leakin radiator

[jrgaylor]

My radiator has been leaking a tiny bit for along time now but has started to get worse, it is leaking where the plastic meets the metal on the sides. My question is can this be repaired? and if so how much? or should I just get a new radiator.Other than the leaking the radiator is in great shape.
Joe

 

[IgotTwo]

I had to swap mine out on my 94 with a manual transmission. I think it was about $140
I recall with an automatic, it was over $200

Replace it ..otherwise it will be nothing but problems
Not your first choice I know

 

[JDraper]

Time to replace it. You can't effectively repair them once they start leaking at that spot. I'd get one from somewhere besides the dealer. Try Pep Boys, Autozone, or one of the other parts stores. Prices will be much better.

 

[Gimp]

You can get them online, too.

I got one a couple of years ago for 'Money Pit' from www.radiator.com when a gasket & recrimp of the original failed (it leaked) when the weather got cold. It came with a lifetime warranty (as long as I get a yearly flush). At www.radiator.com they offer OEM and aftermarket. During business hours, you can "talk" online with one of their people or you can call their 800-number. I'm sure that there are several other online places, too. Two years ago I paid $135.00 plus tax and $5.00 shipping for an OEM Visteon radiator and got it the next day. It also came with everything (fittings, petcock, trans line adapter, etc.) so that the only thing I had to use off of the old one was the radiator cap. The one downside was that the nipple that the hose to the coolant recovery just was slightly smaller than the one on the original radiator so I had to put a small screw-type hose clamp on it to hold it securely and leak free. One more note: I don't remember if the paperwork with the radiator said to flush it out with water before installing but mine came with a protective corrosion-inhibitive coating inside and I had to run the water hose through it for a minute to flush it out before installing.

Good luck. If the original is leaking, you can be pretty sure that it's getting clogged, too - especially where crud all settles into the bottom and cuts flow. You won't be sorry you went with a new radiator. A new one won't cost a whole lot more than getting your old one repaired but it will surely last a lot longer.

 

[jrgaylor]

Gimp- thanks alot, I can get anew one for 134-154 depending on the warranty.
Joe

 

[Gimp]

Glad that we all could help. You won't regret getting a new radiator vs having the old one repaired.

Later

 

[X~FACTOR]

Getting a new is the right way to go but if you want to go cheap and put off buying a new one, I found that Autozone got this little bottle. I think its called "World's greatest radiator leak sealer". It looks like metal shavings in a small cylindrical plastic bottle. For small leak its great. I tried it on my car and I got another 3 years out of the radiator.

 

[jrgaylor]

I just wanted to let everyone know that, from the time I called www.Radiator.com to the time I received my radiator was about 24 hours, it cost $174 including overnight fedex shipping lifetime warranty and fit perfect so if you ever need a radiator "like now" give them a call.
Joe

 

[X~FACTOR]

Glad you got everything fixed up, jrgaylor. You definitely got a good deal on that radiator. I know I used to get radiator locally for way more than that.

 

[silver stripe]

just a heads up, also you need to watch becouse explorers are know to crack the tank on the passanger side of the rad, and you think its the seam, as its leaking, but its the side tank.
Problem is becouse of the air conditioning condencer at the front you cant see the crack till you pull out the rad.

this is seen as the fact that its fine cold, but when the engine is running and it gets hot the crack expands and it leaks.

 

[bubbadabulldawg]

I have gone through 2 Modine radiators and 1 aftermarket since owning the exploder. I don't understand why they don't make radiators with alum. side tanks that way we don't keep having this problems. I have a leak Again somewhere I'm thinking waterpump this time. Hey as anyone noticed the amount of cracks in the plastic fan? I've replaced that thing twice already and it has cracks in it again, so that means I will be replacing that too when I do the waterpump because I'm afraid of it coming apart while driving oneday and taking out everything when it does!