Radiator Plastic Brittality

As post says... the same shitbox, 1994 2.0 Nissan Primera, has developed another fault.

The radiator hose from top of the rad to the engine was a bit lose and leaky the other day. So it was repositioned and tightened up a fraction. And it's been stable since.

Today, the lights are dimming and everythings going wrong with steam billowing out. Turns out that the shoulder on the rad pipe that, well, is a lip to give the jubilee clip a bit of grip, has, somehow broken off causing the rad pipe to fly off and drench the alternator in water.

The lip itself, I did have it, but I pressed down on it lightly and it broke. I can snap it, well, shall I say more like bend it like a stick of soft rock and it'll gently break.

First of all Im concerned by that. Should I be? Does the rest of the radiator stand to fall apart, or is this a normal thing?

Secondly, what can I do to fix the radiator? My dad's suggested a bit of superglue to recreate a lip. Don't know quite how Im going to make a nice seal ALL the way around though... maybe someone has some other suggestions?

Or should I cut my losses and get a new rad?

Thirdly, well, presumably the hose is trying to come off because of a build up of pressure? I thought this system was supposed to be self regulating, blowing water into the expansion tank when high, and sucking when low... oo er... Maybe I should get a new radiator cap??? Or maybe it's indicitive of another problem?

Good news, is that there's hot air inside the car, so Im fairly happy that there's no untoward blockages...

Any suggestions?

Ta Simon

Reply to
Simon Dean
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Sounds like the whole thing is on its way out.

Yes. Besides potentially stranding you, coolant costs money.

The system does run under a small pressure, because this raises the operating temperature to something more useful before local boiling occurs. The hoses are designed to take this pressure, but it sounds like the hose stub on your rad has had it.

Reply to
Zog The Undeniable

Depends if you're happy constantly breaking down.

Bit of a no brainer...

Reply to
Conor

No, not really, but I've tightened the clip up today and so far so good...

Only thing remains... Is the plastic still going to be brittle, and is it all going to disintegrate sooner rather than later...

and lastly... Nissan want £216 for a new radiator.

I seem to have sourced what is advertised as a NEW radiator (though not genuine Nissan), for £70! //????

My local motor factors don't have any in stock and can't source them from elsewhere, and can I trust a £70 radiator!

I'd be happy with a second hand one if I could find it... But no luck so far.

Cya Simon

Reply to
Simon Dean

We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold. I remember Simon Dean saying something like:

Look in yellow pages for a radiator specialist who can make you one from scratch. It will be cheaper than Nissan.

Reply to
Grimly Curmudgeon

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