Found out my radiator has a crack in plastic right under the cap and sprays coolant everywhere.Actually it looks like a few more are forming.Am I destined for a new one or will Stop Leak fix it? Since it's only 100 bucks,would it just be better to replace it? Thanks

 

Replace it. That "Stop Leak" junk can clog up more than just leaks.

 

Know how hard it is to replace? My mechanic could do it if needed.

 

It is not overly difficult, maybe a 4 out of 10 on the difficult scale. Just a bunch of hoses, unbolt the radiator support, intake ducting, remove the fans, unhook the A/C condenser, and it pulls straight out.

 

never use stop leak. If anything at all replace it or braze it

 

Parts store will have to order it and should be here Monday. Doesn't seem like it's hard to replace.Remove some stuff and bleed the air out of it when done.I found a walk through of how to do it,so I should be ok.Buddy told me to look on ebay for one,I said I don't really want one that I have no idea as to where it was made.

 

Post a thread in the "Parts Wanted" section or look in the "Parts for Sale" section of the forum. I did it for a fuel pump on Fri night, had an answer in 45 min. Getting a fuel pump with sending unit from a guy in FL parting out a Z same year as mine, $80.

 

I changed my radiator 2 days ago due to the same cracks... 2 of them and $200 later shipped it took roughly 1 hour to change it.

Drain your coolant into a fresh pan (save to reuse when new radiator is in). Take off our intake air box down to the throttle body and the plastic piece under it that holds the radiator in place. Take off and out the fan mount. Undo the 5 hoses connected to the radiator and pull it out.

Yours might have a step or two more depending... my car doesnt have a AC any more and has an electric WP.

 

Reusing old coolant?

 

honestly i would advise putting new coolant and not reusing the old coolant... why put dirty crap back inside of a new part??? makes no sense to me... but its my not ride and there's always that possibility i missed some logic to that situation... just my 2 cents

 

Sorry the logic is I changed the coolant 2 months ago trying to fix the leak. You can replace if you want, I replace my coolant every season and this is my first race this season.

 

My original cracked so I took it to a radiator shop. The guy looked at it and said that he could replace the tank but the other side would be cracked soon. You could see some of the "ribs" splitting. He recommended getting a new radiator. So I bought one at Advance Auto. It was around 200 bucks at the time.

The actual change took me a bit of time. I didn't want to diconnect the condenser coil so I took it out of the top. I drained the coolant, disconnected the hoses, the lifted up the condenser and pushed the radiator back so it would in clip from the ears on the condenser. Then put the new one in and lifted up the condensor so it would slip back over the tabs.

That being said, I have a slow leak that I can't find. I have to change plugs and do some other maintenance so I will be looking for it when I do that. The water pump was installed back in 03, so that's going to be my first check. If it's leaking I'm going to buy an electric one.

 

This is exactly what mine is doing. Leaking from a crack near the low coolant level sensor.

But I just checked Advance Auto's site and it says $110 for a new Ready Rad radiator. Others above said it was $200. Did anyone else buy a different brand? Is this one crap?:

Ready-Rad Radiator
Part No. 432399

Fits w/o AC; w/H.D. Cooling; w/AC; w/MAX Cooling

$110.99

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/web...1874128241____

 

So with the above link I checked local store availability, and when I put one in my cart online, it gave an additional promo code for 15% off, so I can purchase it online right now for $94 and run down the street and pick it up at my local (usual) store. Just in case anyone one else needs one and wants 15% off!!!

 

Annnndddd... if you use that promo before Nov 5th, it says they send you a coupon for $50 off a future purchase of $100 or more.

/infomercial