Diagnosing a cracked radiator...

NikFu S. · #1 11-30-2005, 09:04 PM

Just my luck, I might be joining the PWR radiator club by necessity moreso than choice.

Drove to work today, nothing unusual.
Stopped at the gas station for breakfast as I usually do.

Breakfast burrito, some kind of huge donut and whatever I feel like drinking.

As I'm parking there are clouds of steam billowing from my hood, from the very front.
...
...
Now that I think about it that's probably why the front of the engine bay is wet with coolant.
It couldn't have just sprayed in ever direction,

could it?

I checked for leaks, saw nothing but a small puddle.
I figured if one of the hoses on the left side were leaking there's no way my tranny cooler could be wet, especially if the fans were blowing and air was rushing in.
Then again I did let it idle on my home today in some parking lot for a few minutes.

ANYWAY here's the deal.
I have coolant all over the place.
A semi-slow leak.
No apparent hose bursting or fitment problems.
A much different situation than when a hose clamp simply fell off a few months ago.

What are the chances I have a cracked radiator fin and the fans are blowing it around?
Pretty good?

At what mileage are radiator failures common?

How much is shipping a new one going to cost me?

It's irritating when ebay sellers can't find the time to answer a simple question for a potential buyer.
Not that I asked PWR. I never thought I'd need a new rad til now. ):

SilverSpear · #2 11-30-2005, 11:12 PM

first of all check all the hoses, then water pump... leave the radiator thing till last.

b3lha · #3 12-01-2005, 02:38 AM

With the engine cold, fill up the radiator and put the cap on. Fill the expansion bottle to the correct level, then start the engine and let it idle for about 15 minutes until it warms up and the cooling system becomes pressurised. The leak should become apparent.

dcarrb · #4 12-01-2005, 06:43 AM

From hanging around here for a couple of years I'd say the imfamous crack along the bulge in the plastic top constitutes the vast majority of radiator failures; seems that would be more likely than a leak in the core. As to when, mine was cracked when I bought the car 25 months ago at <105,000 miles. The dealer gave me a new radiator, which retails somewhere in the neighborhood of $300. He shipped it to me N/C, so I can't help you there. Can you ring it up at subaruparts.com and see, or will they not ship to you?

Looking for a coolant leak around the front of the engine, I'd be sure to check that little thermostat bypass hose.

dcb

NikFu S. · #5 12-01-2005, 09:26 AM

dcb > I do have a crack there but it has yet to be compromised. I know subaruparts will ship to me. I've got stuff from there before, but I don't want to stay with oem if there are superior alternatives.

Even though I changed my water pump less than 3 years ago, I think Danny got it.

Today my car is not starting.

There is no reason for it not to start, so I assumed there is massive resistance keeping it from turning over.
I pop my radiator cap and what do I see?

Metal shavings.

If anyone has any other ideas let me know. I'll be taking the bus to work today...

NikFu S. · #6 12-01-2005, 10:12 AM

Oh and if anyone has a water pump older than 3 years, can you tell me where you got it.

Though now that I think of it, the water pump pulley isn't toothed it's smooth, so I don't understand how it could stop me from cranking it over, unless my belt is really good and tight.

Sucks to have to trash a perfectly good timing belt.