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cooling system problems(loooooooong)
- Subject: cooling system problems(loooooooong)
- From: jimbw1@hotmail.com (jim b)
- Date: Thu, 22 Aug 2002 02:07:31 +0000
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<P>wow thanks for the reply. yeah it's a mk2. I'm in Athens, Ohio. which is southeast. In the midst of all these hoses coming off and such, i did take the car to a firestone. i had thought fluid was leaking out the bottom radiator hose but turned out to be power steering fluid from the reservoir. but they said that none of the hoses were leaking after they looked at it. The radiator seems to be the only thing left. and also often times when i open the hood there will be a little puddle of coolant next to the top radiator hose. but it's pretty much always been there since i bought it. off to the junkyard i suppose.</P>
<P>James<BR><BR></P></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>>From: Nate Mellom <BRONSON@INWAVE.COM>
<DIV></DIV>>To: jim b <JIMBW1@HOTMAIL.COM>
<DIV></DIV>>Subject: Re: cooling system problems(loooooooong)
<DIV></DIV>>Date: Wed, 21 Aug 2002 20:54:30 -0500
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>James,
<DIV></DIV>>Cooling system problems usually are related to bad hoses, bad
<DIV></DIV>>connections or bad parts. I just replaced the radiator on my '81
<DIV></DIV>>because the top nipple had busted clean off. I got a used one from
<DIV></DIV>>a junkyard, and he actually warrented it for 6 months. I would not
<DIV></DIV>>hesitate getting a used radiator, as long as it looks good, with
<DIV></DIV>>minimal fin damage and no bent tubes. The reason you have to fill
<DIV></DIV>>your expansion bottle is because when the engine is hot, you build
<DIV></DIV>>up pressure in your cooling system. Leaks usually happen under
<DIV></DIV>>pressure, hot coolant/water finds leaks. Your car is smoking
<DIV></DIV>>(steaming) because of your leak. When the system cools down, you
<DIV></DIV>>have less coolant, so you have to fill it up. Water is fine in the
<DIV></DIV>>summer, all you're doing is cooling the system down, so as long as
<DIV></DIV>>you have a good fan and it's full of water, you'll be fine. Just
<DIV></DIV>>keep and eye on your temperature. It'll freeze in the winter, so
<DIV></DIV>>you'll want to make sure you have a 50/50 mix. As far as changing
<DIV></DIV>>the radiator, there are worse jobs. Easiest way is to pull the cap
<DIV></DIV>>off your expansion tank (to allow air to get in) and pull the lower
<DIV></DIV>>hose off the water pump. Make sure you have a suitable container to
<DIV></DIV>>aim it at, because you'll be getting lots of coolant out. Make sure
<DIV></DIV>>you don't get it all over the neighborhood, 'cause kitties and
<DIV></DIV>>doggies like the taste of it. While the coolant is draining,
<DIV></DIV>>disconnect the fan (plug on the back), pull the 4 screws (10mm)
<DIV></DIV>>holding it to the radiator, and gently pull it out. Make sure the
<DIV></DIV>>ears on the fan shroud don't scar the hoses. Sounds like you have a
<DIV></DIV>>MkII, so you have 2 hold-down straps on either side of the radiatior
<DIV></DIV>>holding it to the cowl. Pull those off, and remove the top hose and
<DIV></DIV>>expansion tank hose off the radiator. The radiator is just sitting
<DIV></DIV>>on 2 pins, so it'll pull right out. Installation is the reverse.
<DIV></DIV>>Check all your hoses while you're at it, and replace them if need
<DIV></DIV>>be. When you fill it, leave the top hose off the radiator and pour
<DIV></DIV>>mix into the hose, into the engine. When it gets near the top, hook
<DIV></DIV>>up your hose, and fill the remainder via the expansion tank. You
<DIV></DIV>>can pull the tank off its bracket, so you can tilt the hose end down
<DIV></DIV>>to make filling easier.
<DIV></DIV>>Any more questions feel free to ask!
<DIV></DIV>>Where are you?
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>Nate
<DIV></DIV>>'81
<DIV></DIV>>'84
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