recommendations for new radiator fitting

[nimbus]

Hi All,

my elderly 306 has started to spout steam from its radiator every day on the way to work, and while it hasnt died yet, its getting there...

Any recommendations on where to get a new radiator fitted in the Newbury area, or maybe more importantly, places to avoid ?

Cheers,
Toby

[thong]

have the cooling system checked out for head gasket(chemical test)before you commite to a rad.

[steve_d]

Serck Marston in Reading
25 Loverock road
RG30 1DZ

All the connections to the rad are clip together plastic joints with 'O' ring seals so you should have a look around to make sure one of the joints has not popped apart or the seal just needs replacing. I know one of the joints on mine has problems as it is tied up with cable ties so I suspect the plastic clip has failed.
If it does need replacing it is quite quick because of the above mentioned clip fittings.

Steve

[nimbus]

cheers guys

I was probably being a little over dramatic..

Its got a steady but low loss of coolant, and if I look at the radiator, I can see 2 patches where previous use of 'radweld' has filled in holes..
Its also got a loss of 'fins' on the radiator in one patch, so I guess its demise is accelerating gradually.. its not like it overheats, just on some mornings I get a small cloud of steam emerging from the bonnet..

Just want to be ready to change before it finally gives up the ghost..

Do you think this is a DIY job ?

I've changed discs, calipers, suspension etc before..

Last time I had the radiator changed it seemed to take the garage about 5 hours work and they said it was a bstd of a job... so I was thinking let someone else take the pain.. but on a £500 car its marginal whether its worth doing..

[steve_d]

Should be easy enough to do because as I said the hoses have plastic fittings on the end which just plug in. There are two brackets at the top to release then the rad lifts out.

Steve