Re: [DML] Newbie Intro

[jwit6@xxxx]

In a message dated 5/11/02 10:28:22 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
checksix3@xxxx writes:

<< it seems to have low airflow even with blower 
on high speed. >>

Check for a relatively large foam sealing gasket (about 1/2" thick and maybe 
2." by 4") at the back of the heater/blower housing under the pass side dash. 
It is not visable, and you can reach it with your hand while on your back in 
the footwell. You do not need to remove anything to check and or reseal. 
Evidence of it's possibly dislodged condition would be air flow from the 
blower motor being felt way up there between the heater/blower housing and 
the firewall near the hump. Don't mistake legitimate footwell air flow with a 
leak. The gasket is a simple press fit and with age, my foam shrunk and or 
lost some of it's ability to stay put over the years. You can reposition the 
gasket and seal it with your choice of latex or silicone, but to place the 
sealant, you've got to load a gob on you fingers, and place it on the seam 
then spread to seal and hold. All by feel alone...


>>the cooling hoses are 
>>original as is the stock cooling bottle.

If you're an A&P, then you'll know a good hose when you see it. The cooling 
bottles are known to deteriorate when exposed to sunlight. The plastic begins 
to craze and crack, generally at the rear of the tank first where sunlight 
can get through the louvers. If you can dig your finger nail into the plastic 
it's definetely time for another. You can go high tech and order a stainless 
steel bottle, in which case you won't be able to visually monitor the coolant 
level, or you can visit the scrap yard and get one off of a BMW that has been 
kept out of the sun (hood closed). Mine was $15.00 .Not the same mounts, but 
higher quality plastic, with all required plumbing connections, and ability 
to support a low coolant level sensor/warning. Major diff other than 
orientation on some of the fittings is the D uses a 1 1/4" fitting on the 
coolant tube feeding the bottle, the BMW uses 1". Easy to accomodate.

Jim 6147