Noob here. Sorry in advance!

We were heading out of town to celebrate our 10th anniversary. Stopped off in College Station, TX to drop off the kids at gm and gp. Topped off the tank with gas before heading to Austin, TX. Before we drove away from the gas station, my wife noticed steam or smoke coming from the hood of the car.

Opened the trunk and saw radiator fluid bubbling out the top. Trip canceled... went back to gm and gp and will take it to the shop in the morning.

Looking at it closer, it doesn't look as though the radiator is leaking. There is a visible crack on the top plastic cover that goes over the radiator. The crack is about five inches long.

No sign of trouble before today... only hint of a problem was when I was being lazy and took the car in for an oil change at JiffyLube (I know.... I usually change my own oil but I was being really lazy.). The guys told me my reservoir was empty and that my fluid seemed low. They topped it off for a couple of bucks.

What am I looking at in way of cost? Can they replace just that top plastic thing (what is it called?)

I'm in College Station, TX. Its good-ol-boy country here. Should I take it to a shop or the dealer or does it even matter? How do I know when someone is trying to rip me off?

Scott

 

do you see a leak somewhere before the unfortunate event?

if you have a crack on the plastic endtank of the radiator, you should see a slow leak when the car is running.


the plastic endtank cannot be taken apart and replaced, you can try glue it back together with plastic weld/glue(look for it in automotive section. it works on small tiny cracks, but if the welds blew off after a week or so, you need to replace the radiator.

radiator runs around 150-200, depends you are going with OEM, aftermarket replacement or performance version.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by iam7head &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">do you see a leak somewhere before the unfortunate event?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I maintain my radiator and have the preventative maintenance done every 1 to 1.5 years. I've never noticed a radiator leak before today. The drive to College Station today took about 2 hours and I did not notice any problems throughout the trip.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by iam7head &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">if you have a crack on the plastic endtank of the radiator, you should see a slow leak when the car is running. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes. There is a leak and it is slow. It is significant as it falls to the actual radiator itself and burns off. Smell is bad. Fluid is bright green.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by iam7head &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">radiator runs around 150-200, depends you are going with OEM, aftermarket replacement or performance version.</TD></TR></TABLE>

How much with labor? Is it like a $150-200 part with $1500 in labor??? My vehicle is a 1995 Honda Accord 6-cyl with 165,000 miles on it. I just want something that will last the rest of the lifetime of the car... hoping that is a long time from now.

 

My Radiator blew up... it was crazy! Messed up so many things i just went ahead and bought a new engine. :D

 

I had a cracked radiator and it leaked all over my engine bay, it fucquing sucked! I bought an uber-expensive one to replace it. But replace it before it blows. Oh yeah, <TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by srburk &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Opened the trunk and saw radiator fluid bubbling out the top.</TD></TR></TABLE> How did you get your engine, or at least radiator, in the trunk?

 

Hood! Not trunk. My bad. I'm tired. Ha.

 

Went to Honda Svc this morning. Yes, definitly need to replace the radiator. Plastic cracked due to age.

No radiators in stock. They called every part store in town... no one has a radiator. I eventually went to Advance Auto Parts and ordered one for $186 minus the 10% I talked them into. Has a lifetime warranty.

Thing is... I'm not from here. I'm staying with inlaws until Sunday night. Plan is to swap cars and they'll let me drive their car back to Houston while my car is being repaired in College Station. Frustrating... I don't like borrowing cars.

If I decided to drive back to Houston 130 miles away (70-80 mph trip), will I make it or do I risk serious damage with that crack in the top section of my radiator? If I can make it, I could take it to a dealership closer to my home and have it handled there. Thoughts? What would you do?

 

If its leaking bad, you cant drive it

if its leaking a little, like lets say if you were at a light or stop sign and a it kept making a small drip spot thats fine

but if you stop and it leaves a puddle, you cant drive it

If you want, You can take some antifreeze in the car with you, in a milk jug or somthing

And just stop every like 20 miles and check and fill it.. you shouldnt have a problem

 

It has not leaked to the ground (as far as I can tell). The crack is at the very top. After running, it does pool on the top edge that separates the top plastic and the actual radiator itself.

Smells bad when I run it for a while. You can definitly tell it is burning the stuff off.

Wouldn't it be too hot to fill it after every twenty miles?

 

No, Bring a crappy towel or rag, wrap it around the cap, Open it little by little, if u have to open it, let some pressure get out, close it, do it again, after like 3 times u should have enough pressure out to take the cap off

Just dont do it fast,

I worked at a highway rest stop shop before, hundreds of people have stopped in for some radiator fluid, ive opend caps from cars of people that just drove straight from virginia, just do it slow

 

***UPDATE***

Found a Firestone open on Sunday from 9am-5pm. Called them up and said, "I'll have my own radiator, how much is labor."

Their answer, $201.76.

This is the ballpark figure that Honda told me on Labor.

Couple of questions though. He asked whether or not I wanted to get the thermostat replaced. Should I?

He asked whether or not to flush the antifreeze or just top it off. Should I? I get this done routinly as preventative maintenance. What about having one replaced?

Thanks for all of ya'lls help.

Scott

 

***BUMPING***

Should I flush the antifreeze or just top it off. I get this done routinly as preventative maintenance. What about having one replaced?

Should I replace the thermostat?

 

youir radiator is shot, repalce it. The coolant is leaking through the crack when the system gets pressurised.

You can replace it yourself it is really easy, drain rad, remove top supports, unplug fans, remove upper and lower hose and a/c bracket, remove ac cooler lines at trans, remove assembly, remove all items from rad and reinstall to new rad. install new read, reinstall

 

Believe me. I would love to. But I have no place to do this. I'm at the inlaws in the country off of a gravel road with no tools.

I just don't want Firestone to try to add all this other crap that doesn't need to be done if it doesn't really need to be done. I've have bad experiences with Firestone at home. Up here, the service seems better and the BBB check came out ok. Its either Firestone or Sears on a Sunday.

S

 

***FInal update***

Radiator replaced. Had system flushed as well.

Kudos to YeuEmMaiMai, standbackimapro, importfanatic17, iam7head, and AJ06 for responding!