It doesn't rain. It pours!!
Having sorted out the handbrake warning light on my 1996 tdi 90 (thanks to help from the Group) my radiator has started to leak
Looking at LR magazines, I see adverts for the radiator alone or (for more than twice the price) one including intercooler
Is it OK to simply replace the radiator or best to do the intercooler at the same time
Advice as always much appreciated
Julian
It never rains but it pours. After sorting out the handbrake switch on my
1996 tdi 300 90 (thanks to help from the Group) my radiator has started leakingAdverts in LR magazines quote one price for a radiator and more than double to include intercooler
Is it wise to replace the intercooler (I have no reason to suspect a problem there) or just go for the radiator
As always, help appreciated
Julian
On or around Wed, 13 Apr 2011 18:27:11 +0100, "Julian Pollard" enlightened us thusly:
I'd go with the rad and clean the cooler at the same time, inside and out. The only thing I've heard intercoolers doing is getting blocked internally with oily scunge - chuck some suitable solvent in it and leave it to sit, making sure of course to flush it out again afterwards :)
What Austin says.
The rad and intercooler are separate parts .. the rad usually (on
300Tdi) has an oil cooler integrated into it, and IMHO it's the lack of oil cooling that contributes more to the head problems and over heating than a loss of coolant would on it's own.
You don't need the intercooler. It's part of a separate system and shouldn't deteriorate but may, perhaps, benefit from being cleaned out.
Your best solution is to get the radiator section alone reconditioned by your friendly local radiator 'specialist'. Good ones will take your entire lump and redo what's needed for much less than the cost of a new one. Be aware that there's some cheap and nasty new stuff out there.
Input appreciated and new rad without intercooler seems the most obvious choice
However as a last minute thought would resealed or similar be worth trying
Julian
Look at the potential costs if that fails - another (unnoticed) leak and you end up with a head replacement job on your hands. Do it properly the first time and replace the rad.
EMB is right in the end so tomorrow a new radiator will be installed Thanks to all
Fortunately my mechanic (Barry who has "done" for me for over 30 years - Healey Sprite, MGB Convertible, Cortina 1600E, Alfa Sud, Panda 4X4 known as "Panda Quatro", Renault 12 Estate (married by now with offspring - sorry dog then offspring), Marina Estate (mistake!!), Peugeot 305 Estate, 3Volvo Estates and now a Golf Estate), has a cancellation tomorrow so my wife is relieved as I will not sulk all weekend because my pride and joy will be on the road again
Julian
EMB is right in the end so tomorrow a new radiator will be installed Thanks to all
Fortunately my mechanic (Barry who has "done" for me for over 30 years - Healey Sprite, MGB Convertible, Cortina 1600E, Alfa Sud, Panda 4X4 known as "Panda Quatro", Renault 12 Estate (married by now with offspring - sorry dog then offspring), Marina Estate (mistake!!), Peugeot 305 Estate, 3 Volvo Estates and now a Golf Estate), has a cancellation tomorrow so my wife is relieved as I will not sulk all weekend because my pride and joy will be on the road again
Julian
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