Busted coolant bleeder valve (grrr...cheap) - LotusTalk

Chris Mackey · 10-28-2009, 12:34 PM

Attached is a photo of the working part of a coolant bleeder valve and another photo of the valve seat. Obviously, I broke it

Anyway, I can't drive the car until this is fixed. Can someone help me decipher the lotusgarage parts sheet and figure out what needs to be replaced?

Better yet, does anyone have an alternative fix? It looks like I'll have to replace the entire hose with bleeder all the way from the rear of the engine to...somewhere below the air intake box. I'm tempted to cut the bleeder out and perhaps splice a new bleeder in, if such a thing exists.

Thoughts? And Thanks!

111Geek · 10-28-2009, 12:50 PM

Looks to me like you need item 13 in the picture.

kverges · 10-28-2009, 12:50 PM

Splice it. That bleed function is not mission critical, as that is the hose I (and I bet others) tap into to feed cooling water to a turbo. I might have the part I cut out, but I probably tossed it years ago.

Maybe just the part you broke is available - have you tried John af Fox Valley? he tends to be pretty knowledgeable.

Chris Mackey · 10-28-2009, 12:59 PM

If I splice it, I guess I'll need a piece to go between the hoses? Would this be easy to get at Pep Boys, etc?

Bane · 10-28-2009, 01:09 PM

A hardware store is probably a good bet... you can get plastic or brass connection pieces with some hose clamps.

^ something like that.

Chris Mackey · 10-28-2009, 01:14 PM

Now I'm tempted to put a fat screw into the hole where the bleeder valve handle broke off.

MaineLotus · 10-28-2009, 01:40 PM

I may have one I can send for free, I'll look tonight if it would help. I may have discarded it, can't remember.

MaineLotus · 10-28-2009, 01:45 PM

Question - Did you break the bleader screw or the housing?

Chris Mackey · 10-28-2009, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaineLotus

Question - Did you break the bleader screw or the housing?

The screw. Is it a regularly threaded screw? I thought it was something more complicated. Can I put a metal machine screw in its place?

I need the car running tomorrow, though.

kverges · 10-28-2009, 02:28 PM

I would also bet you could simply drive a screw in with some RTV to seal it and be done with it. I'd go with a self-tapping machine screw to have lots of thread contact so the RTV has minimal gap to seal.

But is it even leaking? If all you did was bust off the knurled top, then the screw is stuck in there pretty permanently I would think.

Chris Mackey · 10-28-2009, 02:33 PM

I lost about a pint of fluid while the engine was hot.

xxxotic · 10-28-2009, 02:37 PM

I lost the washer that goes under the bleed screw and the dealer told me I needed to order the whole hose thing which was about $70 and that they didnt carry them in stock. However, at first they did offer to see if they had the whole hose in stock and just take the washer and make a photocopy so I would know how wide it had to be.

Instead I went to Home Depot and bought a bunch of different sized washers. Most of them leaked a little, but eventually I found one that didnt.

The front bleeder screw should be the same size, as the rear. it you take it out and go to Home Depot or Lowes, they should probably have one. It most likely is metric.

Lotus should stock these since it you drop one you are basically screwed. Just plumbing in another hose doesnt allow you to bleed the rear hose

E_Swift · 10-28-2009, 03:30 PM

These screws and the o-ring are not stocked separately from the hoses. (My project car came with one broken screw that was broken off, so I had a few months to research it)

Yes, you can find an O-ring replacement at a hardware store, or better yet, McMaster.

The screw may be a bit more tricky. I will remove mine and use a gage to see what size it is. You don't want to use any self-tapping threads or otherwise, because what you want to absolutely SAVE is the housing, not cross thread it - if you bung that up you really will need a new $70 hose.

E_Swift · 10-28-2009, 04:01 PM

M6 x 1.0

kverges · 10-28-2009, 06:31 PM

I have the screw from my project track car if you want it

Chris Mackey · 10-28-2009, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E_Swift

M6 x 1.0

Quote:

Originally Posted by kverges

I have the screw from my project track car if you want it

I found a screw that fits quite perfectly. Now I just have to bleed, bleed, bleed.

Chris Mackey · 10-28-2009, 08:21 PM

Here's what it looks like. There is no washer as was discussed in the thread. The hex bolt fits tightly and seems to be natural. I've taken it out and put it back several times and even bleed the pipe.

