Hole in coolant reservoir at the top

[niknavin]

I have a toyota camry 96 LE 4 cylinder car - about 90K miles.

Recently I had noticed that coolant was leaking.
It seemed like it leaks to some level and then it stops leaking.
But today I noticed that there is a hole in the coolant reservoir/overflow tank.
If you look at the picture below then the hole is at the right side at the top.
I don't know for how long the hole has been there but the plastic around the hole seems to have deteriorated -it has become very rough and it has turned dark green color/black color.




I am wondering how this hole may have created and what will I have to do to fix it - how much a repair guy may charge for this.

In case it helps -
about 2 months back, I had a power steering fluid leak fixed.

Thanks in advance.
Niks

[KevinACrider]

I would just look on eBay or a local salvage yard for a replacement tank.

You can "ghetto rig" it by cutting a piece of plastic the same size as the hole and then heating the edges of the hole and the edges of the filler until the fuze together. You may need some additional plastic to melt in the seam as well. Or just plug it with some "Mighty Putty" and wrap duct tape around it!

[DAT RICE]

on ebay, a overflow tank costs $15 with shipping included, i think its better to replace the tank than to repair it.

[camlex]

when your car is cold, make sure level is between low and full or no more than full.
When car gets hot it's change level that's reason on black top has hole for overflow. but if you wants you can buy new and install. hole in tank is way on top.

[Mike Gerber]

Epoxy can be used as a temporary fix, but it is best to just replace the tank.

Mike

[niknavin]

Thanks a lot for all the replies.
Three more questions:
1. On ebay I see there are lot of overflow tanks for 92-93 model - for example this one
Can I use these to replace on my 96 model?

2. I don't know much about cars....how difficult it is to replace the tank are there any instructions available online. If I do it myself, I will do with a friend who knows little more than me.

3. I will be happy if you guys can also give me some help on another question posted in door panel thread here

Originally Posted by niknavin

Great post!
Now anyone knows how to remove a doorpanel for a door which cannot be opened from outside (because outside door handle is broken) and inside (because one of friend accidentally put the child lock).

Thanks,
Nik
ps. for your info I have 96 camry LE

[flyeri]

Remove the cap. Lift resivoir. Install new resivoir. Add coolant and replace cap. That simple. I patched the same hole on mine with some Permatex black silicone and it has worked well for nearly two years now.

[carsrus]

Originally Posted by niknavin

Thanks a lot for all the replies.


2. I don't know much about cars....how difficult it is to replace the tank are there any instructions available online. If I do it myself, I will do with a friend who knows little more than me.

3. I will be happy if you guys can also give me some help on another question posted in door panel thread here

The coolant overflow tank is held in with only liek 2 bolts and there one hose clamp on the rubber hose. Itll only take you 15 min to do it.

With that doorpanel, if the outside doorhandles already broken, you might as well pry out the hole Assembly ( it should be plastic so itll probably snap). then youll have acess to the metal rod that you pull on to open the latch. Then install the new doorhandle.

[niknavin]

Thanks flyeri and carsrus.
I think I will replace it and do it myself.
I am planning to buy the doorhandle and then try to fix the door handle too.

Now only question remains is following. Can anyone confirm that I can use 92 model tank on 96 model?

Originally Posted by niknavin

1. On ebay I see there are lot of overflow tanks for 92-93 model - for example this one
Can I use these to replace on my 96 model?

[donbryce]

I have a 1996 Camry with the V6 (1MZFE) engine, and had the exact same problem with the coolant tank. Hot glue makes a decent temporary, quick repair while you're waiting for the replacement. Get a new tank, as these things are prone to deteriorating and the junkyard one will probably be no better than yours. I got mine off EBay, about $16.00 delivered to Canada, much less to you in Fla..It was also for a 92 - 93.
It looks like the one in your link above. Yes, it will work. The only differences are the cap, which has a molded 'spout' for overflow, instead of a rubber hose, and the side 'FULL' and 'LOW' level marks aren't on it. I used a marker and made my own from the original. It has a bib for the coolant hose to the cap too. Check the picture closely to make sure the cap has the bib for the hose. The cap size on the replacement tank is different from the cap on the original, so they can't be interchanged.

[dz63]

Originally Posted by niknavin

I am wondering how this hole may have created

The coolant reservoir on my '96 Camry also became brittle and perforated at the exact same location - the two outside corners. It is a design flaw and a systemic problem on the GEN3 Camry. The sun hits the corners of the plastic reservior and the UV light deteriorates the plastic. I patched mine up with fiberglass drywall tape embedded in 2 coats of two part epoxy, then spray painted this location with black paint to protect against the UV rays from the sun. If I would have known these reservoirs are so cheap on Ebay, I would have purchased a new one rather than repairing mine.

Note that coolant level should never get this high on the overflow tank, so I am not 100% certain, but I do not think that this would contribute to any coolant leakage. If you are observing leakage, it might be from another location?

[niknavin]

@donbryce
I had already bought it before I saw your message. I bought this one for about $14 free shipping.
But, I think it has the bib for the hose.
Thanks for info.

Originally Posted by dz63

The coolant reservoir on my '96 Camry also became brittle and perforated at the exact same location - the two outside corners. It is a design flaw and a systemic problem on the GEN3 Camry. The sun hits the corners of the plastic reservior and the UV light deteriorates the plastic. I patched mine up with fiberglass drywall tape embedded in 2 coats of two part epoxy, then spray painted this location with black paint to protect against the UV rays from the sun. If I would have known these reservoirs are so cheap on Ebay, I would have purchased a new one rather than repairing mine.

Interesting...it surprising the sun rays are reaching so much inside.

Originally Posted by dz63

Note that coolant level should never get this high on the overflow tank, so I am not 100% certain, but I do not think that this would contribute to any coolant leakage. If you are observing leakage, it might be from another location?

I suspect that too...I will check for leakage after i put the new tank.
In between I learned a little bit about how car cooling system works.