The CLOSED clip is on the right; the OPEN clip is on the left:



To OPEN with a pair of pliers, squeeze the two shoulders arrowed in red together.

To CLOSE, squeeze the two shoulders arrowed in blue together.

It doesn't require much force to open or close these clamps.

Graham

 

Thanks for the photo and explanation. I now understand.
John

 

Great, I love happy endings
My coolant level light has been out for 12 months now

 

any aluminum alternatives to the plastic expansion tanks offered.

 

Be aware of the following. I had the light on for the coolant level. Changed the sensor, no success. Changed the tank, no success. Because the level was not dropping, i kept on driving the car, until it started to smoke like a lunatic. Went to my Jag specialist which told met the head gaskets failed. Had both replaced. Than the next thing came up. The catalysts failed because cooling fluid came into the exhaust pipes and ruined the catalyst stone in both the catalysts. You can imagine what that costed in the end.

 

got the same problem with the new tank. shows low level but level is ok.

how come you lost fluid but it didnt drop in the tank???

 

his posts sound like a lot of damage was caused by very little fluid loss ?

on one hand he says the light came on, another other hand he says the level wasn’t dropping.

But the light is activated by the level dropping.

I’m confused as to what really happened ??

 

I'm still confused. No level drop but still the coolant went out with oil thru the exhaust. Probably because the top up of coolant was not done without a vacuum device. Better spent little money on a vacuum device for topping up coolant to fill the tank because otherwise you loose coolant without knowing. Opened up my eyes and took the advise from my specialist. Now i spent about 25 pound for the vacuum device but know i'm safe. It costs me a lot of money for the head gaskets and the catalysts. Lucky for me the heads where salvaged. If they fail as well during the head gasket issue, i had to find proper heads as well because of valve damage. Its far more complex with these engines than a simple A series Austin/Morris/Rover unit.