I'll keep some tools and splice parts in the car for a few weeks, just in case

Ken Wright · 10-30-2009, 08:30 PM

I did the same thing and Fox Valley sent me a new one in 24 hours that has a brass bleed screw. This is likely the new design. Can't go without the bleed screw if you want to get the air out of the system.

The price was about 50 bucks.

yellowlotus · 10-31-2009, 09:13 AM

mine broke also.i took the allen screw that holds down the plastic engine cover and used that on the spot.slightly big but it solved the problem.then later i shortened this screw and grinded the sides so it will properly work as a bleeder.

10-28-2009, 12:34 PM	#1 (permalink)
Chris Mackey Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 2,587	Busted coolant bleeder valve (grrr...cheap) Attached is a photo of the working part of a coolant bleeder valve and another photo of the valve seat. Obviously, I broke it Anyway, I can't drive the car until this is fixed. Can someone help me decipher the lotusgarage parts sheet and figure out what needs to be replaced? Better yet, does anyone have an alternative fix? It looks like I'll have to replace the entire hose with bleeder all the way from the rear of the engine to...somewhere below the air intake box. I'm tempted to cut the bleeder out and perhaps splice a new bleeder in, if such a thing exists. Thoughts? And Thanks! Attached Images __________________ 2006 Elise, Ardent Red, Black Pack, LSS wheels, shocks and springs. ChuforiaGraffix.com SDD Lives On! SweetDaddyDelicious(at)hotmail(dot)com

10-28-2009, 12:59 PM	#4 (permalink)
Chris Mackey Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 2,587	If I splice it, I guess I'll need a piece to go between the hoses? Would this be easy to get at Pep Boys, etc? __________________ 2006 Elise, Ardent Red, Black Pack, LSS wheels, shocks and springs. ChuforiaGraffix.com SDD Lives On! SweetDaddyDelicious(at)hotmail(dot)com

10-28-2009, 01:09 PM	#5 (permalink)
Bane . Join Date: May 2005 Location: AZ Posts: 2,960 Images: 4	A hardware store is probably a good bet... you can get plastic or brass connection pieces with some hose clamps. ^ something like that. __________________ $599 PPE header (INFO) 2007 BMW 335i - Mostly stock un-Official LotusTalk Stealth Bulb provider *6* sets in stock!

10-28-2009, 01:14 PM	#6 (permalink)
Chris Mackey Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 2,587	Now I'm tempted to put a fat screw into the hole where the bleeder valve handle broke off. __________________ 2006 Elise, Ardent Red, Black Pack, LSS wheels, shocks and springs. ChuforiaGraffix.com SDD Lives On! SweetDaddyDelicious(at)hotmail(dot)com

10-28-2009, 01:40 PM	#7 (permalink)
MaineLotus Parts scattered about... Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Maine Posts: 1,383	I may have one I can send for free, I'll look tonight if it would help. I may have discarded it, can't remember. __________________ My car is modified.

10-28-2009, 12:50 PM	#2 (permalink)
111Geek Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Mississippi Posts: 108 Images: 1	Looks to me like you need item 13 in the picture.

10-28-2009, 12:50 PM	#3 (permalink)
kverges Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Dallas Posts: 925	Splice it. That bleed function is not mission critical, as that is the hose I (and I bet others) tap into to feed cooling water to a turbo. I might have the part I cut out, but I probably tossed it years ago. Maybe just the part you broke is available - have you tried John af Fox Valley? he tends to be pretty knowledgeable.

10-28-2009, 01:45 PM	#8 (permalink)
MaineLotus Parts scattered about... Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Maine Posts: 1,383	Question - Did you break the bleader screw or the housing? __________________ My car is modified.

10-28-2009, 02:28 PM	#10 (permalink)
kverges Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Dallas Posts: 925	I would also bet you could simply drive a screw in with some RTV to seal it and be done with it. I'd go with a self-tapping machine screw to have lots of thread contact so the RTV has minimal gap to seal. But is it even leaking? If all you did was bust off the knurled top, then the screw is stuck in there pretty permanently I would think.

10-28-2009, 02:33 PM	#11 (permalink)
Chris Mackey Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 2,587	I lost about a pint of fluid while the engine was hot. __________________ 2006 Elise, Ardent Red, Black Pack, LSS wheels, shocks and springs. ChuforiaGraffix.com SDD Lives On! SweetDaddyDelicious(at)hotmail(dot)com

10-28-2009, 02:37 PM	#12 (permalink)
xxxotic Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 2,032	I lost the washer that goes under the bleed screw and the dealer told me I needed to order the whole hose thing which was about $70 and that they didnt carry them in stock. However, at first they did offer to see if they had the whole hose in stock and just take the washer and make a photocopy so I would know how wide it had to be. Instead I went to Home Depot and bought a bunch of different sized washers. Most of them leaked a little, but eventually I found one that didnt. The front bleeder screw should be the same size, as the rear. it you take it out and go to Home Depot or Lowes, they should probably have one. It most likely is metric. Lotus should stock these since it you drop one you are basically screwed. Just plumbing in another hose doesnt allow you to bleed the rear hose

10-28-2009, 03:30 PM	#13 (permalink)
E_Swift Back to Basics Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 327	These screws and the o-ring are not stocked separately from the hoses. (My project car came with one broken screw that was broken off, so I had a few months to research it) Yes, you can find an O-ring replacement at a hardware store, or better yet, McMaster. The screw may be a bit more tricky. I will remove mine and use a gage to see what size it is. You don't want to use any self-tapping threads or otherwise, because what you want to absolutely SAVE is the housing, not cross thread it - if you bung that up you really will need a new $70 hose. __________________ Current:{2006 Volvo V50}{2005 Lotus Elise}{2005 Subaru Impreza 2.5RS}{2004 Subaru Impreza WRX STi}{1988 Lancia Delta Integrale} Past: {1997 Honda Civic EX}{1994 Infiniti J30}{1992 Volkswagen Passat GL}{1988 BMW M3}{1988 Nissan 300ZX}{1988 Ford Taurus LX}{1971 BMW 2002}

10-28-2009, 04:01 PM	#14 (permalink)
E_Swift Back to Basics Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 327	M6 x 1.0 __________________ Current:{2006 Volvo V50}{2005 Lotus Elise}{2005 Subaru Impreza 2.5RS}{2004 Subaru Impreza WRX STi}{1988 Lancia Delta Integrale} Past: {1997 Honda Civic EX}{1994 Infiniti J30}{1992 Volkswagen Passat GL}{1988 BMW M3}{1988 Nissan 300ZX}{1988 Ford Taurus LX}{1971 BMW 2002}

10-28-2009, 06:31 PM	#15 (permalink)
kverges Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Dallas Posts: 925	I have the screw from my project track car if you want it

10-28-2009, 08:21 PM	#17 (permalink)
Chris Mackey Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 2,587	Here's what it looks like. There is no washer as was discussed in the thread. The hex bolt fits tightly and seems to be natural. I've taken it out and put it back several times and even bleed the pipe. I'll keep some tools and splice parts in the car for a few weeks, just in case Attached Images __________________ 2006 Elise, Ardent Red, Black Pack, LSS wheels, shocks and springs. ChuforiaGraffix.com SDD Lives On! SweetDaddyDelicious(at)hotmail(dot)com

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10-30-2009, 08:30 PM	#18 (permalink)
Ken Wright Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 491	I did the same thing and Fox Valley sent me a new one in 24 hours that has a brass bleed screw. This is likely the new design. Can't go without the bleed screw if you want to get the air out of the system. The price was about 50 bucks. __________________ All torque, no traction...Exige S. Real sports cars don't have A/C!

10-31-2009, 09:13 AM	#19 (permalink)
yellowlotus Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: taxachusetts,usa Posts: 248	mine broke also.i took the allen screw that holds down the plastic engine cover and used that on the spot.slightly big but it solved the problem.then later i shortened this screw and grinded the sides so it will properly work as a bleeder. __________________ 05' US Elise.190hp,HRM edition,Sport pack,Touring pack,starshield,custom painted engine covers,S111 boomerang rear hook,k&n air filter,Stage II exhaust(actually just customised),Lotus driving lights,Infinity speakers,Lid Bone,V1 radar with remote audio/display,JVC stereo-subwoofer-rear cam,TRmotorsports wheels,lightweight Braille battery,alotaluv....