DAMMIT! radiator

[savage1987]

Got new tyres on saturday morning. On friday night myself and a couple of mates had a 'send-off' for the old ones. Engine ran really quite hot (between that red line and the one under it - never quite hit the red) and some steam came from under the bonnet for a few seconds. Thought nothing of it and let it idle back to normal temp, it ran alright on the way home and everything sounded fine. Both radiator hoses were still securely attached and there were no visible leaks (this was at night).

Checked my coolant today and it was down to the bottom pipe on the fill tank. There was a big stain in the carpark where it had run out. I put in a couple of litres of demineralised water and it immediately began to drip again. I couldn't spot where it was coming from, so I drove to the airport servo to get more demineralised water. Bought a few litres, went back to the car and filled it up to a bit above the mark. I spotted the leak - at the top of the radiator itself on the driver's side, there's a join of some sort (just under the edge of the cover that's part of the fan shroud) and coolant is coming out of there.

I think it may be time for a new radiator. What are my options?? Core material, stock one or aftermarket with trans cooler?? I'm a little foggy in this area...

Thanks for reading my story
Sam

[maginoodle]

you can have the side of your radiater replaced.the drivers side cracks cause its the return side.

[mouce]

I thought that the radiators in the VN's had plastic tanks with metal cores. I didn't think they could be repaired. I could be wrong though.

[savage1987]

Well I had no idea of anything to do with radiators so you're both doing better than I am! Now I just gotta find somewhere in Canberra that'll replace it for me... Before this weekend!

[Demons1964]

I had my radiator replaced on the weekend in the VS (auto & aircon). The radiator was 10 years old and I've previously had a split welded so I decided to fork out he dosh for a new one. I was going to replace it myself but the price for a brand new radiator with copper core was $352 from Holden. Price from my trusty mechanic was $405 fully fitted with new coolant and new radiator cap. Can't argue with that. As mouce said, I'm not sure either if yours has plastic tanks. If they are metal, just get the split welded up, particularly if you're not planning on keeping the car for many years.

[savage1987]

oh no I'm planning to keep this car for a long time. So I'll be going the full replacement I think. This could actually be the ORIGINAL radiator....

[maginoodle]

oh no I'm planning to keep this car for a long time. So I'll be going the full replacement I think. This could actually be the ORIGINAL radiator....

you can have the side replaced. while they do that get them to clean the cores. It will be like new only cheaper.

[commy92]

$350 for a radiator!!! holly crap. I did mine myself aout 4 months ago. Cost me $180 or something. Ebay is your friend with this one trust me. You can get a brand new radiator with a decent AUSTRALIA wide warrentee (return to your nearest supplyer and mine is only around the corner). Was delieverd to my door within 4 days.

[Murdoch]

$350 for a radiator!!! holly crap. I did mine myself aout 4 months ago. Cost me $180 or something. Ebay is your friend with this one trust me. You can get a brand new radiator with a decent AUSTRALIA wide warrentee (return to your nearest supplyer and mine is only around the corner). Was delieverd to my door within 4 days.

holy crap indeed!
auto barn, super cheap, repco all sell them for $180-$200.
Fit it yourself, piss easy. It will take you an hour.

[savage1987]

cheers for the info guys, keep it coming

only thing is, can anyone tell me if the VN has a transmission oil cooler? or could i plumb one in with an aftermarket radiator (similar to a VT setup)??

[bush_basha]

a trans cooler has nothing to do with the radiator all it does is sit in front of it, do the radiator yourself, buy it from your local auto store and while your there you may as well put in a trans cooler

[savage1987]

hmmm
ok then. somebody mentioned to me that the trans cooler in the VN is incorporated into the radiator itself though - in its own little section of core. is this true or did he have no clue about what he was talking about??

[bush_basha]

its really like a miniture radiator that is not even connected to the radiator

[savage1987]

so I'll have one in there somewhere? on a stock VN V6??

[CSL]

yeah your mate is right, the auto has it's own little pocket of the core, you can see two lines running in and out of the radiator on the rihgt hand side looking down on it, they are auto oil lines. but seriously, if worse comes to worse and you get a radiator with ouut the cooler lines you can just pick up an aftermarket cooler for cheap cheap
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/HOLDEN-COMMOD...QQcmdZViewItem

however above is exactly what you need, but go get a quote from a radiator shop for new end tanks may ewnd up cheaper

[savage1987]

cheers CSL that's exactly the info I was after.

will get a quote tomorrow, hopefully (in between classes!)

[getafix]

usally auto radiators are easier to pick up than manual ones.. at least thats what i was told whne i bought a new one... and yer CSL is spot on, the auto radiators have the cooler built in.

[mouce]

Yeah, that's probably because there are more autos out there than manuals. Finding a factory manual VN is fairly tough.

[savage1987]

Repco in Braddon can supply me with a radiator - genuine, brand new - for $220. I've got the proper (Holden specified) coolant and demineralised water I need to fill it, so the question is: do I install it myself?? How long does it take??

[savage1987]

I bought a brand new radiator today for $220. The Repco service centre in Braddon has quoted me an hour and a quarter's work to do the job - $120. Is this reasonable? Or should I get a couple of mates and just do it in the carpark??

[maginoodle]

I bought a brand new radiator today for $220. The Repco service centre in Braddon has quoted me an hour and a quarter's work to do the job - $120. Is this reasonable? Or should I get a couple of mates and just do it in the carpark??

do it yourself, get some coolant and put in it while you are going.

[commy92]

do it yourself. Will take less then an hour if you know what your doing. THERE is a trans cooler in the radiator. So you WILL need to also top up the auto fluid once you do it. There to 2 1/4 inch oil lines running into the radiator from 2 steal hoses. These are the oil lines for the trans cooler. If you want to put an aftermarket trans cooler on then running it in series with the one in the radiator. Ie.. GB out, radiator in, radiator out, trans cooler in trans cooler out, Gb in. You will know what i mean when you hook it up if you get one.

[savage1987]

Changing radiator tomorrow - just a couple of last minute questions/checks:

Can I do this without having the car on stands/ramps etc?? It's in a private carpark and I don't have access to jacks, ramps etc....

Should I park it facing uphill or downhill? Does it matter?? There's a bit of slope to the carpark, was just wondering if this'd make a difference.

[Snotty]

anywhere is fine, did mine on an up hill driveway, no ramps or stands.

Good chance to give the whole system a good clean out

[savage1987]

awesome. cheers for that

i'm off to do it now.