Thar She Blows!
#1
Posted 27 August 2019 - 05:44 PM
What's the latest on radiators? Do the uprated Ali ones still exist, and where should I be looking for parts?
Any help/advice greatly appreciated!
#2
Posted 27 August 2019 - 06:07 PM
Sent from my SM-G975F using Tapatalk
#3
Posted 27 August 2019 - 06:23 PM
ebay ones are good
i can sell you a pro alloy or a forge one if you would like a high end one
#4
Posted 27 August 2019 - 06:25 PM
https://rover.ebay.c...tm/162133244583
Edited by Wolfstone, 27 August 2019 - 06:27 PM.
#5
Posted 27 August 2019 - 07:17 PM
#6
Posted 27 August 2019 - 07:22 PM
#7
Posted 27 August 2019 - 08:57 PM
Thanks all, will do some more research when I'm back home. Is it likely to be something a novice could do or should I get it booked into a garage?
I've got one fitted, good quality.
Regard fitting, if your handy with a spanner helps, front clam off, rad housing, rad plus lots of fun
#8
Posted 28 August 2019 - 05:54 AM
Thanks all, will do some more research when I'm back home. Is it likely to be something a novice could do or should I get it booked into a garage?
I've got one fitted, good quality.
Regard fitting, if your handy with a spanner helps, front clam off, rad housing, rad plus lots of fun
And also handy with a dremmel/angle grinder!
#9
Posted 28 August 2019 - 06:55 AM
Don't assume it's the rad, the hoses blow off the fittings as well. It's not the most straightforward DIY job, but it's a lot of labour hours for the many simple parts. If you have the tools and the patience do it, but as is said above, be prepared for seized fittings.
#10
Posted 28 August 2019 - 03:01 PM
Last time I lost coolant it was a hose connection issue. Turns out the header tank cap was knackered and pressure built until the weakest point in the system (top hose on the rad) was found.
#11
Posted 07 September 2019 - 04:34 PM
Thanks all for the advice so far. I've got one of the coolex rads that Wolfstone suggested, and replacement s/s fixings for the clam and radiator - I'll need them as I've had to dremel the heads off 8 bolts so far!
I've run into a snag with the rear radiator housing screws, all 3 are rusted to hell and all immediately stripped with very little pressure. How on earth do I get these off? Access seems ridiculously limited, especially the one blocked by the abs unit, is it a matter of attacking the brackets I can just about reach through the crash box, and is so, which is the best tool for the job? Drill on a flexi?
Edit: obligatory leaking car pic.
Attached Files
Edited by Tinowyn33, 07 September 2019 - 04:42 PM.
#12
Posted 07 September 2019 - 04:50 PM
remove the old rad from the rad surround and then you will have access to dremel off the rear fixings
#13
Posted 07 September 2019 - 04:57 PM
So I can just yank it out with those three screws in place?
#14
Posted 08 September 2019 - 07:39 AM
Happened to me in Ireland, middle of nowhereLast time I lost coolant it was a hose connection issue. Turns out the header tank cap was knackered and pressure built until the weakest point in the system (top hose on the rad) was found.
#15
Posted 08 September 2019 - 08:32 AM
So I can just yank it out with those three screws in place?
yes the rad can be removed with the rear three screws in place
#16
Posted 08 September 2019 - 02:06 PM
Figured it out Vocky, thanks, one of the top bolts that I had to dremel off wasn't quite free of the rad, once i pushed it through the problem solved itself.
But thanks to everyone on here, the new radiator is now in place. (sorry if this is a bit pedestrian for you guys, its a massive achievement in my world!)
Was a bit of a tight fit getting the housing back in place (which I'm putting down to build tolerance or my own ineptitude) and I won't know if I've actually been successful until the new coolant arrives Tuesday, but fingers crossed...
Thanks again all, I wouldn't have been able to do this without your knowledge!
#17
Posted 17 September 2019 - 01:51 PM
Just a quick update for anyone interested, following another week of swearing, disassembly (and reassembly), cutting, and re-bleeding (also some me-bleeding), the car is now back on the road (until tomorrow, when it'll no doubt fail the mot on something nebulous).
The radiator housing being a tight fit should have been a warning sign that something wasn't right - turned out I should have cut back the radiator mounts. The difference in thickness was only a few mill, but enough to throw out the clam fixings; something I'm sure everybody on here (and anyone with an ounce of sense) already knew, but hey-ho.
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