Rad failed, engine not cooked, rad recommendation please
 

Hi to All!

Not long after pulling off the M4 near Swindon this afternoon I suddenly noticed that my temperature guage was off the scale, past the red, as far right as it could possibly be! Pulled over immediately. As you can see my radiator is shot. My engine is not cooked, I don't know how long the engine had been hot, I have been very lucky. RAC relayed me home.

I now need a new rad, any recommendations please, should I bother with an aftermarket one or stick with Volvo?


[IMG]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...cb08d5105d.jpg075 by Strider'swoman, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...e5bf22f1d1.jpg076 by Strider'swoman, on Flickr[/IMG]

Wow! :speechless-smiley-5:shocked::omg_smile:

Never seen one do that before! :nah:

Nissens is a well-respected and trusted brand to go for, would be an idea to get your tape measure out and measure it as from what i understand, there are several different sized radiators fitted to the 9xx.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_f...c&LH_PrefLoc=1

That's radiators for the 940 on ebay in ascending price and most have pretty pictures to show exactly what size and stub arrangements they have. Some of the more expensive (£100+) radiators are exactly the same as the first one for £55 delivered, same part number, dimensions and so on.

I can't remember if your car is manual or auto, either way you'll need fresh antifreeze (ethylene glycol) and if it's auto, more ATF as some will be lost in the heat exchanger in the radiator when it is swapped over.

Are you planning on doing it yourself?

mmmmm. Good luck. Moomin's collapsed at exactly the same point (hottest part of the radiator) AND blew the end tank off!

I'd do a water-only fill first and check for HG damage. By the time the temp gauge is against the stop there is a good chance the head has warped, even if just slightly

Thanks. We had to re-start the car after the tow to get it parked in the garage car-park so that it wasn't blocking their drive. To be honest, in the stress of it all yesterday, I was so excited that it started fine and sounded fine that I didn't even think of head gasket. RAC man said it was fine to start it up for a minute just for parking as it wouldn't have a chance to get warm. Mechanic is due to look at it on Wednesday, if I have to have a new hg then so be it, guess that will be a big bill though!

Wondering out of interest how many hours labour it is to fit a new hg?

If the head is warped then you're going to be without the car until the head is skimmed, but the actual replacement time is probably only a couple of hours.

It might be worth doing the rotor arm and distributor cap before refitting the head, as it's easier than messing around with it in situ.

Similarly, if you have, or can borrow, the crankshaft locking tool then do use it; and think about replacing the timing belt at the same time, together with any oil seals.

Hi Loki, thanks. Timing belt not long changed, but I'll work out how many miles on it, good idea

You still didn't answer if your car is with automatic or manual.
If I have a closer look to the pic of the RAC did pick up your car on the rear axle: Automatic :-)
To swap a manual radiator: max 3/4 of a hour with E-fan
With automatic: max 1 1/2 of a hour including check of oil level.
Like ardvarkash wrote: first run only with water to see if the head gasket is gone. Drive at minimum a full tank of fuel.

You are not the first with this fault.

Like Dave wrote: Nissens are highly recommended
Turbo with Automatic is the most expensive one

Good luck, Kay

Car is manual

Why he did pick up at the rear?