radiator weeping at top

[mickey]

just been looking at all postings on radiators,and getting a clearer picture.it seems by problem isnt excactly unique.the top,which was black and glossy,had some tiny wet spots,just two or three.you can rub them away with a fingertip,but they reappear if the engine is warm.the paint has started to come off at these points,revealing,what i assume,is the brass of the radiator itself.the car is still under warranty for another month,but i do feel that the most they will do is slder it,which i gather is usually ineffective anyway.i can live with it if it isnt going to cause problems to the engine.if it only needs a top up every now and then,no problem.obviously at some point its going to need a new rad,but if this is going to be months down the road,i'd rather wait,and fund it myself,than let the dealer botch it,with the risk of causing further probs after the warranty expires.mines a 94 3.ltre td kzn130.so,how much for a new rad,yes,new.where can i get one from.how many hours garage labour would be involved.should i go through the warranty,or can i drive it around for a while without doing any damage.i do check the level in the rad and bottle regularly.sorry to fire all these questions,but i know you will come up trumps.and it will save on loadsa follow up postings,you know it makes sense?

[hormygollop]

Mine does that, and has done for around 9 months but loses very little water.
Still a concern though

Keith

[kitesurf_phil]

Mines been weeping since I got it but does not use any water. The expansion bottle rarely needs a drop. I read somewhere that the Toyota rads have a neoprene seal between top and the main body. Good job I didn't rush into getting out the blowtorch and silver solder then!!
Maybe someone could confirm.

[Guest]

just been looking at all postings on radiators,and getting a clearer picture.it seems by problem isnt excactly unique.the top,which was black and glossy,had some tiny wet spots,just two or three.you can rub them away with a fingertip,but they reappear if the engine is warm.the paint has started to come off at these points,revealing,what i assume,is the brass of the radiator itself.the car is still under warranty for another month,but i do feel that the most they will do is slder it,which i gather is usually ineffective anyway.i can live with it if it isnt going to cause problems to the engine.if it only needs a top up every now and then,no problem.obviously at some point its going to need a new rad,but if this is going to be months down the road,i'd rather wait,and fund it myself,than let the dealer botch it,with the risk of causing further probs after the warranty expires.mines a 94 3.ltre td kzn130.so,how much for a new rad,yes,new.where can i get one from.how many hours garage labour would be involved.should i go through the warranty,or can i drive it around for a while without doing any damage.i do check the level in the rad and bottle regularly.sorry to fire all these questions,but i know you will come up trumps.and it will save on loadsa follow up postings,you know it makes sense?

Yes it seems that Toyota Radiators aren't very well made and start to go porous or split at the seams. Do a search on here for Radiators, I'm pretty sure that a few other people have had problems and found replacements.

Cheers

[europa88]

Mine had 2 pinholes by the filler neck! Got the local rad repair (sercks)
to weld plate and pressure test. It seems ok and that was a couple of months ago!
Neil

[Greebo]

Have exactly the same on mine KZN 130 i thought it would be best to address it now while it is still under warrenty.

Went to my local Toyota dealer who said the rads are all one piece and that it would need replaced!

looked up the price for me ......£376+Vat!!! + approx 3 hours fitting time.

HE then phoned my warrenty company, explained it to them and they straight away agreed to commision the work to be done at the Toyota garage.

They said the only hitch might be how quickly they can get hold of a rad.
they took my number and said thay would call me when they have one.

So all in all a good result i think.

[boxertwin]

Have exactly the same on mine KZN 130 i thought it would be best to address it now while it is still under warrenty.

Went to my local Toyota dealer who said the rads are all one piece and that it would need replaced!

looked up the price for me ......£376+Vat!!! + approx 3 hours fitting time.

HE then phoned my warrenty company, explained it to them and they straight away agreed to commision the work to be done at the Toyota garage.

They said the only hitch might be how quickly they can get hold of a rad.
they took my number and said thay would call me when they have one.

So all in all a good result i think.

