Hi guys, Thought I'd just share with you all my latest 355 breakdown story.... just so people can try to avoid if possible. Any one else had this? read below... Basically another known weak point of the 355 engine coolant system is at the: coolant-climate control interchange. This is at the front of the car, if you lift the felt cover at the top of the front storage compartment, coolant heated by the engine and not yet cooled by the radiators is pumped through to the front of the car and goes throught the heat interchange if you have climate control on warm. Basically under some circumstances, the main jubillie clip attached to the inlet tubing cannot contain the pressure build-up of the coolant (god knows why....??) and blows off!!!!! Basically the manifests in ALL your engine coolant pumping out within a matter of seconds, a cabin full of steam, and a very very hot engine within about 30 seconds. I just managed to pull the car over (going 70mph) without being able to see anything, so very dangerous, and shut down engine before it hit 220 degrees. I managed to locate the offending clip, refill the system, bleed and I was away. BUT, this was a very dangerous weak point, as it seriously impaired my visability as it happened and I could have had a serious accident. Anyone else had this, or checked and found problems? Ade
I had exactly the same thing happen to me about a year and a half ago. I was very lucky that I had good place to stop immediately, and was able to get the clip back on and the coolant tank refilled so I could limp home. What a mess.
Indeed I don't blame you. What I will try to do is take some digital images to post in this thread. I'm going to have to strip it back down to dry out that compartment and re-tighten the clamp again (50 miles in) as I reckon it could do with 2 more turns.. Not forgetting, this clamp was probably very tight to start with, but still blew off... Will get back to you Ade
