Top row of radiator honeycomb loose

[jcwacky]

Was just replacing a bulb when my hand touched something that was loose, turns out it was the complete top "row" of honeycomb on the front radiator. It consists of 1 row of the zigzaggy honeycomb, and a strip of foam.

Here's a pic of it poking out the side:



And here is a photo looking at the top of the radiator from the front, you can see the top of the 2nd row, where the 1st row used to be attached, and you can see the top row has now started slipping down the back in between both sections of honeycomb.



Will the radiator function ok without this top strip?

Am I ok to leave it like this? Or could this strip do some harm if it does fall between the 2 radiators?

[ITSv40]

There are two 'radiators' on the car. The one at the back, nearest to the engine, is the engine coolant, the thinner one in front is the aircon condenser.

It is the thin one that is collapsing, thus letting refrigerant gas escape to atmosphere. I doubt if your aircon gets cold now and or the compressor cuts in when switched on due to lack of refrigerant. You need a new condenser and an aircon specialist to fit and recharge your system. Not a cheap job, had a similar problem on 'er indoors Mini Cooper recently. New condenser and system recharge £470 all in.

[Antz]

Originally Posted by ITSv40

There are two 'radiators' on the car. The one at the back, nearest to the engine, is the engine coolant, the thinner one in front is the aircon condenser.

It is the thin one that is collapsing, thus letting refrigerant gas escape to atmosphere. I doubt if your aircon gets cold now and or the compressor cuts in when switched on due to lack of refrigerant. You need a new condenser and an aircon specialist to fit and recharge your system. Not a cheap job, had a similar problem on 'er indoors Mini Cooper recently. New condenser and system recharge £470 all in.

Or yank the whole lot out and just put the windows down when you want to be cooler.

[jcwacky]

Originally Posted by ITSv40

There are two 'radiators' on the car. The one at the back, nearest to the engine, is the engine coolant, the thinner one in front is the aircon condenser.

It is the thin one that is collapsing, thus letting refrigerant gas escape to atmosphere. I doubt if your aircon gets cold now and or the compressor cuts in when switched on due to lack of refrigerant. You need a new condenser and an aircon specialist to fit and recharge your system. Not a cheap job, had a similar problem on 'er indoors Mini Cooper recently. New condenser and system recharge £470 all in.

Thanks, but while it can be hard to tell at this time of year, my aircon does appear to be working fine.

I just took another look at the radiator, and it appears that the fluid must flow through each horizontal pipe which has honeycomb on the top and bottom of it. It's only the honeycomb that has come loose off the top pipe. The pipe itself seems fine.

So presumably losing this single layer of honeycomb isn't going to effect it much, as the pipe is perfectly intact, and there is plenty more honeycomb to dissipate the heat.

I should probably try and remove the loose row though, in case it gets stuck between both radiators and damages them.

[ww1dm1]

It's just one layer of metal fins peeling off, not the actual coolant/refrigerant carrying pipes, no liquids will be lost. One strip shouldn't make much of an impact. Though it's strange that this is happening, isn't there supposed to be a metal cover that should prevent this?

[druid]

One came off mine about 2 yrs ago and its fine.

[jcwacky]

Originally Posted by druid

One came off mine about 2 yrs ago and its fine.

How did you get it out? Did you have to remove any components? Or is it still rattling around!?

[IainG]

Hi
Or if it is easier just push it back in and stick with a few blobs of araldite or similar, to stop it moving

Iain

[druid]

Originally Posted by jcwacky

How did you get it out? Did you have to remove any components? Or is it still rattling around!?

Mine fell out not back.