Steam and spray all over the windscreen

[boyzie]

Today all of a sudden steam started shooting out of the front of the bongo and liquid sprayed on the windscreen and out through the grill onto the bumper.

The AA said that my radiator has probably gone. He towed me home.

I have removed the radiator but can't see anything wrong apart from the left hand side is soaking wet. What should I be looking for?

Does it sound like the rad to you guys?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

boyzie

[Ralph]

The joint were the plastic header tank is clamped to the rest
of the rad.

[boyzie]

The joint were the plastic header tank is clamped to the rest
of the rad.

Sorry, I don't understand that.

[Big Rich]

Hi you could have done with the rad in to help locate the problem.
Slip it back in and connect up, fill the system up and let it run ....WATCH IT LIKE AN HAWK... get the seats up ..bonet etc if its as bad as you discribe you should see it P*ssing out when it presured up ... NO leak spotted ? it could be the water system pressurised ?( OUT OF THE FILLER CAP) dare i say the dreaded words !
HEAD GASKET GOOD LUCK Rich

[boyzie]

Oh bugger.

Will pop it in and give it a go.

thanks

Boyzie

[Peg leg Pete]

Make sure you bleed the system--- have sent you a p.m.

[helen&tony]

Hi
Don't risk your engine. You may find in your locality a radiator rebuilder. They pressurise the rad with air, and put it under water, as in finding a leak in a tyre. I've had radiators modified when fitting different engines to cars....they do this to check their soldering of joints.....a few quid spent testing will save risking your motor.
Helen

[Ralph]

If it's a original rad the top and bottom were the pipes
go in are made of plastic they are clamped to the rest
of the red with metal tag like things were the metal and
plastic meet they usually leak there.

[Big Rich]

Can I just clarify on what I said … are you sure it’s the rad ? If you are? Helen and Tony, are correct take it to Auto cool or similar have it pressure tested ! ( bet they recommend a new core!) then when you have refitted it, you will still have to run it up, and you will STILL have to locate the leak, from the impression I got … it should take all of 1 min to find where its coming from, at the rate you described as I said DON’T RUN IT TILL ITS cooking, remember its HEAT that kills the head gasket ……lack of water causes the heat ! Make sure its full and bleeded through, and you will be ok to check for leaks, but monitor it all the time. Option 2 which I use, is I have a small piece of hose with a tyre valve in, I remove the small pipe from the expansion tank clip the pipe with a brake bleeding clamp and connect the hose to the expansion tank and pressure it up slightly ….foot pump is ideal for this job … you should see it p*ssing out at a little pressure ……….if you think it’s the head I have a dye head test kit you can use if you want …hope this helps Rich

[boyzie]

If it's a original rad the top and bottom were the pipes
go in are made of plastic they are clamped to the rest
of the red with metal tag like things were the metal and
plastic meet they usually leak there.

Hi Ralph

you were spot on. Put it all bac k together and filled her up. Didn't even need to start the engine you could see the water pouring out of the top where the plastic meets the metal.

Ordered a new Rad. hope thats all that is wrong.

cheers

boyzie

[Big Rich]

Nice one Boyzie well spotted ! saved yourself around £18 for the check !
( i pay that and i am mechanic ) all you have to do is track down the best price.... good luck with the job ...regards Rich

[boyzie]

ordered the genuine rad.

Gunna ask the wife to pick up some antifreeze up on the way home. How much will I need?