Another problematic plastic part on the PG motor is the coolant hose flange located on the side of the cylinder head. As I've mentioned in previous posts, the various plastic parts VW uses in it's coolant systems are some of the most dubious items on the car. The most notable is the heater core which was the subject of a US Federal Recall in the early 90s. It was recalled for many of the same weaknesses mentioned in my earlier posts.
I've discussed why VW has chosen to use this type of manufacturing in previous posts so I won't regurgitate that commentary here. The purpose of this post is to draw attention to another easily replaceable plastic part that can be acquired from older models that is a direct replacement for the plastic corrado part. This aluminum equivalent will eliminate this specific coolant flange as a potential weakness in the cooling system --forever.
The plastic part in question is the coolant flange located on the transmission side of the cylinder head. It looks like this.
The Corrado part is the black plastic part on the right. The aluminum equivalent part is on the left. Like all plastic parts that are exposed to high pressure and heat, this plastic part will eventually warp, crack, and fail. The frequency of failure of these parts are staggering and for long term owners like myself, they are a consistent thorn in the side.
The equivalent aluminum part was acquired from a late 1980s VW Cabriolet and is located in the exact same position as the one in the Corrado. It is connected to the hose which leads to the heater core in the dashboard. Look for a 1.8 liter manual transmission 8V Cabriolet which seem to be plentiful in the salvage yards these days. The part number of the aluminum part is 026-121-145. You will need a new O-Ring which is easily obtainable from your local autoparts store. However, reuse the special bolts from the corrado because unlike the cabriolet, there are two ground wires on the corrado that use this flange as a mounting point for electrical ground.
Note: Don't bother going to the VW Dealership with the part number. The part has been superseded with the plastic part we are trying to eliminate. VW does not sell the aluminum version of this part anymore.
VW manufacturing also saves production costs by building into this plastic part, another outlet which I suspect is necessary for other model cars or possibly another accessory option. Since it isn't necessary on my manual transmission corrado, there is a plastic plug which is inserted into the opening secured simply by a retaining snap ring. This is another potential leaking point which further increases potential for failure. The older aluminum part does not have this unnecessary port and will also eliminate this weakness altogether.
Like all plastic parts on the Corrado, it is inevitable. If you have not replaced this piece already, you will. It would be in your best interest to go find a salvage Cabriolet and scavenge this part. Then you'll never have to revisit this issue ever again.
Comments