Calgary Jeep Association

4x4 Related Groups => Tech Talk => Topic started by: Pookapotamus on November 05, 2009, 02:46:14 PM

Title: leaky radiator
Post by: Pookapotamus on November 05, 2009, 02:46:14 PM
so the last night i was installing my used winch and noticed that my 1 year old radiator was leaking around the end crimped on end caps.

can these be repaired? can i just take the rad off and tighten the crimping? can i have metal end caps put on?
Title: Re: leaky radiator
Post by: WhiteOut on November 05, 2009, 02:54:53 PM
Pic?
Title: Re: leaky radiator
Post by: Pookapotamus on November 05, 2009, 03:04:22 PM
cant really get a pic with out taking the front end off,but it is just seeping around the rubber seal where they crimp on the plastic end caps.
Title: Re: leaky radiator
Post by: WhiteOut on November 05, 2009, 03:06:11 PM
I have some StopLeak stuff if you want to give that a shot.
Title: Re: leaky radiator
Post by: Pookapotamus on November 05, 2009, 03:11:06 PM
i would rather fix the thing properly before trying a chemical. i would hate for the temp seal to let go on a trail.
Title: Re: leaky radiator
Post by: SwampSinger on November 05, 2009, 05:10:14 PM
so the last night i was installing my used winch and noticed that my 1 year old radiator was leaking around the end crimped on end caps.

can these be repaired? can i just take the rad off and tighten the crimping? can i have metal end caps put on?

Metal and plastic expand at different rate under heat... it's  common on XJs... I bet it leaks on the passenger side. Unless you get one all in metal or aluminum...it will happen on and off.

These rads usually have  a year warranty....do you still have the bill?


mine used to leak in the Winter and not in the summer... I call it sweating. I would not worry about it unless it won't stop and leaks every time you use it... A rad at Auto value is $120... it's easy fixing also
 
Title: Re: leaky radiator
Post by: morerpmfred on November 05, 2009, 06:16:04 PM
Most rad shops can recrimp it for you, Allseasons has the right tools.
Title: Re: leaky radiator
Post by: Crunch on November 05, 2009, 07:19:01 PM
If you don't have the bill and need a rad shop City Wide Rad do very good work
I've used them for years
Title: Re: leaky radiator
Post by: Rubicon Josh on November 07, 2009, 11:01:57 AM
I have had the same issue in the past. If you take it in to a rad shop they usually wont touch it because they say that if they try to re crimp the tabs they will break off and create a bigger problem. What I did was I removed the radiator, and used a bench vise to recrimp the tabs. I worked my way around the whole radiator adding controled pressure both down on the tabs and horizontally inwards. I haven't had a problem since and this is after three rad shops told me it was impossible to repair. It has held up for two years now without a leak and only took me an hour to fix it.
Title: Re: leaky radiator
Post by: WhiteOut on November 07, 2009, 03:58:41 PM
Dana, would the rad out of a 5.2 ZJ fit?
Title: Re: leaky radiator
Post by: mike s on November 07, 2009, 04:15:19 PM
Had really good luck with Wynn's stop leak. Like you i hate a bandaid but it's pretty good stuff