Re: Weird Ice Problem

["Fred Munro" <munrof@isys.ca>]

Well, Osman, I'd say you've identified the source of the blue ice. The
reason it is building up in that area is the drainage holes in the bottom of
the front fender pocket are plugged, probably with sand, grit, dead and
rotting insect corpses, and other fine road debris. I've BTDT. The temporary
cure is to get a garden sprayer filled with hot water and hose out the area.
Push the nozzle down into the pocket as you flush and keep flushing until
water is liberally running out of the drain holes in the bottom of the
pocket. With the door open, access to this area is fairly good. Mine was
filling up with clear ice from water running off the windshield.
    The permanent cure is to pull the front fender to see what is causing
the pluggage. I found a large 1.5" triangular chunk of rubber laying in the
bottom of the pocket - this plugged the drainage holes enough that the
pocket filled full of sand, etc. in the course of a year and would fill full
of ice in the course of a winter.
    The fit of the hard plastic windshield washer lines into the soft rubber
nozzle connections gets sloppy with age - I've tightened mine up with
plastic wire ties put over the rubber connections and tightened. This seems
to have stopped the leaks.

HTH

Fred Munro
'91 200q  266k km
-----Original Message-----
From: Osman Parvez <oparvez1@nycap.rr.com>
To: Quattro <quattro@coimbra.ans.net>
Date: Saturday, January 16, 1999 4:52 PM
Subject: Weird Ice Problem


>Hi folks,
>   Finally been getting some use out of the Hak 1's I bought last winter
>as the weather in the North East has allowed. Unfortunately, I've run
>into an unexpected problem.
>   This morning, I went out to the car and found that a large amount of
>BLUE ice had accumulated near the front of the driver side door.
>Somehow, the ice had worked it's way INSIDE the door hinge-area, and I
>couldn't open the door further than 1/3 (there-abouts). Cleaning off the
>ice from the outside didn't help. There is definately a chunk of ice
>blocking the door from the inside.
>   This "ice" gives all appearance as being windshield washer solution.
>It is bright blue in color. My winshield washers have been only
>providing minimal spray for some time, and I've attempted to bandage
>them a little by using duct-tape on the lines. I think it is time to
>replace.
>   Here is what I think is happening: The lines are leaking at the
>nozzles, underneath the hood. This is resulting in the majority of the
>solution being sprayed around the hood compartment (on the flimsy
>plastic water shield). The run-off heads over to the driver side of the
>car and collects near the door well. I can't see how else the washer
>solution would get to that spot of the car, since it originates on the
>opposite end (front of engine compartment, passenger side).
>   Any opinions? BTDT?
>
>-Osman
>89 200q
>
>BTW: The car is for sale. Please contact me for more info.