i got a crack in my radiator on the top (where the plastic piece is)
i got some stuff from an auto parts store
some sort of a hardening putty that i sealed the crack with on the outside
it said that it is for fixing plastic tanks and radiators and is upto 500 degrees resistant
does anyone know if that will hold or i shold get a new radiator

also how much are radiators and where can i get them cheaper the $180 (local auto parts store)

 

What's up man. I had problems with my radiator cracking. You SHOULD get a new radiator. I recommend http://www.radiator.com. I bought one for $160 and had no problems with it. They come with a lifetime warranty. Check it out!

 

just get a new radiator.. my friend tried those radiator sealant things on his 240SX.. w/in the next week.. he had to buy a new radiator anyway.. so don't waste your time and labor on putting that stuff on... his was at the top of the radiator where the supports meet the top of the tank...

 

My radiator cracked at the top last summer and i used that same putty thing you talking about. It worked perfectly the whole time i had it on just make sure you read the instructions and clean the grease off properly. I bought a new radiator a year later because i was selling it. IF you have the money get the new radiator but if you don’t have it at the moment get the putty mixture till you save up enough money to get a new radiator.

 

get a new one and dont pay for anybody to install it....it takes 30 min

 

ttt

 

I'm having the same exact problem with my radiator. From what you guys are recommending, I should change the radiator.
Do you know of any web site or acura dealer who will send radiators outside the U.S? There's not a whole lot of acura dealers or parts where I'm currently living (Venezuela) so I'm guessing I should have it sent from the U.S.

Any hints?
Thanks a lot..
Eddy.

 

Trust me, replace your radiator. I had this same exact problem about 3 weeks ago, radiator fluid sprayed all over my engine bay. It cracked right at the seam, towards the top. I went to a local radiator shop, and they got one sent to their shop for me within an hour for 145 bucks! I installed it myself, it took about 30 minutes or so. Just remove your fans, and hoses, and you're on your way. Good luck!

 

fuguman, please don't replace the whole radiator. Just replace the top tank because it is much much cheaper. I had to do this on all my hondas: civic, accord, integra, because they all cracked around 60k to 100k and it was always the top plastic tank. Most radiator shops can do this for cheap and I never had any other problems with my radiator as a result of replacing the top tank...they crack because they are plastic and over time the plastic just expands and contracts and eventually cracks. Good luck.

 

just replace the whole radiator it will save you time and money down the line.

 

any clue where i can get a good deal?
i found a site but am not to sertain about them
let me know what you think

http://www.carradiatordirect.com/

thanks

 

1. do you know where i can find a shop like this?
2. can they replace it with a metal tank or just plastic?
3. can you give me a ball park figure of the $ and time it takes them to do it?

 

I had a local Acura/Honda shop - not a dealership - they just work on nothing but hondas do them for me....until I found out they were just sending my car to a radiator replair shop so I took my integra when it busted straight to the radiator shop and saved a few bucks. I don't remember for sure what it cost but probably somewhere around $150....I think they have a aftermarket top tank they can order and they just connect it to the rest of the radiator then they clean out the radiator and pressure check the whole radiator when it is installed so they know that nothing else leaks.. I suspect that it was like $50 to $75 for the part and rest was labor. Shop said rest of radiator should last forever and it did. much cheaper than buying a new radiator. Also, they repaced it with a plastic top tank because they don't make a metal one...you'd just have to buy the whole metal radiator with costs more money. Good luck..just look up radiator repair shops in your area...mine had a good reputation and warranty.

 

talk to larry jr at http://www.importautosalvage.com
he got me a 98 gsr radiator for $75 shipped, in short notice and also in perfect condition too