I replaced my radiator this afternoon on my '93 Accord LX-A AT. Everything went fine. But, after starting the car, I noticed transmission fluid leaking from the service line into the radiator. I thought I tightened the line pretty well when I installed the new radiator. I tightened some more and the leak got worse.

The service hose connection valve to the radiator now appears to be stripped. It won't tighten and I can't loosen it to pull it off. Strangely enough, the original connection to radiator seemed to be pretty tight when I was removing the original radiator.

Did I over tighten? Or, is there something I missed? Is there any way I can get just this part, or the part that attaches to the radiator.

Hopefully the photo will give some idea of what I'm talking about. This is from the original radiator. The new one is giving me the leaks. I'd also like to know if I can get the part that attaches to the radiator in case its threads are stripped too. Thanks.

 

new replacement radiator aftermarket w/ lifetime warranty? then replace whole thing...

most likey, u stripped the threads in the new rad...Y i suggest just replacing it under warranty ( unless they enact "oh, that's not covered because it was installer error" BS)

 

take it out and make sure that you didn't damage the making surface. Are you sure that the line isn't cracked?

 

did they sell u a radiator for an automatic?? every single 1 i have installed for automatic already come with the nipple installed........But as it was sugested take it back and get a different one ...if u have to install those nipple do not overtighten them,,

 

I've checked several Honda Parts Web Sites for you. Unfortunately they do not call out that part seperately. Evidently, it's supplied by Denso as part of the radiator assembly.
Hopefully, your supplier will honor your warranty request.
Good Luck

P

 

Thanks everyone. The radiator I was sold is for an automatic transmission. Initially, I thought I tightened it reasonably. Then, when I saw it leaking (from the nipple), I thought that I didn't tighten it enough. As I tightened it more, I discovered that the connection was stripped.

I'll see about getting a replacement radiator. I'm going to first try taking the nipple from the original radiator and seeing if that works.

P_Adams, thanks for checking into this for me.
Also, if anyone has a radiator they replaced and still has the spare nipple, please let me know. I'd like to avoid replacing the entire radiator until I know for sure that I can't get another nipple on there that won't leak.

Thanks.

 

FYI, the place I purchased the radiator from will replace the entire radiator without any problems.

Question, do I need to apply any type of gel/paste to the threads? e.g. silicon, grease, etc?

Thanks.

 

it doesn't hurt, so you already know not to overtorque those things in the future. (like spark plugs/ valve cover bolts too)...

but, as deserthonda stated, the aftermarket radiator should have come w/ those things installed in it already.

Well, my online supplier, radiatorstores.com (got mines for $89 shipped) had a model that would fit both automatics & manuals: because it decreases their inventory for the same size rad.
you simply leave those things capped if not needed= your source of people that have this just like an appendix/nipples (it's there, but u dont need them)