Hiding grommet???

[papadopalas]

Ok, I'm going to start slow and work into a frenzy of " What the hell is this thing?" and "How do I fix that thing?" questions. I'm so happy I found this site and seem to be spending more and more time reading and learning about my spider. I've had a rough time getting photos to upload onto photobucket from my computer, but I think I finally figured it out. As I get more comfortable with it I'm sure there will be plenty of more posts asking for advice. So after sitting in the drivers seat working on the radio and trying to figure out why there are two hazard switches (neither of which work) on the dash, one beside the lighter and the other in between the brake and seatbelt lights, I noticed a long shard of rusty metal poking up through the seat, about the diameter of a wire clothes hanger, missing stabbing me in the leg by a hair. I pulled about five inches of it out and then pulled the seat covering off of the foam to see if there was more. Of course there was, and after searching this site, I learned that it was the wire support inside the foam. I used needle nose pliers to pull out all that I could. Of course this rust wasn't alone. The seat pan is almost unsalvageable. Then I started pulling up the carpet. There it was. It didn't look too bad. only a spot or two behind the seat that had broken through the hard tar like heat/insulation stuff stuck to the floor.....then I started to scrape this tar stuff away. (ended up using an air hammer/chisel to get most of it. So now both seats are out, removed the carpet and insulation, (insulation in front passenger floor was soaked with some oily substance) removed the center console and back seat too. (Why did I start this just as the weather was getting perfect for cruising these beautiful, southern Md. country back roads? ) Used a wire wheel On my right angle grinder and got most of the rust off. That's as far as I've gotten so far. Will patch the small rust holes with fiberglass, Por 15 and insulation, sound / heat shield, carpet, etc. as soon as my wallet permits. In the mean time , I found this plate under the insulation around the gear shift. Can someone please tell me what the rubber grommet was intended to be used for? Thanks in advance for the help, Matt

[sclebo05]

I *think* the reverse light switch wires run through that grommet. I can check on my car this evening if I remember. Also, I've found references to an EGR switch that senses whether or not the car is 'in gear'. In either event, transmission related. You don't happen to have the colors of the wires do you?

[papadopalas]

There were no wires coming through it. Only got to the metal plate after removing the wood, then the foam,then insulation. The PO must have done some damage to the car, accident or jack misplacement, because the hump? over the transmission is buckled a little on the passenger side. Going to leave that alone. The plate in the picture is broken at the thin part too. Not sure if you can tell in the photo. P O might have done this to make it fit. think I'll get someone to weld it for me anyway. Thanks for your help.

[MrWampus]

The oily wet substance soaking the insulation on the passenger side was probably coolant that leaked from a faulty heater control valve. Better check it to be sure it isn't still leaking. Now is the time to change it if it hasn't been replaced since you have the center console out of the way (or most of it out of the way).

[papadopalas]

The oily wet substance soaking the insulation on the passenger side was probably coolant that leaked from a faulty heater control valve. Better check it to be sure it isn't still leaking. Now is the time to change it if it hasn't been replaced since you have the center console out of the way (or most of it out of the way).

Thanks, anything else I should be checking while I'm there?

[tartan18]

When I discovered the leaking coolant in the passenger side foot-well I replaced my heater core and valve. That was the hardest thing to do that I've yet encountered -- even worse than replacing the starter. Skinned knuckles and a sore back come with the job. My suggestion is to get a new core and valve. Who knows how much junk is in the old heater and if the heater valve is factory original it is just a matter of time before it fails. Just peace of mind going with new parts. Be sure to get the updated heater valve pipe as the replacement valve is slightly different than the OEM valve and the original pipes won't pass though the firewall. My 2 cents

[papadopalas]

When I discovered the leaking coolant in the passenger side foot-well I replaced my heater core and valve. That was the hardest thing to do that I've yet encountered -- even worse than replacing the starter. Skinned knuckles and a sore back come with the job. My suggestion is to get a new core and valve. Who knows how much junk is in the old heater and if the heater valve is factory original it is just a matter of time before it fails. Just peace of mind going with new parts. Be sure to get the updated heater valve pipe as the replacement valve is slightly different than the OEM valve and the original pipes won't pass though the firewall. My 2 cents

This, I assume, is a problem.

I think I figured out tat these go to the heating system but as you can see, they go to nothing. any pictures would help.

[papadopalas]

Another picture of the mystery grommet. I somehow deleted the other picture.

[tartan18]

The water inlet and outlet hoses for your heater are (obviously) disconnected. Likely done when the heater valve began leaking. I have no idea what that grommet is on your shifter plate -- I don't have that grommet on my car.

You can see how my hoses are connected -- the passenger side is the inlet (from the water pump) and the drivers side hose is the outlet (back to the cylinder head).



Hope this helps