I was warned shortly after I bought my X-Type that this was a weak point on the car. The upper small nipple with the small hose on it broke off. No stress from the hose so I guess it was just the pressure that made it break. When I was searching for parts for my car last Fall I ran across a new one for sale for $45 so I bought it and put it on the shelf. Lucky me it happened about a block from home, so have a job for in the morning.

 

If you reuse the spring clamp in that area, make sure you point the arms toward the front of the car - not straight up. They will hit the hood liner and put pressure on that nipple. Mine broke there too and I'm sure it was from frequent hood opening and closing since I got it.

 

One of the easier repairs I have made.


Broken nipple.




New one in place.

 

I went through 3 X-Type, two of them broke that nipple, I check it out: It broke because the nipple hole was too small due to hot water and pressure goes through worn it out; When mines broke I cut it right against the reservoir, took the nipple to hard ware store, get the same size brass nipple with thread on one end, I drilled the hole slightly smaller than the thread end of the nipple, put a plastic or rubber washer and some silicon sealer on the thread then screwed into the hole, cost few $$ for the nipple and washer.