I've suffered a leaky rad recently, just at the top of the vanes on the vertical rad (4WD Royal Lounge) So basically I need to get the damn thing out. Had experience of this when the water pump went so ok there. However the guy at the rad shop (Oldham radiators) where it's gonna be re-cored advised I take out all three(?) as a boiling prob also being suffered under load suggests blockage and all three may need re-coring and at best de-clogging. Ok, no prob's with stripping out the vertical, looking at it it's drop the frame around the horizontal one and that SHOULD!!! come out without too many issues, but the third? Where is it and how does it come out. I'm assuming by "Third" they mean the heater matrix.
Any help VERY MUCH appreciated. Had a look at the archive and can't seem to find much about it all.
TIA Dave B
- (#11379) Dave B, 8 Jun 04 11:43
Dave. Did they look underneath and think that the finned aircon radiator was part of the cooling system?
There are only two radiators and, if they recommend that you remove the heater matrix then there are two of these, ie, front and back heating systems. I think that this would be "overkill" as these matrix's can easily be flushed out when the main radiators are removed. If yours is an automatic, there is a built in transmission oil cooler in the vertical radiator but, it cannot be removed seperately. Might I suggest that when you refit the two main radiators, you use new, Jubilee type clips, on the two hoses which connect the vertical rad to the horizontal one. A leak here, after your re-build, is most irritating and hard to get at. I also used a "flexible" sealer (PTFE tape is good also)as I learned the hard way over these two connections.
- (#11379) John Davis (Leics), 8 Jun 04 15:54
Thanks John for the reply. Trying to keep this short (not easy) A mate (a bloody good mechanic) contacted Oldham raditors regarding the re-core on my behalf. They said they knew the vehicle (townies in general) only too well and recommend that all 3(?) rads be stripped out and sent to them. My mechanic mate doesn't have much experience of townies (though it's growing fast to his dismay LOL). Perhaps they're thinking of the 2WD version that doesn't have the horizontal rad. BTW mine is an auto with 4WD.
one other question if I may, you say the auto cooler is built in. Does this mean the transmission is going to need refilling etc?
- (#11379) Dave B, 8 Jun 04 16:17
Dave. No, the transmission oil, flow and return pipes, at top left of the main radiator, will have to be disconnected (push on rubber hoses with spring clips)before you can remove the vertical rad. There will be some transmission fluid in this small transmission oil cooler radiator, which you will lose but, the quantity is small and it would be wise to check the trans oil level again when you complete the re-build and a small top up may be required. Do remember to plug (or cover with tape)the flow and return pipes to the auto box. Sods law sometimes means that a bit of debris (or worse, a small screw etc) might get lodged in the pipes if they are left open.
The "three" rads question is a bit mysterious and I do think that they are mistaken here.
- (#11379) John Davis (Leics), 9 Jun 04 03:55
Thanks John for your posts. The vert' & horizontal rads are out now (NOT a job I want to repeat) and no, there's no 3rd rad apart from the heater matrix. So they're off for a re-core (about £180 each I'm told) but the job has raised one other question. When I got it, it had a water issue then in it kept boiling up under load I took it back (The Car Centre at Prestatyn), they did the head (which had blown the gasket) & what I thought was fit an additional electric fan. Turns out the ba$*!@d has wired the 2 fans above the horizontal rad to an ignition fed live (probably why the aircon no longer works) to keep it cooler. This has worked for a while but it didn't cure to problem, just the cause.
Problem is I can't find where he's done it. The aircon works if you supply a live to a connector under the passenger seat. Anyone any ideas what he may have done?
Regards,
Dave B
- (#11379) Dave B, 12 Jun 04 09:13