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        General >> Problems >> Radweld - good idea
        
(Message started by: mikemacsween on Nov 25^th, 2004, 12:50pm)

Title: Radweld - good idea
Post by mikemacsween on Nov 25^th, 2004, 12:50pm

Noticed heater not really working. Noticed v high engine temperature yesterday. Just managed to get 4 litres of coolant into it!.

Left it running for some time. After a while a little steam from the top of the radiator, and slight wetness showing on the front face of the radiator.

No dripping though. Can't see an actual leak, in terms of water gushing, but I assume it's on the back side of somewhere.

I don't know the price of a new radiator, but given that I'm only doing about 120 miles a week at the moment, and I'm not ultra committed to this car, any opinions on radweld or whatever the high tech equivalent of putting an egg in your radiator is now (ah, those were the days eh chaps?).

N Reg, 2000 16v automatic.

Yours, Mike

I've had a look at the instructions for fitting the radiator and wouldn't mind have a go. But you have to get it up on axle stands and it looks a bit complicated. Plus it's nearly winter and I'd have to do it on the drive.

Title: Re: Radweld - good idea
Post by Snoopy on Nov 25^th, 2004, 12:55pm

Radweld or its equivalent in hy opinion is really only aget you home solution... You could end up with the heater matrix getting blocked as well as some people have found.... The radiaotr change is NOT a difficult job I did mine on the driveway and it took abot an hour with some assistance from my little helper...
As to cost don't know for the 2.0ltr but check with local motor factors .. The 24v does have a different one....

Title: Re: Radweld - good idea
Post by mikemacsween on Nov 25^th, 2004, 4:09pm

Thanks. FMD quoted £250 + vat for a new one (not fitted), local large Motor Factor don't do it, Main Dealer only, they said.

If I get it off OK, I'm more into the idea of a repair. I've found somebody who claims to do this. Anybody had rads welded/brazed, near Leeds?

Thinking about it, some people mention 'soldering' rads. Part of the PITA of this is that if I get it off I'm then on the bus/taxi or whatever to take it to the repairers. With a radiator under my arm!!

Has anybody actually repaired their own radiator? I've got soldering iron. The leak looks tiny, just a little steam and not water, so presumably it's a pinhole, at the moment.

Whaddya fink?

Cheers, Mike

Title: Re: Radweld - good idea
Post by john.n on Nov 25^th, 2004, 4:46pm

You will definatley find a rad place that will do a replacement. Try Serks or look in yellow pages for rad rebuilders. Expect to pay around £100 exchange. john.n :)

Title: Re: Radweld - good idea
Post by Robby on Nov 25^th, 2004, 6:40pm

I am a fan of radweld type products.

At the moment I have a little crack in the thermostat housing, a very expensive repair. Some wurth radiator sealer seems to have fixed it.

However, I only know of two decent products in existence for this - one is the wurth one, the other i forget the name of, but it comes in a little blue bottle and costs about £8. The wurth one cost me £7.50 from my local garage

The cheap ones are far more likely to silt up an important narrow passageway. Whatever one you use, take the car for a run afterwards to make sure it gets all distributed and seals the hole.

Title: Re: Radweld - good idea
Post by Vulcan on Nov 25^th, 2004, 11:50pm

In my opinion (for what it's worth..) divvent put owt like radweld inta yer watta system... ya askin fer trubble...

nee heeter in tha winter is the forst thing y'll notice...

Mind ya, aave dun this verry thing in a few motas aave haad befower and haad nowt but botha wiv it.
Just dee the reet thing an fix the problem...

If you can translate that bit o' geordie nonsense you may understand my position on the subject. ;D ;D

Just a bit of jest to inject some humour here an there... ;)

Title: Re: Radweld - good idea
Post by Paul B on Nov 26^th, 2004, 6:41am

I think the Vulcan's right. OK, sticking the old 'dog turd' in it might well seal up any small cracks or holes, but surely that means its bunging things up elsewhere in the system too.
As has been said before, it has to be better to bite the bullet and fix the problem properly.

Title: Re: Radweld - good idea
Post by Snoopy on Nov 26^th, 2004, 7:37am

There are firms around that will recondition your own radiator... if you cannot get a replacement cheply then that may well be the solution for you...I think Serks may well have that service available but not sure on that one.

Title: Re: Radweld - good idea
Post by Nick_H on Nov 26^th, 2004, 8:16am

Found Serck - worth calling them to find out if they can repair it.

Serck Intertruck
Unit 2, 11, Armley Rd,
Leeds, West Yorkshire
LS12 2DR
Tel: 0113 242 1463

Title: Re: Radweld - good idea
Post by shanetungate1 on Nov 26^th, 2004, 6:56pm

Hi Mike

there is a bloke on ebay would most prob have radiator you could buy.
Known on ebay as "madmadscorpioman" if you cant find him let me know ill give you more details

shane

Title: Re: Radweld - good idea
Post by Eddie on Nov 28^th, 2004, 4:23am

Sercks should charge about £100 for a radiator delivered to your door,they will want your old one in exchange,so whip it out first.
Keep the rubber mounting bits from the old one.
The only unbolting required is the panel at the rear of the rad that holds the two fans,comes out complete with fans.
It is a relatively easy job,no need for axle stands or jacking up.
Just remember that when the new rad is in fill the system up LEAVE THE FILLER BOTTLE CAP OFF until the temp comes up to normal,topping up as required on the way. This will avoid air/gas locks.

eddie

Title: Re: Radweld - good idea
Post by mikemacsween on Nov 29^th, 2004, 8:49pm

Thanks Eddie. So that stuff about disconnecting the transmission pipes doesn't apply then?

The leak must be tiny at the moment. Did 300 miles this weekend and hardly lost any fluid.

Do people not weld rads anymore? Or is that a thing of the past.

If it's that easy to get off I might let might local cheap and cheerful garage do it. He's 30 secs walk away and I don't like skinning my knuckles.

Cheers

Title: Re: Radweld - good idea
Post by ferretmobile on Nov 30^th, 2004, 4:50pm

Vulcan....yer might need yer proggy mat hinny... :D
Wen yer gan yem,ask ther missus ter geeve yer a neece hot stotty (not totty or sheel deck yer lyke)
:D :D :D
Ferret...

ps he cant speak geordie properly , let alone write it! luv -mrs ferret - a real geordie!

Title: Re: Radweld - good idea
Post by Mmonster on Nov 30^th, 2004, 8:52pm

Hi,

There is a trick if you HAVE to use Raveld (or similar product)
Pour it in to the cooling system and drive about 1hour or untill the leak has been stopped.
Now take all coolant away from system and replace with new fresh coolant.
You have now removed the unnessesary Raveld from your cooling system and that will not block your matrix.
Simple. ;D

Mmonster