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I’ve been chasing coolant leaks in this car. Just when I get something replaced and the system bled of air, it loses coolant and then idles like crap. Replaced all of the small hoses around the intake. Replaced water pump. Still am losing coolant. I noticed a swirl of steam coming out near the top of the radiator. The radiator looks like the original and appears to be made of something other than aluminum and plastic. 160,000 mi now. vin: JH4DA9467LS062004
Looking down into the neck, it’s pretty crusty. My Dad used to get radiators “rodded out” and “resoldered”. Is that still worth it for a radiator of this type? Or do I replace it with a new aluminum and plastic one.
thanks,
Dave
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With labour rates the way they are It would be expensive to recondition rads the way they used to. It’s better just to replace it.
I had a leak at the water neck of my Honda radiator as well, and thought that was the only problem with is, so I cleaned it all up, and soldered it myself. Of course, as soon as I sealed that up, I found that there were problems in the core as well, and I suspect that you will find that to be the case. Any time a radiator is old enough for the relatively thick durable neck / tank joint to have become compromised, it is very likely that the core will be damaged as well.
I agree, just replace it, less headache in the long run, and while you are doing that, if the thermostat isn’t new, replace that as well as the upper and lower radiator hoses and clamps.
Radiators could get resoldered until about 1972, because they were made of copper tubing and brass end caps. Since then they’ve gotten thinner and flimsier and made out of aluminum foil and fragile black plastic and pink fairy-glue. You can’t rod them out or resolder anything. You just go and buy a new $89 radiator which will last another 4 to 5 years. Such is life.
The OE radiator for that vehicle had plastic tanks and an aluminum core. I suspect the one you have is aftermarket. That said, all the information you need on how to find coolant leaks can be found in this video. Good luck and keep us posted.
More information can be found here.
http://www.ericthecarguy.com/faq/what-to-do-when-your-engine-overheats
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