"Professional" mechanics

Just about to blow off completely.  Probably put spring clip the wrong side of the lip.  This garage used to be good a few years ago but the owner retired and doesn't go in any more.  Luckily coolant never got more than an inch below the line when cold.

Car is obviously undriveable until I shove it back on.  I hate those spring clips but jubilee clips tend to allow leaks.



 

And take a deep breath, hold 1,2,3,4 and release

Well, I released the clip, pushed the hose back on all the way and then it started raining.  Still, it's safe on my drive and its owner is away for a while!

Don't get me started on garages!

Took car in for a £1500 head gasket replacement and it's come back with more problems than when it went in!

I put the clip back on just behind the lip of the stub/joining pipe (small Vise-Grips are quite good for holding the clip open in the limited space).  Took it for a drive to get it hot and there are no leaks.  If it does start dripping again it probably needs a new pipe, but this one looks absolutely fine.

Well, that is still fine but the top hose was beginning to creep off at both ends!

I'm now suspecting the radiator cap, which I replaced in August (genuine Suzuki) but I can't rule out that it's bad.  It has always been fine on long runs - not that I can risk those until it's fixed - which makes me think the cap might be a bit reluctant to first open from cold. 

Anyway, there is either excessive pressure or the clips are the wrong ones - can anyone confirm the part number?  These are 09401-35403.

According to the parts catalogue for my model it is 09401-30405

catalogs.ssg.asia/suzuki/?lang=en#bWFya2...Ymdyb3VwSWQ9PTU4MDYz

If yours is a different year/model the clip might be right.

The only thing to watch out for is excessive pressure in Jimnys often equals a blown head gasket.

Robin

Just looked up the two

09401-34503 is a 35mm clamp see
simssuzukiparts.co.uk/products/new-genui...amp-clip-09401-35403

Whereas 0940130504 is a 40mm clamp see
simssuzukiparts.co.uk/products/6x-new-ge...amp-clip-09401-30405

I think the pipe is 30mm so you would think your clip would be better.

No other symptoms of a blown gasket and it leaks worse on short trips where it doesn't get very hot.  When it isn't leaking, the level in the expansion tank does exactly what it should - goes up about an inch when warmed up, and drops back to the line when completely cold again.

The dealer that sold the clips says I need the 40mm ones instead.  This doesn't make much sense if the 35mm ones aren't holding.  It's worth mentioning that jubilee clips weren't successful either at stopping drips, although the hoses didn't try to creep off.  This does point to excess pressure.

Edit: turns out the 40mm ones were measured when open but the 35mm ones were measured when closed!  So the 40mm ones are really 30mm and yes, the fitted clips are too big.  So I'll be under the car again this weekend

40mm is what the parts list diagrams says, so makes you wonder why they sold you 35mm?

The reason why Jubilee clips don't work is that everything expands when it gets hot, plus the pipe will soften slightly and the once tight Jubilee clip won't have enough pressure to hold the pipe in place.

At least with the correct clip, it maintains pressure even when expanded as it is applied by a spring force not a preset screw thread.

The only other thing that might have happened, a lot of pipes harden with age and it might be that the pipes are no longer soft enough to seal?

Robin

The size is within the range for the hoses fitted and the website says "for all Suzukis".  And I gave the reg number at the time.  They have sent incorrect parts before; I should really use the local dealer!

The parts diagram I looked at had an obsolete part number for the clips, so that was no use.