Well i was pulling into work this morning when i noticed light smoke coming out the hood. I popped the hood and saw little smoke coming from around the radiator cap area. i also noticed the fan was running a bit after the car was already off. i went inside and came back out 30 min later. popped the hood again and turned the car on...i didnt see any leaks from the hoses but i did notice the crack on the radiator and before i knew it, it started to bubble with fluid. the reservoir was a bit below the minimum so i threw a little bit of water in it. it looks like a hairline crack about 2-3 inches long max. Car was also running cold, no over heating.

my question is how long can i make it before something needs to be done? will some stop leak be a sufficient temp fix? i drive quite a bit to and from work daily...

1994 Accord LX

 

I'd clean it off with some brake clean, rough it up with some sandpaper and skin it with some 30 minute epoxy. If you're good at preping it, the repair could last longer than the car itself.

P

 

i was thinkin about that. you think some JB weld would do the trick?

 

Wow! I have the exact same crack on my original radiator.

I did do the JB weld technique, didn't work too well....
You could try it though...

I would go ahead and replace that.

 

JB Weld on something like that isn't going to do much. I've had someone play amateur plumber, sand, flux, solder w/ torch on a old Camaro of mine with good results, but that was just a temporary fix while I waited for a new one to arrive.

I've seen people try to JB Weld, or epoxy alot of things like radiators and gas tanks... it never works. Only thing I've ever used to "coat" cracks and pin holes to any success is some sealer from Hirsch Automotive... and that was just a gas tank. It probably wouldn't take the heat of coolant.

Just play it safe and replace the thing. Anything else should just be a temporary fix.

 

They sell a kit that fixes that temporarily. Its a piece of fiberglass cloth with special plastic glue. It worked for me for a few weeks before it started to leak again.

 

Replace it and be done!

 

Sure enough it would be best to get honda accord parts, particularly a new radiator and you're good to go.