Radiators...talk to me.
Discussion
I have a leak on my Alloy rad. Noticed it last Thursday when just moving the car around the drive, was fine the day before.
So as I don't have a pressure tester, I'm thinking I will need to remove it and have a good look, as I can't see or feel anything obvious. Its seems to be from the Bottom hose area, but hose connection is dry to the touch.
Anyway, I have not removed a Radiator since I had a 1985 B reg Astra, around 1993. So i'm after advice/refresh on what steps i need to take to do this.
My Chim is a 1998 400 if it helps at all, but I believe the same rad is used in all models of Chims as well as the Cerbera?
Can someone with knowledge on these things give me a step by step guide on Removal through to putting in a fixed/new rad?
Biggest issue i'm concerned about is what to do with the used coolant. I'll check to see if my local refuse site take it or not. Otherwise I'll ask my local mechanic who looks after our dailies.
I'm no mechanic, but simple things like this are doable. If I can do Disc's and Pads/Fuel lines/Coil/HT leads etc this should be easy enough. But I really want to do this myself, its part of the reason we have these cars isn't it?
Thanks for any help. What I would also like to do when doing this is is put a little Google site together and document all the little things that none mechanics can do at home. I'll put a Wiki page with links to the relevant page. I was hoping the Chimaera pages site would have stuff like that, but seems not, there are a few items though.
Anyway, going off topic, thanks for any help.
So as I don't have a pressure tester, I'm thinking I will need to remove it and have a good look, as I can't see or feel anything obvious. Its seems to be from the Bottom hose area, but hose connection is dry to the touch.
Anyway, I have not removed a Radiator since I had a 1985 B reg Astra, around 1993. So i'm after advice/refresh on what steps i need to take to do this.
My Chim is a 1998 400 if it helps at all, but I believe the same rad is used in all models of Chims as well as the Cerbera?
Can someone with knowledge on these things give me a step by step guide on Removal through to putting in a fixed/new rad?
Biggest issue i'm concerned about is what to do with the used coolant. I'll check to see if my local refuse site take it or not. Otherwise I'll ask my local mechanic who looks after our dailies.
I'm no mechanic, but simple things like this are doable. If I can do Disc's and Pads/Fuel lines/Coil/HT leads etc this should be easy enough. But I really want to do this myself, its part of the reason we have these cars isn't it?
Thanks for any help. What I would also like to do when doing this is is put a little Google site together and document all the little things that none mechanics can do at home. I'll put a Wiki page with links to the relevant page. I was hoping the Chimaera pages site would have stuff like that, but seems not, there are a few items though.
Anyway, going off topic, thanks for any help.
Has been years since I hooked my rad out, but it was very easy. Hose clips and a few bolts. I drove to a rad repair place, hooked rad out in their car park, they found leak and soldered it, I shoved rad back in, filled up with coolant and drove off. Think they charged me about a tenner. New coolant cost more than the repair.
fausTVR said:
I was convinced I had a leaking rad, but I found it was the small pipe running to the overflow tank (offside wing) pissing gently on the rad when hot.
That's interesting, there is pipe running under the rad, is that the pipe your talking about? or are you talking about the pipe to the Expansion Tank?ATG said:
Has been years since I hooked my rad out, but it was very easy. Hose clips and a few bolts. I drove to a rad repair place, hooked rad out in their car park, they found leak and soldered it, I shoved rad back in, filled up with coolant and drove off. Think they charged me about a tenner. New coolant cost more than the repair.
You make it sound so easy lol. But like you say, its just a couple of bolts an straps. Its just the mess of the coolant, then refilling properly! guessing it will not drain the whole 12 litres in the process. Actually i have just found an awesome site here https://chimrebuild.wordpress.com/radiatorfront-ch...
This has a serious amount of work put into, all credit to the owner of the site, I think this has just saved me. Right job for me this week or weekend!!
This has a serious amount of work put into, all credit to the owner of the site, I think this has just saved me. Right job for me this week or weekend!!
igiveup said:
Actually i have just found an awesome site here https://chimrebuild.wordpress.com/radiatorfront-ch...
This has a serious amount of work put into, all credit to the owner of the site, I think this has just saved me. Right job for me this week or weekend!!
A tip - when you remove the rad, take the opportunity to check / clean the earthing point under the rad - a bugger to get to when the rad is in place....This has a serious amount of work put into, all credit to the owner of the site, I think this has just saved me. Right job for me this week or weekend!!
Nosh
very simple task. have a pre serp layout so plenty of space behind the rad. drain the system unbolt the two hoses
and nuts that keep the rad in place and lift it out. my alloy rad had been leaking on the passenger side bottom.
cleaned ipt up and used some sanding paper to get a good surface and put some jb weld on it. since then no problem
with the small leak but it was realy a minor one. problem had been the party that put the alloy rad in place didnt
use any rubber insulators. alloy is not happy with strong vibrations or bumps. put some decent rubber couplers in
and problem should be fixed.
and nuts that keep the rad in place and lift it out. my alloy rad had been leaking on the passenger side bottom.
cleaned ipt up and used some sanding paper to get a good surface and put some jb weld on it. since then no problem
with the small leak but it was realy a minor one. problem had been the party that put the alloy rad in place didnt
use any rubber insulators. alloy is not happy with strong vibrations or bumps. put some decent rubber couplers in
and problem should be fixed.
J400GED said:
igiveup check this first before ripping your rad out - you'll only be upset when it's still leaks afterwards.
Thanks all, I've still not had the time to have a look yet, but plenty of food for thought so far.
I shall be taking it to AARON Radiators if it needs fixing. Also I have also had advice to ensure when refitting it to ensure it has a certain amount of movement/float so it does not twist as much with the flex of the body and chassis.
I replaced my Chim's rad about a month ago.
It's a pretty easy job. The hardest bit was lifting the rad out after I'd disconnected it as I left the bonnet on and did it on my own. I simply protected the chassis/exchaust with plenty of cardboard and removed the rad in several stages.
I used a deep 13mm socket for the two top bolts and removed the expansion tank first.
The 6mmm bolts holding the fan cowls to the radiator were pretty rusted and I replaced them with new bolts which I had to cut down.
All in all, a pretty simple job.
It's a pretty easy job. The hardest bit was lifting the rad out after I'd disconnected it as I left the bonnet on and did it on my own. I simply protected the chassis/exchaust with plenty of cardboard and removed the rad in several stages.
I used a deep 13mm socket for the two top bolts and removed the expansion tank first.
The 6mmm bolts holding the fan cowls to the radiator were pretty rusted and I replaced them with new bolts which I had to cut down.
All in all, a pretty simple job.
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