Leaking radiator
Leaking radiator
2001 maxima with 103000 miles and the radiator has started leaking. Checked the hoses and all seems to be fine but there is the radiator smell and a small puddle under the car after driving about thirty miles. It looks like it is leaking around the top of the radiator just a small amount. Is this normal and will this be something that I can fix myslef? I have some skill and changed one on my honda a couple of years ago. Just wanting to know if there are any important things I might miss. Also, I find a radiator on the Internet for about $50 and when I called Autozone they wanted $250. Whats up with that big price difference? Am I missing something? Thanks for any help!!!!
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tigersharkdude
- Posts: 2636
- Joined: Mon Mar 12, 2007 7:14 am
- Car: 1999 Nissan Maxima
- Location: Nashville, TN
Re: Leaking radiator
the local AZ only wanted 150 when I got mine, just a few months back. and yes its easy to change, like ridiculously easy. the hardest part is filling the new one
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NutriaforBreakfast
- Posts: 1316
- Joined: Wed Sep 26, 2007 1:41 pm
- Car: Nissan Maxima 1995 VQDE engine
Re: Leaking radiator
Might want to be sure resevoir tank hose not clogged and backed up first.
If radiator bad, I would put one in ASAP to avoid overheating and a blown head gasket
If you get a radiator from Auto Zone they will not provide the rubber "feet" (Large o ring supports
providing a cushion between the car and the radiator) and it will be plastic with probably aluminum guts.
If you can find an all copper guts radiator heat transfer would work better I think.
Take the feet off of your old radiator before throwing it away and put on your new radiator
Changing the radiator on my 98 was very easy-new radiator was $100 at Autozone-regular hand tools
There were no special transmission connectors-just male ends with hose clamps. Please buy
a brand new radiator cap too.
If the radiator hoses (upper and lower) havent been changed out you might consider this
Make sure you dont crack the transmission cooler hoses or they might be brittle needing changing
(watch for transmission leaks after repairing radiator). Use armor all on the old ones and clean them up.
Antifreeze was leaking midway on my radiator where the plastic seal is. Too hard to fix there but if it a
tiny hole you might could JB weld it? Dont know how you might see it? You might find a metal radiator rather than a plastic one but not sure where (aftermarket would be $)?
Best if you can pressure test old radiator after fixing. I think Harbor Freight sells some
cheap eqt for that too.
I am also a little different. I run pure antifreeze with NO water. The owners manual says to run
80% antifreeze I think.
If radiator bad, I would put one in ASAP to avoid overheating and a blown head gasket
If you get a radiator from Auto Zone they will not provide the rubber "feet" (Large o ring supports
providing a cushion between the car and the radiator) and it will be plastic with probably aluminum guts.
If you can find an all copper guts radiator heat transfer would work better I think.
Take the feet off of your old radiator before throwing it away and put on your new radiator
Changing the radiator on my 98 was very easy-new radiator was $100 at Autozone-regular hand tools
There were no special transmission connectors-just male ends with hose clamps. Please buy
a brand new radiator cap too.
If the radiator hoses (upper and lower) havent been changed out you might consider this
Make sure you dont crack the transmission cooler hoses or they might be brittle needing changing
(watch for transmission leaks after repairing radiator). Use armor all on the old ones and clean them up.
Antifreeze was leaking midway on my radiator where the plastic seal is. Too hard to fix there but if it a
tiny hole you might could JB weld it? Dont know how you might see it? You might find a metal radiator rather than a plastic one but not sure where (aftermarket would be $)?
Best if you can pressure test old radiator after fixing. I think Harbor Freight sells some
cheap eqt for that too.
I am also a little different. I run pure antifreeze with NO water. The owners manual says to run
80% antifreeze I think.