DB9 Radiator Holes
Author
Discussion

David Ramsbotham

Original Poster:

293 posts

94 months

Friday 20th November 2020
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The rear of my DB9 radiator has 2 small “outlets” on the left hand side. Anyone got any idea what these are for?

My existing radiator also has them left open and not connected to anything!

Just a bit baffled 😮

oilit

2,808 posts

208 months

Friday 20th November 2020
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Perhaps find its taken from a Volvo or Ford and had additional fittings on that car ?

Dewi 2

1,931 posts

95 months

Friday 20th November 2020
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I will mention this, just in case it might be a clue.

My old trusty Mercedes-Benz has two small pipes carrying hot water, running through the screen wash container.
I have never looked to see where those pipes come from, but I suppose they could be from the radiator.

Heated screen wash fluid and heated door mirrors, what more could one ask for. I only realised those mirrors were heated, after owning the car for about 10 years.

paulrog1

1,233 posts

171 months

Friday 20th November 2020
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Those holes on the rad are not used, so just use the 2 large ones and the small one in the corner.

That looks like the same rad i put in last year, loads better than rhe original ones.

I think the small holes are for a smalll rad built into the large rad for jag cars.

8Tech

2,212 posts

228 months

Friday 20th November 2020
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Those are hose fittings for an automatic transmission oil cooler.

David Ramsbotham

Original Poster:

293 posts

94 months

Friday 20th November 2020
quotequote all
paulrog1 said:
Those holes on the rad are not used, so just use the 2 large ones and the small one in the corner.

That looks like the same rad i put in last year, loads better than rhe original ones.

I think the small holes are for a smalll rad built into the large rad for jag cars.
It’s weird isn’t it, the end tank must be double skinned or water would not be retained!

David Ramsbotham

Original Poster:

293 posts

94 months

Friday 20th November 2020
quotequote all
8Tech said:
Those are hose fittings for an automatic transmission oil cooler.
But isn’t the transmission oil cooler separately in the front of the car?

8Tech

2,212 posts

228 months

Friday 20th November 2020
quotequote all
Dewi 2 said:

I will mention this, just in case it might be a clue.

My old trusty Mercedes-Benz has two small pipes carrying hot water, running through the screen wash container.
I have never looked to see where those pipes come from, but I suppose they could be from the radiator.

Heated screen wash fluid and heated door mirrors, what more could one ask for. I only realised those mirrors were heated, after owning the car for about 10 years.
Almost anything with a heated rear screen has heated door mirrors nowadays, even vans.

BMW had heated front washer jets and door locks as far back as the 1990's. We even have heated steering wheels together with the heated seats nowadays. Electric tailgate closure, soft close doors and bootlids/tailgates.
Not sure how much these luxuries will affect the range of an electric car? Probably warm the car up and then need recharging if you still want to drive it!

Dewi 2

1,931 posts

95 months

Friday 20th November 2020
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8Tech said:
Those are hose fittings for an automatic transmission oil cooler.

Yes, the combined water radiator and oil cooler turned out to be an awful idea, certainly with some Mercedes-Benz models.
Valeo, I think were one of the makers of those radiators.

There were instances of internal breaks occurring in the combined structure, between the oil and water radiators. Water based coolant leaked into the oil cooler part of the radiator and then reached the automatic transmission, with terminal consequenses. The first thing a driver experienced was failure to change gear as expected. By then, the automatic transmission was ruined.




Edited by Dewi 2 on Friday 20th November 18:46

Dewi 2

1,931 posts

95 months

Friday 20th November 2020
quotequote all

8Tech said:
We even have heated steering wheels together with the heated seats nowadays. Electric tailgate closure, soft close doors and bootlids/tailgates.

Not sure how much these luxuries will affect the range of an electric car? Probably warm the car up and then need recharging if you still want to drive it!

It is remarkable how we survived, before all that stuff became essentials.
A neighbour was recently standing at the rear of his new Volvo estate. Suddenly he received a hit on his head. It was not a mugger, but somehow unknown to him, he had triggered the tailgate closing sequence. His has mostly recovered from his injuries now though.

You have reminded me. After the winter hibernation, I must turn on the heated seats in my Vantage, to check that they still work.
It is an option (not specified by me) which I have never needed to use.




bignoise

314 posts

131 months

Saturday 21st November 2020
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As previous mentioned they are Hydraulic oil cooler fittings (Transmission or Steering) which are used when rad and/or end tank is fitted to a different make or model

V8V Pete

2,536 posts

156 months

Saturday 21st November 2020
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But but I thought it was a specific rad to AML hence the crazy inflated price. Oh no, I didn't really believe that at all, did I?

