PUG 406 1.9td 1998 leaking water front left under car

[scottb1982]

HELP i know very little about cars. My 406 started to heat up to about 100 deggerees a week ago so i pulled over let it cool down and topped water back up, since then im forever filling it back up as it has a leak front left at very front of car i cant see the leak as it there ins a support running across the front i just see the water dripping. I have put rad weld in to hopefully help but what do the experts think? the fluid is clear and dosen't smell.

[steve_earwig]

If it's clear and doesn't smell then you've been topping it up with just water (what else could it be?). Bottom hose connection or rad I'm afraid.

[scottb1982]

thats what i guessed just wanted to make sure how can i see if its the hose or the rad before the mechanic eats away at my wallet? Is it ok to drive still till i get it done?

[steve_earwig]

If you can see it from above then probably from underneath. Pugs seem to have a habit of the alloy parts of the hose connectors decomposing, maybe this is your best bet.

[Roy]

I just had the same thing, water was dripping whatever side the road camber was. the fault was a very smal hole in the btm of the rad dropping on the support member [a channel] and running of at the lowest point. {the road camber} be careful how much rad weld you put in as A fitter told me it could block my heater matrix. I had to change the rad and had a sod of a job getting the bottom hose off due to rust. Good Luck

[teamster1975]

I had to change the rad and had a sod of a job getting the bottom hose off due to rust. Good Luck

I'll vouch for Roy here (and welcome btw! ) it is a pig to get the bottom hose off as generally the union will be a rusted mass (which also likes to leak ); you may have to replace the bottom hose as well.

[Roy]

What I done was use a straight heavy duty screwdriver and my trusty 16oz hammer and puntured the plastic between the conrad fitting and the rad making sure that the Rad was sat in the lugs for holding the rad, scraped off the rust {careful of the nipples} smeared with a bit of oil {NOT WD40} and put new O rings on and refitted everything.

[teamster1975]

What I done was use a straight heavy duty screwdriver and my trusty 16oz hammer and puntured the plastic between the conrad fitting and the rad making sure that the Rad was sat in the lugs for holding the rad, scraped off the rust {careful of the nipples} smeared with a bit of oil {NOT WD40} and put new O rings on and refitted everything.

You were lucky, mine was way beyond redemption
It looked as though it had been immersed in salt water for 10 years!