leaky rad

David Edwards · Post by **David Edwards** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 3:02 pm

Just found a leak (very small) on the top of the rad where the long cap joins the main body does anyone know from experience if this is a repair or replacement jobbie. At the mo there is steam when I stop but water does not seem to have dropped and I have Haydns mk 3 fitted which has not gone off as yet.

haydn callow · Post by **haydn callow** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 3:34 pm

Replacement rad I'm afraid....sooner the safer !!

David Edwards · Post by **David Edwards** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 3:42 pm

aw bugga, look out evil bay lol.

brorabongo · Post by **brorabongo** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 4:29 pm

Yep, new one!! I tried with special putty for sealing radiators, but coolant still seeped through.

Good news is, it's not a differcult job to replace.

David Edwards · Post by **David Edwards** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 4:50 pm

I like it when things are simple, lol, anyone know the dimensions of the rad, seem a few different ones available.

haydn callow · Post by **haydn callow** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 5:02 pm

Don't be fooled by the cheaper ones you will see. Some of them do not have the correct "core" and only provide about 80% of the cooling performance of the better ones.

Trouble at t'Mill · Post by **Trouble at t'Mill** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 7:47 pm

Although a replacement is clearly the safest way to go, if the rad is in otherwise very good condition and the damage hasn't been caused by corrosion - eg it's a failure of a weld or stress-related (metal fatigue) - then I guess a careful weld could fix it. You'd need someone who knows what they're doing as the metal is thin and a hefty welder could easy cause more damage.

But, what's suggested in the posts above is the safest bet...

haydn callow · Post by **haydn callow** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 7:55 pm

I think the rad could well have a plastic top cover. Not repairable.

Trouble at t'Mill · Post by **Trouble at t'Mill** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 9:24 pm

Oops

An electric weld would be a bit tricky then!

Cheers Haydn.

daveblueozzie · Post by **daveblueozzie** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 10:04 pm

Ive seen a few rads that the owners have tried to fix, all with no success they always leak.
Carl (youvebinbongod) bought a new rad and had it fitted not long ago, maybe he can tell you which is the right one to buy.

Post by **Simon Jones** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 11:18 pm

The top & bottom of the radiator are definitely plastic. Mine started leaking on the bottom where the plastic joins the metal. There are several brand new rads on ebay & I personally wouldn't skimp by getting a non-Mazda part. I paid £168 (inc delivery) from Automotive Japanese Spares, but I have seen them for slightly less since then. This one would be £147.50 inclusive, which is a very good price: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Mazda-Bongo-Freed ... 240%3A1318

David Edwards · Post by **David Edwards** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 7:34 pm

Yeah its the plastic top it is leaking from, not bad I suppose considering its age, got one coming from evil bay now, but things come in threes right..well..my sons car yesterday and today would not start, flat as a witches chest lol, and lumpy as hell to turn over, diesel plugs knackered, new set fitted and battery tested, that was fine but alternator dying, bloody great my alternator a few months ago, so so far, my rad shot to bits his alternator knackered, what will be the third thing. Watch this space. lol.

David Edwards · Post by **David Edwards** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 1:55 pm

Just went out to the bongo now and started her up, straight away Haydns bloody marvellous mk3 alarm started bleeping like mad, sure enough water level had dropped, not too low but low enough to warn,just waiting for rad now.

David Edwards · Post by **David Edwards** » Sat Dec 20, 2008 2:35 pm

Had the bongo back with rad fitted, nice job too, rad looked like new, not bad for £40.00. Slight problem tho, there were two pipe holes in the bottom that wernt on mine but as they were on metal they welded up nice and tight and pressure tested fine. Gave the bongo a good run and it is fine (fingers crossed) lol, even the heater seems better which goes to show how poor it must have been with gunk. Still the money saved on that helped towards the new alternator for my sons car, what an expensive time this crimbo is eh. Merry christmas peeps.

Aethelric · Post by **Aethelric** » Sat Dec 20, 2008 2:55 pm

I think the pipes on the bottom you refer to are the cooling for the ATF fluid. There is a heat exchanger inside the boittom of the rad, so they did not need to be welded.
Is yours a manual gearbox David?

Dave

leaky rad

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