Radiator Failures - What/where was the problem?

[R&T Babich]

Would like to find out what actually fails in the radiator of our 1st gens.
This is the first car I've had with a radiator that has plastic tanks.
One tank has the hottest water in the system coming into it.
The other tank has trans cooler tubes hanging off it.
If the tank was cracked/leaking which tank was it?
Or was it a leaking core?

 

[Anime]

Like any radiator, they can get pinholes, but usually it's the plastic caps on the ends that seem to do them in, either from bursting, or cracks from stress at the hose mounts or tube fittings. Sometimes this is due to being handled roughly. Sometimes it's due to auto techs who don't care because it's not their car and they just want to get the job over with. Sometimes it's due to poor maintenace and the thermostat getting stuck and a clueless driver driving until the radiator blows. Poor maintanance and failing to change the coolant can also cause internal failure, clogging the passages with rust from the block and heads, or corrosion.

 

[mr cribb]

Mine leaked on the drivers side about halfway up, and only leaked when hot. Replacement has been fine for year and a half now.