ NSW) - Wednesday, Feb 27, 2013 at 16:08
Wednesday, Feb 27, 2013 at 16:08
Fred, if you can disconnect the heater hose from the motor, maybe you could connect up the garden hose to the heater and let it trickle though while you stick your beak under the dash to see if you can see a leak.
Maybe if you can take out the glovebox, that might give you a bit more space to look from another angle.
cheers
Dave
AnswerID:
505696
Follow Up By: Member - mick C (NSW) - Wednesday, Feb 27, 2013 at 21:17
Wednesday, Feb 27, 2013 at 21:17
Fred
Have 2002 triton , replaced heater core in 2009 [major job entailing most of dash coming out ] 3 months ago coolant appeared again in cabin , diconnected heater hoses under bonnet and it can stay like that for now , I am not looking forward to the job again .Best of luck
Mick C
FollowupID:
782652
Follow Up By: Fred G NSW - Sunday, Mar 03, 2013 at 10:16
Sunday, Mar 03, 2013 at 10:16
G'day Dave. Thought of you when was in
Mildura the other week. I was there to attend to my Dad's affairs after he passed away on Australia day.
Re the heater leak, I had a similar problem with a GU patrol some years ago. Similar fix this time, ended up just disconnecting the heater hoses where they go through the fire wall to the heater core, and connecting together. I had to keep the flow around going as it also goes through the lpg unit. Just have to live without the heater.
Cheers from Fred.
FollowupID:
782846
Reply By: member - mazcan - Wednesday, Feb 27, 2013 at 21:20
Wednesday, Feb 27, 2013 at 21:20
hi fred
have you tried going on the triton web site there will no doubt be someone else with a triton and the same problem
cheers
AnswerID:
505708