[Ellie]

Hi All:

This evening when I got home, suddenly, steam started coming out of my car's hood on the passenger side near the windshield/window wiper area. I opened the hood and saw that a small amount of steam coming out the area on the upper left side of my engine where the hoses are and also the coolant liquid in the coolant tank had gone down to the low level. Is this means that the coolant hose is leaking and should be replaced? I changed all the hoses including heater hoses in my car last year at the VW dealership and the coolant tank was replaced also.

My trusted VW mechanic is out of town until Monday, but I am thinking to take it to the Wheelworks, which does oil change for my car and have it checked out.

Is it safe to drive my car in this condition? I will add more coolant before I drive it.

I'm posting some pics. for the location, hope it makes sense.

Thank you in advance for your help.
Ellie

 

[VAGguy]

Do you see a leak anywhere?

 

[Hirnbeiss]

Hi Ellie. Your car will probably only leak once it gets hot and coolant pressure builds up. It is fairly common to develop a leak at the heater core inlet pipe, which you can see once you remove the plastic covering above the battery area ( the whole think, not just the battery access panel. You pull back the rubber gasket and then can slide the plastic cover forward). If it is a small leak, it is safe to drive as long as you refill the coolant tank when it gets low. Just use 50/50 coolant/water, and only fill to about the “min” line when the engine is cold, “max” when hot.
If the leak is from the heater core, you can bypass it like I did here in FL, or get the core replaced for probably $1000 given the 6+ hours of labor it takes.

 

[Ellie]

Thank you VAGguy!
I do not see any visible leak, but the steam was coming out under the orange color

and I would hear a drop not steadily though, but couldn't tell from which hose. The coolant liquid is back to where it usually is, so I'm not sure if it's the coolant hose leaking. I checked as much as I could to see if I can see a rip in any hoses or coolant residue, but could not see anything.

 

[Ellie]

Hi Hirnbeiss: Thank you for this information. It just happened yesterday evening and it is not leaking now. Changed heater core in 2013 and yes, it was very expensive. Heater hoses behind the firewall were replaced in April 2017.

I'll have to take my car to my trusted mechanic on Monday when he is back in town to check it out and find out what's leaking. In the meantime, I'll babysit the situation with the remedy you have provided. Thank you again.

 

[Ellie]

Correction - heater hoses (not heater core) behind the firewall were replaced in April 2017.

 

[AndreasPassat]

Thank you VAGguy!
I do not see any visible leak, but the steam was coming out under the orange color View attachment 90293
and I would hear a drop not steadily though, but couldn't tell from which hose.

If you are seeing steam coming from this area, the most likely culprit would be the CTS (coolant temperature sensor) O-ring that keeps it sealed in the fitting.

For reference:

Other possibility, coolant flange on back of cylinder head, also commonly referred to as the hard pipe.

Incidentally, the coolant flange on the rear of the passenger side cylinder head has the fitting for the CTS.

 

[PZ]

I just had to replace the CTS seal on both of my son's cars. Both were leaking, and one had a bad CTS. Then a month later, I get a code on my car for a bad CTS.

It's not hard to replace, just make sure the engine is cold. If you keep the cap on the coolant tank, it will barely leak any coolant when you remove the old one. Access is tight, smaller hands work better. Make sure you clean the seating area for the old seal.

 

[Ellie]

Thank you PZ, this is very helpful. I will tell my mechanic about this.

 

[Ellie]

Thank you AndreasPassat. I will tell my mechanic about it on Monday. He is out of town until then. Today, I made a short drive to town in the morning and then came back home, round trip 20 miles and car was just fine and no steam came out from any where.

 

[Tortelious]

Ellie, this is one of those repairs that I am sure is well within your ability to do yourself. At least think about it before you schedule the service with your mechanic.

 

[Ellie]

Thank you Tortelious! I've learned so much from you guys since I became a member of this wonderful, educational and very helpful forum! You guys are simply the best! I'd like to discuss solutions offered with my mechanic, have him check out the area that steam was coming out, then determine the best solution. Thank you again.

 

[Ellie]

Update - This morning, before I drove to my mechanic shop, I decided to check the coolant level in my car and noticed that it has gone down very low. I added coolant and drove to his shop. By the time I got there, steam started coming out and water was splashing, please see pic attached. David, my mechanic looked at all the hoses and said the engine coolant hose, part # 078121188A is leaking. He ordered it and replacing it tomorrow morning. He said it is hard to get too and will take one hour to do it. Does this seem right to you guys? I watched it on youtube (maybe not the right hose), but it took less then 10 minutes.

 

[Ellie]

Update - This morning, before I drive to my mechanic shop, I decided to check the coolant level in my car and noticed that it has gone down very low. I added coolant and drove to his shop. By the time I got there, steam started coming out and water was splashing, please see pic attached.

David, my mechanic looked at all the hoses and said the engine coolant hose, part # 078121188A is leaking. He ordered it and replacing it tomorrow morning. He said it is hard to get too and will take one hour to do it. Does this seem right to you guys? I watched it on youtube (maybe not the right hose - but it took less then 10 minutes.

),

 

[AndreasPassat]

That part# that you listed is for the hose that connects to the throttle body and hard pipe underneath the intake manifold.
Your car is a V6 (at least in your profile it is) and the video posted is for a 4 cylinder, completely different.

Yes that hose is hard to get at. If he's only quoting you 1 hours worth of work, that's not bad. Removing the intake manifold which subsequently requires taking more stuff off, is actually the easier way to go. I've done a number of these hose replacement's and it's a chore. Intake removal makes it a tolerable job.

I actually thought of this hose when I first posted but thought the chances of this hose leaking was very slim so I made no mention of it.
The proximity of this hose would and could definitely leak in the area of the coolant temperature sensor.

There are actually (2) hoses connected to throttle body. Both of them being underneath the manifold.
If I were you, I would have both of the coolant hoses replaced on the throttle body as long as he's in there. The cost of the other coolant hose is only about $13. Cheap insurance to know both of them are going to last another 5 to 10 years.

 

[Ellie]

Thank you so much AndreasPassat! Appreciate all the information, very helpful. I will ask him to replace both.

 

[PZ]

One hour of labor is a great deal in your favor. I am with AP, replace both of those small hoses since he will be in there anyway.

 

[Ellie]

Thank you PZ. I will do both. I really appreciate all the helpful tips you guys provide.

 

[Ellie]

Thank you so much AndreasPassat, PZ, Tortelious, Hirnbeiss & the Passat Forum!!!
Replaced both hoses & cost came to $232.00 (labor & parts). I am so grateful for my wonderful mechanic too.

On a different note: I've to change my timing belt soon. Last time I did it at the VW dealership and paid $1350.00 and it took 6 hours for them to do it. David said he can do it for $950.00. He said its an all day job and requires diligence to make sure its done correctly (timing belt, water pumps too). What do you guys think? Does it take all day long? is $950.00 reasonable?

Thank you so much again.
Ellie

 

[bdog840wv]

Hi Ellie, That's about right $980 is what the local independent auto shop charged me for a new water pump, timing belt and timing belt cam bearings, thermostat, thermostat housing and antifreeze. It's about an 8 hour job if labors about $100 an hour plus tax. My first water pump seal failed and I think they got it from Gates. Second water pump was put in at no charge I haven't had any no issues till recently just this week the coolant flange started leaking.