£376 ? crikey! After months of wiping away drops of coolant from the top tank I got mine repaired. Problem quickly reappeared. I got a brand new aftermarket rad for £164 inc. I got it from a Jap import parts supplier in east London. I'll dig out the details and post.

phil

[Greebo]

£376 ? crikey! After months of wiping away drops of coolant from the top tank I got mine repaired. Problem quickly reappeared. I got a brand new aftermarket rad for £164 inc. I got it from a Jap import parts supplier in east London. I'll dig out the details and post.

phil

I knew you can get them cheaper than Toyota original but figured cos it's under warenty what the hell may as well get the original part for it.

[mickey]

thanks all

i knew you boys would keep it real.its put my mind at rest knowing its very common,and by the sounds of it,not too much of a problem.yes,getting a new rad,courtesy of your insurance,and fitted by toyota was a right result.mines a little more complex,in that the warranty is the suppliers own.so,i'm gonna wait a while and get the aftermarket one,looking forwards to phils info on that.hope your weld holds neil,if not,then the info on here should help us both.anyway,i'm going to forget the rad now and concentrate on the smoke when i'm gunning it on a hill!!never had so many worries,ha ha!!

[boxertwin]

i knew you boys would keep it real.its put my mind at rest knowing its very common,and by the sounds of it,not too much of a problem.yes,getting a new rad,courtesy of your insurance,and fitted by toyota was a right result.mines a little more complex,in that the warranty is the suppliers own.so,i'm gonna wait a while and get the aftermarket one,looking forwards to phils info on that.hope your weld holds neil,if not,then the info on here should help us both.anyway,i'm going to forget the rad now and concentrate on the smoke when i'm gunning it on a hill!!never had so many worries,ha ha!!

Apologies for the long delay !

I picked up a new rad for £164 from Parts Plaza 0208 536 0101

Fitted and working fine.

phil

[Mart]

just to put your mind at rest even further.....my last car was a cavalier 2.0 sri. I crashed it into the misses about 3 years ago and bend the front up real bad. (please stop laughing its not that funny !!!) Anyway pulled the front out with a block and tackle, straighten the bonnet with a 2x4" and started it up. The very bent rad (now striaght-ish) leaked badly so I put in some rad-weld. Kept it 2 years after that and never had a prob with the cooling. Chasis rotted through at the back and that was that.

Anyway took the same approach after the 3rd fix from the dealer and never looked back. Still get a couple of spots on the rad but no real coolant lose. On the up side it shows that although some of the 2.4 have probs with the head the cooling seems to be a little less fargile than every one thinks.

Having said all that if you can get a new rad from the insuracne definitely go for it. Why spent £165 when you don't need.

Plus you'll need the money for the 2" suspension lift that's a must when the rear springs need replacing!!!!

goodluck

[Pete]

just been looking at all postings on radiators,and getting a clearer picture.it seems by problem isnt excactly unique.the top,which was black and glossy,had some tiny wet spots,just two or three.you can rub them away with a fingertip,but they reappear if the engine is warm.the paint has started to come off at these points,revealing,what i assume,is the brass of the radiator itself.the car is still under warranty for another month,but i do feel that the most they will do is slder it,which i gather is usually ineffective anyway.i can live with it if it isnt going to cause problems to the engine.if it only needs a top up every now and then,no problem.obviously at some point its going to need a new rad,but if this is going to be months down the road,i'd rather wait,and fund it myself,than let the dealer botch it,with the risk of causing further probs after the warranty expires.mines a 94 3.ltre td kzn130.so,how much for a new rad,yes,new.where can i get one from.how many hours garage labour would be involved.should i go through the warranty,or can i drive it around for a while without doing any damage.i do check the level in the rad and bottle regularly.sorry to fire all these questions,but i know you will come up trumps.and it will save on loadsa follow up postings,you know it makes sense?

Go and get the opinion of a radiator specialist, then go to your dealer with your findings and tell him what the experts say and sound him out. Whatever you do, get it done soon. Why play Russian roullette with your engine?
Pete