Coolant leak

[dan filipi]

skiri251 » 7 minutes ago[/url]":1ywwvdnr]

dan filipi » Mon Nov 16, 2015 8:19 am[/url]":1ywwvdnr]
It's driveable?
I'd go to a radiator shop.
I don't trust most auto repair shops but a good radiator shop will look at it and give honest options. They should be able to pressure test it to find the leak.
You could throw money at this and still have a problem otherwise.

I think it's driveable. As far as I keep an eye on coolant level and water temp.
But I don't know a good radiator shop...
I was thinking about nearby Midas. You think they are okay?

Nah Midas, do all mechanics that throw parts at it.
Search for radiator repair near you. They are out there.
I discovered one just a mile from my house. Old timer.

 

[skiri251]

PurpleGL1200I » Mon Nov 16, 2015 8:32 am[/url]":22gyj6mo]
I would go to the source, not an intermediary. Get an opinion from a radiator shop, not a mechanic. Otherwise, you are adding the mechanic's time & cost to the repair cost that will be done by the radiator shop.

My granddaughter has a Liberty that did the same thing. I filled the reservoir twice and then handed the problem over to her husband. She still has the car, but wants to dump it when it's paid off.

Wow.. It almost sounds like a design flaw. Something to the way radiator is mounted.
I also got cracked windshield. It doesn't look like a damage from flying stone. I see no impact point.
Maybe the body is twisting too much?

 

[skiri251]

dan filipi » Mon Nov 16, 2015 8:36 am[/url]":fhblgcrb]

skiri251 » 7 minutes ago[/url]":fhblgcrb]

dan filipi » Mon Nov 16, 2015 8:19 am[/url]":fhblgcrb]
It's driveable?
I'd go to a radiator shop.
I don't trust most auto repair shops but a good radiator shop will look at it and give honest options. They should be able to pressure test it to find the leak.
You could throw money at this and still have a problem otherwise.

I think it's driveable. As far as I keep an eye on coolant level and water temp.
But I don't know a good radiator shop...
I was thinking about nearby Midas. You think they are okay?

Nah Midas, do all mechanics that throw parts at it.
Search for radiator repair near you. They are out there.
I discovered one just a mile from my house. Old timer.

Thanks.
I will try.

 

[slabghost]

Probably a design flaw. Seems a common issue.

 

[dan filipi]

What year it it btw?

 

[skiri251]

dan filipi » Mon Nov 16, 2015 9:14 am[/url]":1e3pviht]
What year it it btw?

2002, I think.

 

[skiri251]

This place seems to be good.
I will go there today.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/radiator-shop-on-wheels-torrance?osq=Radiator+Repair

 

[AApple]

Rad end tanks are CRAP on just aboot everything these days. Plastic crap... :sensored:
The expansion/contraction they have to deal will will always lead to terminal failure....usually at the same place, too. Aftermarket raditaters are made the same way, and will eventually fail in the same way. You might be able to find a good rad shop that can build one with metal tanks, instead of plastic. The Yeep world is as full of aftermarket upgrades as the Corvette world.....somewhere out there is an aftermarket place that builds real metal raditaters for Yeeps. Might not be cheap, but....how much does replacing a cheesy one every two years, and tow/repair bills cost? Not to mention the inevitable super-overheated engine that is now junk because of a crappy raditater tank.....

 

[skiri251]

AApple » Mon Nov 16, 2015 11:33 am[/url]":1du32tcn]
Rad end tanks are CRAP on just aboot everything these days. Plastic crap... :sensored:
The expansion/contraction they have to deal will will always lead to terminal failure....usually at the same place, too. Aftermarket raditaters are made the same way, and will eventually fail in the same way. You might be able to find a good rad shop that can build one with metal tanks, instead of plastic. The Yeep world is as full of aftermarket upgrades as the Corvette world.....somewhere out there is an aftermarket place that builds real metal raditaters for Yeeps. Might not be cheap, but....how much does replacing a cheesy one every two years, and tow/repair bills cost? Not to mention the inevitable super-overheated engine that is now junk because of a crappy raditater tank.....

Radiator partially made of plastic?
I thought it was all aluminum.
Well like I said, I really need a van so..

That radiator shop I found was bought up by regular car repair business. Re-open in two weeks, they say.
Too bad, it must have been an old timer like Dan's.

There was water in the reservoir this morning. So I guess I can make 120 miles one way w/o stopping if the crack holds up.

I am afraid there is too much tap water in there though. The camp ground may see freezing temp so I need to put more anti-freeze in.

 

[dan filipi]

Where ya going camping?

 

[skiri251]

dan filipi » Mon Nov 16, 2015 4:19 pm[/url]":1ggzq29z]
Where ya going camping?

El Mirage OHVA.

 

[skiri251]

Okay, I found another one.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/davids-radiator-service-wilmington?page_src=related_bizes

He looked at it and tells me it's $275 parts & labor (with new or whatever replacement radiator)!
Too good to be true?
Too shady?
If I bring it in tomorrow morning, he will do it by the end of the day.

I guess I should go, right?

 

[dan filipi]

Far as I recall it's unclear in this thread if there actually is anything wrong with the radiator?
Where was the steam coming from?

Did he do a pressure check or anything else diagnostic?
If so, then go with your gut feeling I guess.
That is a very good price.

 

[skiri251]

dan filipi » Mon Nov 16, 2015 5:10 pm[/url]":58pth0md]
Far as I recall it's unclear in this thread if there actually is anything wrong with the radiator?
Where was the steam coming from?

Did he do a pressure check or anything else diagnostic?
If so, then go with your gut feeling I guess.
That is a very good price.

The steam came from the right side edge of the radiator while you face the car. Coolant trace also seems to show it is the radiator.

from top-right side:

from the bottom: (can see the stains made by the coolant)

But this guy did nothing. No pressure test.
I told him the story and he told me I need a new radiator.

Well, I guess I got nothing to lose so I will go.