loss of coolent - leak at the side of the block due to plastic panel?

[johntheboy]

Hi People,

A few months ago I took my GTi into a garage near me to have a problem looked at, the coolent has been dropping and needed topping up. 

They did the usual checks for HGF and all is fine and there's no sludge either.  He said from what they could see (this is where I cant remember what it was) there was a leak at the saide of the block which was a fairly common thing to happen with the mk5's where theres a plastic panel and it warps after a while and water leaks from it. 

The only reason I didnt get it sorted was due to the car being under waranty and the waranty compy were useless for getting them to sort it so as a typical idiot I left it.  It's not got worse but I use the car more frequently now so it's needing topping up every so often.

Just wondred if anyone could give me a better idea of what I'm looking at or if anyone's had something similar as I want to get this sorted over the xmas period.

Thanks in advance!

[winrya]

Mine did the same a few years back, was actually a rubber o ring that perishes.  Cost about £10 to have it fixed

[Nasir]

If you can prove the fault existed before your warranty expired, you may be in with a shot?

[seiko]

Sounds like the water flange on the engine opposite the battery, easy job, I would change the whole flange as apposed to the o ring, take the battery out for easier access.

[johntheboy]

Anks for the advice so far! Can anyone be a little more specific about where I should be looking in the engine bay? Once I know where I'm looking will it be apparent where the leak is from coolant being around the area?

Thanks!

[seiko]

If it is the water flange it will be on the right hand side looking in from the bonnet directly opposite the battery, it is a black plastic flange with water pipes going in and out off it.

[johntheboy]

How easy/difficult is it to change the flange and how much is a new one? Thanks!