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When was the last time you checked ......

1. Under your battery (and tray)
While trying to find why the RH front guard indicator in the MY wagon wasn't working I took the battery and tray out to find a rust hole about 90mm long x 40mm wide (size after grinding the rust out) between the front of the battery support pad and the headlight.
It is not really structural so I think I will try to locate an oval rubber grommet/plug from the wreckers to fill the hole. I have done a temp fix with a piece of rubber and have rust killed and gal painted the area to stop a repeat.
2. its that time of year to check that the hot/cold valve operates on the heater system. I have had previously where this valve has seized and it is really had to get going again.

The last time I looked under my battery was when it stopped working 2 winters ago.

I put in a bigger battery with a plastic tray designed to go under the battery.

As for my heater valve in the brumby it is always on, it still works but I leave it on for that extra cooling it offers the engine.

TOONGA

Changed my battery last year, all is well underneath.
And I know my heater tap is busted, it's always on no matter where you put the dial Internal corrosion I think. Strange, I never noticed any difference on the temp gauge with the heater on or off...when I had a working valve.

1. 3 weeks ago when my battery went dead. Mine has some rust too, I think mainly from battery acid ( hence the reason they put a tray in there I guess ) but I have very little room in mine, so I might start looking for a sealed one like the odyssey ones, just for cranking. Then have another sealed one ( like the optima brand ones ) in the back to run all the camping stuff. As for the rust.. well that is just part of honeycomb that will be there for ever

2. Grease the crap out of the tap every year, as these are really proned to seizing. Also try and lubricate the cable as much as possible too.

Just to clarify, I have always had a plastic tray under the battery.
Actually, the rust hole isn't directly under the battery, just forward from it and in an area where there is no rubbing at all. Must have started small (as rust does) and gotten larger over time. No battery leakage either.

1. Previous 2 owners must have looked after the car quite well. I'm using a non spill-able type battery these days. No prob with rust there at all:)

2. I regularly operate the heater control to keep things free and pump through the coolant from time too time.

Thanks for the reminder though Cliff, all to easy forgetting about the little things that need doing once in a while!

Cliff R wrote:Just to clarify, I have always had a plastic tray under the battery.
Actually, the rust hole isn't directly under the battery, just forward from it and in an area where there is no rubbing at all. Must have started small (as rust does) and gotten larger over time. No battery leakage either.

Oh yeah.. I wasn't implying that you didn't.. I was just thinking of how mine has been eaten away because of some wally who put this car together

Sometimes the rust starts from where a plate is spot welded to the body, then just grows as you say.

Silverbullet wrote:Changed my battery last year, all is well underneath.
And I know my heater tap is busted, it's always on no matter where you put the dial Internal corrosion I think. Strange, I never noticed any difference on the temp gauge with the heater on or off...when I had a working valve.

HIJACK THREAD

SB I have an EJ22 in my brumby

I have noticed when I turn off the heater the guage does climb a bit.

HIJACK OVER

TOONGA