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 Post subject: radiator problems
PostPosted: Mon Jul 08, 2013 11:33 pm 
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Junior WRC

Joined: Fri Jan 29, 2010 10:39 pm
Posts: 514
Location: Bournemouth
Car Model: ST205
:(
went to the shop this morning and when I got back, noticed a slight leak coming from under the car.
Took the radiator out and spent about an hour figuring out where the leak was coming from.
Eventually after gently removing some of the fins I found the source (yes, the leak was NOT on the exposed bit of the vertical ducts, but on the tack weld of fins....*bleep*) there was no damage to the area, i.e. no stones had hit or or anything.
So, i removes about a cm worth of fins and jammed a load of steel like plaster (2 part mixture putty) to seal it all. let it set.
filled her back up and brought her up to temperature.
FINE.
12 hours later went for a blast, still no leaks, when i got home a turned off the engine, 2 minutes later it started PI$$ing out from roughly the same location (if not, exactly the same location.) NOT HAPPY as I now have to catch the train to work.
Quick question, could my rad cap be bust, so the system over pressurizes and finds the weakest point???
This radiator has done less that 500 miles! Also, was not happy that the rad fans could not be fitted properly, could only line up 2 of the 3 10mm bolts for one the fans and I think 2 out of the 4 bolts for the other fan...

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 Post subject: Re: radiator problems
PostPosted: Mon Jul 08, 2013 11:49 pm 
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Club Staff
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Joined: Wed Jul 13, 2005 12:06 am
Posts: 4743
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Car Model: ST205
Where did you get the rad from? Is it a genuine OEM or a dodgy copy of one? I would look there before suspecting any other cause.

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1994 Toyota Celica GT-Four ST205WRC JDM 269bhp @ 0.9bar
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 Post subject: Re: radiator problems
PostPosted: Tue Jul 09, 2013 12:04 am 
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Junior WRC

Joined: Fri Jan 29, 2010 10:39 pm
Posts: 514
Location: Bournemouth
Car Model: ST205
I got it from TCB but have never had a problem with their stuff. (feel guilty now....)
Its just strange that the problem happened TWICE after I turned the engine off.
the way I see it is, water pump stops turning, temperature rises, pressure rises, then pop....

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 Post subject: Re: radiator problems
PostPosted: Tue Jul 09, 2013 2:26 pm 
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Group N
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Joined: Sat Apr 28, 2007 9:22 am
Posts: 235
Location: Central Dorset
Car Model: None
Yes as you say a just stopped engine actually for a short while has higher pressure than normal.

I've used araldite to repair a radiator.... Still working after 28 years :-)

I would suggest one more attempt, use the 24 hour not the 1 hour one. Clear fins so you can wrap around the tube that has damage, and once covered area looping around the opposite side, place a piece of paper to assist and stop the araldite flowing away whilst setting. I think I used kitchen towel.

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 Post subject: Re: radiator problems
PostPosted: Tue Jul 09, 2013 6:40 pm 
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Group B
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Joined: Sat Sep 02, 2006 3:13 pm
Posts: 3679
Location: Bournemouth
Car Model: None
Also check the pipe to the overflow bottle isn't clogged. Take the pipe off the rad end and blow down it.

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 Post subject: Re: radiator problems
PostPosted: Tue Jul 09, 2013 7:06 pm 
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Club Staff
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Joined: Mon Mar 26, 2007 5:53 pm
Posts: 1736
Location: Another Shire County
Car Model: ST185
Nibbles wrote:
Also check the pipe to the overflow bottle isn't clogged. Take the pipe off the rad end and blow down it.

...and make sure the pipe is the right way round as well!
Remember Chris you fixed mine :oops:

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 Post subject: Re: radiator problems
PostPosted: Tue Jul 09, 2013 7:16 pm 
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Junior WRC

Joined: Fri Jan 29, 2010 10:39 pm
Posts: 514
Location: Bournemouth
Car Model: ST205
Well, as it turns out, my repair job was a good. The bad was that it poped another hole about 2 inches further down on the same cooling bar... I've taken pictures before and after and will upload later. Defo a manufacture fault as the hole is not on the exposed part of the bar, its half way in where the fin tack welds are... (you will be able to tell in the pic...)

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 Post subject: Re: radiator problems
PostPosted: Tue Jul 09, 2013 7:21 pm 
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Club Staff
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Joined: Wed Jul 13, 2005 12:06 am
Posts: 4743
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Car Model: ST205
If it was me I'd be speaking with TCB first but as you've already tried a repair this may invalidate a return?

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Don
GT4DC Chairman
1994 Toyota Celica GT-Four ST205WRC JDM 269bhp @ 0.9bar
1994 Toyota Celica GT-Four Special GT 590bhp @ 1.8bar
1989 Van Diemen RF88/89 Formula Ford 1600
2008 Nissan Patrol GU 3.0L ZD30DDTi 154bhp


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 Post subject: Re: radiator problems
PostPosted: Tue Jul 09, 2013 7:50 pm 
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Junior WRC

Joined: Fri Jan 29, 2010 10:39 pm
Posts: 514
Location: Bournemouth
Car Model: ST205
I would have done but its my daily driver as my vectra is on loan...
I have pictures so who knows...

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 Post subject: Re: radiator problems
PostPosted: Tue Jul 09, 2013 7:55 pm 
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Junior WRC

Joined: Fri Jan 29, 2010 10:39 pm
Posts: 514
Location: Bournemouth
Car Model: ST205
Oh, and I used a spare rad cap after the first fix, so not the cap at fault.

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 Post subject: Re: radiator problems
PostPosted: Wed Jul 10, 2013 9:57 pm 
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Junior WRC

Joined: Fri Jan 29, 2010 10:39 pm
Posts: 514
Location: Bournemouth
Car Model: ST205
right, so fix one and two have held up and have not sprung another leak... fingers crossed...

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 Post subject: Re: radiator problems
PostPosted: Wed Jul 10, 2013 11:37 pm 
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Group N
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Joined: Sat Apr 28, 2007 9:22 am
Posts: 235
Location: Central Dorset
Car Model: None
niblettr wrote:
right, so fix one and two have held up and have not sprung another leak... fingers crossed...


so, you have used the chemical metal stuff or araldite this seconfd fix ?

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Darryl

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 Post subject: Re: radiator problems
PostPosted: Thu Jul 11, 2013 8:05 am 
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Junior WRC

Joined: Fri Jan 29, 2010 10:39 pm
Posts: 514
Location: Bournemouth
Car Model: ST205
both times I used this stuff (not because it says its hard and fast! ;) ) from halfrauds
Image

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 Post subject: Re: radiator problems
PostPosted: Thu Jul 11, 2013 8:08 am 
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Junior WRC

Joined: Fri Jan 29, 2010 10:39 pm
Posts: 514
Location: Bournemouth
Car Model: ST205
Day 2 and no leaks :)

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 Post subject: Re: radiator problems
PostPosted: Thu Jul 11, 2013 5:17 pm 
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Clubman

Joined: Sun Apr 29, 2012 4:23 pm
Posts: 90
Car Model: None
What brand was the radiator? I returned some really rubbish looking ones when I was on the search for one. One of them didn't even have louvres on the fins.

Rad cap is an easy test, take it off and compress it with your finger and thumb. If you can with a bit of force, it's probably ok :p


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