Help please - does this mean a new radiator?
Discussion
Well, it took 3 weeks for the first thing to go wrong on the MX5 I bought. Pulled up at some lights earlier and noticed steam/white smokey stuff coming out of the bonnet and found what appears to be a crack in the top part of the radiator. Pic and video below, video shows the problem the best.
Pic:
Video:
Clicky
Is this pretty terminal for the radiator? Or are there any alternative fixes for this?
Changing the radiator was a job I was going to do myself at some point but now I'll have to pay someone to do change it for me as I'm stacked out with work and need a car for the weekend. A bit gutted as I bought it as a bit of a project to do myself on the cheap - A guy quoted me £200 for the job inc parts coolant etc, which in comparison to doing it myself is a huge cost.
Pic:
Video:
Clicky
Is this pretty terminal for the radiator? Or are there any alternative fixes for this?
Changing the radiator was a job I was going to do myself at some point but now I'll have to pay someone to do change it for me as I'm stacked out with work and need a car for the weekend. A bit gutted as I bought it as a bit of a project to do myself on the cheap - A guy quoted me £200 for the job inc parts coolant etc, which in comparison to doing it myself is a huge cost.
uk89camaro said:
is that leaking from the header? Difficult to tell, but if so radweld might not do it. Does hurt to try it as it definately needs taking off for repair or exchange. £ wise £200 to supply and fit seems not too bad.
It's leaking from the very top part right next to the radiator cap - you can see it to the right of the image. Is it called the header? Will try some weld type stuff tonight and see how we go. If not, I'll have to get it fixed before sat.
I'd say that if the header plastic has cracked there then it probably brittle enough to start cracking in other places too. You might patch it up but for long term and piece of mind I'd get a new radiator.
It's not pricey, you get to do a fairly simple spanner job, you get a coolant flush and nice new coolant and a nice new rad that's not about to block up on you and take out the head gasket. Wins all round.
It's not pricey, you get to do a fairly simple spanner job, you get a coolant flush and nice new coolant and a nice new rad that's not about to block up on you and take out the head gasket. Wins all round.
matts4 said:
Mx5 parts, new rad for £70.
30 mins to fit. Job done.
Is it really that simple? I don't even consider myself an amateur mechanic really, was going to follow some online instructions. 30 mins to fit. Job done.
If it is then I can probably spare half an hour before Saturday if mx5parts do next day delivery.
DO NOT PUT RAD WELD IN THE SYSTEM! The MX5 engine cooling system is marginal enough as it is without adding that muck in there, especially the radiators. Also, if you later fit a new rad it will soon get clogged with the rad weld that is still floating around the system.
Just replace the rad. They are cheap enough and easy to fit. The old ones have a plastic top which would have been black originally but which goes brown and brittle with age. Once it starts to go the rad is a goner.
Just replace the rad. They are cheap enough and easy to fit. The old ones have a plastic top which would have been black originally but which goes brown and brittle with age. Once it starts to go the rad is a goner.
Cheers all for the responses.
Tried some steel epoxy/jb weld type stuff and it didn't adhere well to the plastic even when sanded and cleaned.
Anyway, new aftermarket rad on the way from MX5Parts on next day delivery. Am hoping the rain holds off tomorrow otherwise I'll be soaked by the time I'm finished.
Tried some steel epoxy/jb weld type stuff and it didn't adhere well to the plastic even when sanded and cleaned.
Anyway, new aftermarket rad on the way from MX5Parts on next day delivery. Am hoping the rain holds off tomorrow otherwise I'll be soaked by the time I'm finished.
All done, took 6 hours instead of 30 mins but was a decent learning experience. Extra time mainly down to one problem...
All the bolts etc looked like they hadn't been removed since 1993, some had even become a rusty mess rather than anything that resembled a bolt.
Oh and the rest, the brittle plastic of the radiator header just snapped instead:
Took me a few extra hours to get the fan housing bolts off with a hack saw, blow torch and what seemed to be every other tool in my collection.
This is what came out of the cooling system - no idea when this was last changed or flushed:
I did flush it a couple of times but I'll change again in 6 months, there's probably still loads of gunk in there.
And here, just about to put the new rad in - I now have a happy mx5 again:
All the bolts etc looked like they hadn't been removed since 1993, some had even become a rusty mess rather than anything that resembled a bolt.
Oh and the rest, the brittle plastic of the radiator header just snapped instead:
Took me a few extra hours to get the fan housing bolts off with a hack saw, blow torch and what seemed to be every other tool in my collection.
This is what came out of the cooling system - no idea when this was last changed or flushed:
I did flush it a couple of times but I'll change again in 6 months, there's probably still loads of gunk in there.
And here, just about to put the new rad in - I now have a happy mx5 again:
The s
tty bolts holding the fan on were problematic on mine. I'd bought 4 new ones, forgetting I would need 8. The 2nd problem was getting the cheap spring clip things that the bolts go into on the pattern rad to line up properly on the bottom when bolting the air con pipes back on. In the end I took the air con brackets to bits and bolted the relevant bits of them onto the rad with it out of the car. Turned a 30 minute job into a 4 hour one, as you say. Good 1st wedding anniversary, that one.
tty bolts holding the fan on were problematic on mine. I'd bought 4 new ones, forgetting I would need 8. The 2nd problem was getting the cheap spring clip things that the bolts go into on the pattern rad to line up properly on the bottom when bolting the air con pipes back on. In the end I took the air con brackets to bits and bolted the relevant bits of them onto the rad with it out of the car. Turned a 30 minute job into a 4 hour one, as you say. Good 1st wedding anniversary, that one.Gassing Station | Mazda MX5/Roadster/Miata | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff