I knew it!! I'm not crazy (well......)
I parked my car on a downhill drive today and found quite a nice puddle of coolant fluid beside the condensation puddle under my car.
My driveway is an up hill pitch or totally flat so I guess it usually hits something hot and burns off before it can drip to the ground. I've looked at everything I can see from the top of the engine but nothing. It's to the passenger side of the middle (left hand drive) almost near the fire wall. Seems to be close to the AC?
I did have an AC hose replaced that went from the front of the engine and snaked back to the ac unit. Wonder if they disturbed something in the process.

And it's a nice leak! When the engine is running, it drips about every 30-45 seconds. I'm taking in Monday hopefully if he's open the week of the fourth to have him put on a lift. I'd love some idea from you guys if there's any specific thing in this location I can tell him.

 

Sounds like the heater hoses.

 

Mines leaking next to the passenger side cat converter (us). Is this the area of the heater core? Heater hose? Hope its not too expensive. Its dark now so have to look at it tomorrow.

 

The Norma connectors are more famous for leaking than the hoses themselves. You have to replace the entire 'octopus' hose to acquire them. Lots of folks have cut them out and replaced with 5/8" heater hose and clamps.

 

Would this involve getting behind the firewall?

 

Sounds like you're really pulling your hair out with this issue. With the many hoses and connections being suspect, I might suggest that you use a UV (Ultra Violet) Coolant Dye Kit to pinpoint the source of your coolant leak. The coolant treated with the UV dye should leave a trail from the source of the leak and onto anything else that it drips on. The dye is only visible under a UV light source and won't leave an ugly stain in your engine bay visible to the naked eye.

Good luck to you!

Cheers!

Jon

 

Lets say it is the octopus hose. Any idea of suggested charge to do this? Looks time consuming. I have an independent mechanic but still pricy at times.
Looks like once the throttle body removed, it's not sooo hard to get to. Just lots of tight spaces.
I've done some relatively minor repairs but this one looks a bit out of my comfort zone and probably out of my wallet zone too!! Lol
I guess the new headliner will have to wait!!

 

No experience with this,but I think the octopus hose in under the intake manifold. Labor costs could be expensive.

 

If you can take the TB off, you can surely do the heater hose assembly (the octopus) by yourself. They mainly leak where it connects to the aluminum (some metal) connection point at the block. The heater hoses referred to above that are 'under' the manifold do not have any joints, so they terminate behind and in front of the manifold, and easy to check if they're leaking. Most of the S/C cars have more trouble with them actually splitting or bursting due to obvious factors. I replaced mine, since it was convenient during another repair, at 140,000 miles, and they were soft, but in no way close to coming apart.

 

S/C?

 

supercharged

 

Duh!! I'm an idiot!
Anyway, he's at the car surgeon (no, really that's my mechanics shop name)
And it's the week of the 4th so he's only open three days and backed up. Probably wont get to it until next week. Ugh.

 

My car was leaking to another hose that was next to the norma connectors that went under the intake to the front. I bought about 2 ft of 5/8 heater hose and a 1/2 pvc sprinkler pipe and a set of clamps at the local auto zone (10 clamp pieces for $2.99), to do the repair. Total cost for parts about $20. You only need to take of the TB off to do the repair. While my mechanic was doing the repair he accidently broke a plastic piece that is part of the fuel rail pipe - a 3 piece part that sells for $110 (part #NCA3027AF).
This was a headache to find a fix. The plastic pieces in the end become brittle with the end heat and will eventually crack. I have not seen this issued addressed in the forums so this might eventually help someone else. The red circled pic is where the part cracks. I bought a metal spacer and was able to plastic weld it onto the rest of the part. So far it has worked...Total cost for the hose norma repair and fuel rail was $60 bux cause my mechanic felt bad that he had broken the fuel rail part. Needless to say I back on the road...

 

This is my experience:
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...-solved-94713/

 

We have removed the throttle body and finally after looking at every possible leak point in the jumble of hoses, found the only evidence of a leak at the tow way valve that's built into the octopus hose.
I think it's basically not repairable so we've ordered a new hose assembly and replacing the hole piece.
I do have a couple questions. While we're replacing this octopus hose, should we change to regular hose clamps? And is there any other location that may be hiding or is this valve known for issues?

 

A valve? You have a picture you can share?

 

This is the dreaded octopus hose. The only place we found evidence of leaks was the one way valv in the middle and of course, jaguar, in their infinite wisdom, decided you can't purchase this valve without the entire hose assembly!!
I swear, if this car continues to leak, I'm gonna burry it in cement!!! Lol

 

Another reason automotive design engineers should be drug tested!

 

I couldnt find my leak for the longest, I thought it was my thermostat sticking closed as to why my car was running hot. took the thermostat out and drove it for a spell- then I heard hissing from the heater feed hose. drove it one more time and coolant and steam started coming out

 

who ever designed these cars just simply did too much. These cars are some beautiful eye catchers ( come on guys lets be real--- ladies love these cars) but they always have problems. damn. I wish I could just drop an 350 chevy engine and transmission in it and everything fit perfect for cheap