My Pajero (2.8 td auto) has developed a leak in the radiator. its at the top near the cap and only leaks under pressure. I need the car fixing asap as my wife has just passed her test!!!
Is this job one for the amatuer? or is it a garage job?
Thanks
Martin
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Rad specialist will be your best bet. Could be a repair or at 10+years old it might need a new rad. Don't get ripped off on the price - check out rad suppliers on Ebay for benchmark prices.
That's an interesting motor for a newly qualified driver......
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Thanks for that,
yeah, she loves the thing, could not get her insured on it till she passed her test!!
Is the radiator easy to fit? thinking about doing it myself?
Martin
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I have never replaced a rad in one of those - but they are fairly spacious under the bonnet so I wouldn't imagine any difficulty.
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Don't run it too long - the 2.8s are a bit prone to cracking their heads.
www.milneroffroad.com/MECH6.HTM list a rad but I've not bought one of theirs so can't speak for the quality.
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All done,
Got the radiator from milners today.
removing the top hose and clamps was easy enough, had to remove the bull bars and the plate under neath to get to the bottom hose and to the air con hoses.
milners radiator seems ok, only one thing, the air con connectors are narrower than the old one, had to really clamp the hoses on to get them leak free.
may have a air lock in it though.
Thanks for your replies.
Martin
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There's no air con hoses on the bottom of the radiator. Maybe you mean auto trans cooler hoses?
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sorry yeah, meant the transmission hoses
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houston we have a problem,
The new radiator has leaked. temp gauge hit hot today when driving, looked underneath water spurting out.
got home took of the radiator and looks like its leaking from the bottom. seems ok when cold, only leaking under pressure.
pretty sure i have fitted it right, no leaks from the hoses i connected.
Thinking,
faulty new radiator (doubful but its a lot lighter than the old one)?
incorrect fitting?
air lock?
something else?
any ideas? go on see if you can make me cry today with the expense?
martin
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You need to be more specific about where it is actually leaking from. Its either where a hose fits or the main body of the radiator itself. If it is the main body of the radiator then it must be faulty. Get on to the people who sold it to you.
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yeah its the main body of the radiator, its not a genuine mits one.
the new rad is very light compared to the one i took off. the new one is aluminium.
might get the old one recored and pressure tested, put back on then run it to see if its ok then send the new one back if it is.
sounds like a plan to me
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Lots of modern rads are aluminium - but they don't leak. Its probably a manufacturing fault. Give them a ring tomorrow and see if they'll send a replacement out, then you send the faulty one back.
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on another thought, if that won't still work
you may try stop leak from STP. Or try other Stop Radiator Leak brands as well. But then its important to consider that when a new radiator is replaced, you need to bleed so proper pressure is restored. I owned a Pajero before as well turbo diesel similar to yours, it could be a pressure issue which can be solved by bleeding. But then whenever something is leaking, there's a possibility of a hole somewhere, you may have to keep on searching.
After installing a new radiator, leave the cap open on the radiator itself, but not on the expansion container. (and put all the necessary coolant and water). Then start the car and see the radiator and fluid in it. Pressure would also normalize by this one. The water inside the radiator should be stable and not flicking out, if its flicking out, you may have to check all the way to the engine.
Quite complicated, so better to see a radiator specialist as well
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We have a working Pajero,
following the problems wih this car i have changed, thermostat, water pump, 2nd new radiator, radiator cap and tensioned the belt that turns the water pump.
all seems ok, really long test run, no leaks no rising temp gauge.
the only thing that slightly worries me is that when the car is switched off there is a slight hissing from the radiator cap? is this normal?
Thanks
Martin
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the only thing that slightly worries me is that when the car is switched off there is a slight hissing from the radiator cap? is this normal? Thanks Martin
No. Especially not with a new cap. Did you previoulsy overheat the engine? Might be worth having it sniff tested to see if head gasket is on the way out.
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thanks for the reply,
engine has never been overheated, the radiator went about 1 mile from home and i only noticed because of the steam from under the bonnet.
when the car is warm the top and bottom hoses are nice and firm but dont feel over pressured. i was careful to get rid of air locks.
whats a sniff test?
thanks
Martin
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Garage waves 4-gas analyser probe over the coolant reservoir to see if there is HC present (from combustion gases getting into coolant).
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when the car is warm the top and bottom hoses are nice and firm but dont feel over pressured. i was careful to get rid of air locks.
The caps are usually set around 13psa (0.9bar or thereabouts). If the cap is new and fits properly then there must be too much pressure if its venting off.
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