David Ramsbotham

Original Poster:

293 posts

94 months

Saturday 21st November 2020
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Suspect the end tank is used in other applications but the assembly as a whole is probably unique!

MichaelV8V

650 posts

291 months

Saturday 21st November 2020
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8Tech said:
We even have heated steering wheels together with the heated seats nowadays. Electric tailgate closure, soft close doors and bootlids/tailgates.
Not sure how much these luxuries will affect the range of an electric car? Probably warm the car up and then need recharging if you still want to drive it!
My test on the effect of stuff like that on the range of the car is to think about the amount of effort they take, so to open the tailgate by hand doesn't tire me too much, pushing a car about a metre is harder. So in normal use, I'd guess that an electric tailgate makes about 10 metres off the range of a full battery.

john ryan

542 posts

162 months

Sunday 22nd November 2020
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[quote=Dewi
You have reminded me. After the winter hibernation, I must turn on the heated seats in my Vantage, to check that they still work.
It is an option (not specified by me) which I have never needed to use.

[/quote]

The heated seats were subject to a recall about 6 or 7 years ago because of shorting I think. The fix was to disconnect them, rather than replace the heater mat. You may find they don't work!

TarquinMX5

2,675 posts

110 months

Sunday 22nd November 2020
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Yes, it was Valeo radiators fitted to some MBs in the early 2000s. Caused some expensive repairs.

It's clearly cheaper than having a separate transmission cooler, and probably easier to fit; even Rover went from a separate cooler on the P5 to an in-radiator one for the P5B.

There was a thread on PH a while back which suggested that the DB9 rad. was the same as an F-Type Jagwaah; or a Nissens 66700 / 66701 - can't say whether that is correct and also mixed reviews the Nissens - no personal experience of them.

Dewi 2

1,931 posts

95 months

Sunday 22nd November 2020
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john ryan said:
Dewi said:
You have reminded me. After the winter hibernation, I must turn on the heated seats in my Vantage, to check that they still work.
It is an option (not specified by me) which I have never needed to use.
The heated seats were subject to a recall about 6 or 7 years ago because of shorting I think. The fix was to disconnect them, rather than replace the heater mat. You may find they don't work!

( Hope OP will not mind a brief trip off topic. )

Thank you John.
Recalls usually have specific production date periods.
Did the heated seat recall apply to particular model years?
Was it market specific?

Does not sound a very satisfactory recall, particularly for those owners who wanted and paid for heated seats, only to be told;
"We have completed the recall fix for you Sir, - it will never work again." banghead




LTP

3,115 posts

142 months

Monday 23rd November 2020
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dewi said:
Does not sound a very satisfactory recall, particularly for those owners who wanted and paid for heated seats, only to be told;
"We have completed the recall fix for you Sir, - it will never work again."
I agree. In fact, with no disrespect, I agree to the point of doubting the original information from john ryan and I'd be interested in seeing some data to support that. When I Googled "Aston Martin seat heat recall" I found a recall notice on Car-Recalls.co.uk that said
Remedy: Fit additional seat heater monitoring modules. Where necessary seat elements may also be replaced.
and this thread
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=14...
seems to also reference the ECU and maybe the heater mats being replaced to fix the issue.

Can john ryan please provide data to support his assertion that the official recall fix was to disconnect the seat heater? That or stop spreading misinformation - something no reputable engineer should do as we should be data driven.


Edited by LTP on Monday 23 November 08:36

john ryan

542 posts

162 months

Monday 23rd November 2020
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My car was at Works for 20min, and I was told 'disconnection' by the fitter - of course he may have been kidding, which is why I said 'may' not work. In fact disconnection suited me; stripping the seats to fit a new mat would have disturbed my perfect interior, and I would have refused if asked. Just sharing my experience. I wonder what the monitoring module is supposed to do, or is it just a fusible link?

john ryan

542 posts

162 months

Monday 23rd November 2020
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A short follow-up. I have the recall notice before me. Unusually it explains the fault (heater stays permanently on) and the solution - which is to disconnect the heater mat if a malfunction is detected . To quote 'the seat heater will be isolated and will not operate'
That confirms my recollection. There is no mention of replacing the heater mat.
LTP, I'm content that by way of apology you send £10 to the Water Aid charity.