cooling problem

[tone]

van went in for an MOT - failed on a couple of minor points and advised that time was running out on discs and pads - thought I'd bite the bullet on new brakes - also put in a new temperature sensor to get temp gauge back working. Brakes were all replaced including discs. pads, bearings etc plus two gaiters and several other minor things. Sensor replaced but then they have hit a snag - the bleed nut wouldn't undo on the radiator so there is still air trapped in the radiator which makes the engine overheat. To avoid having to buy a new radiator thay are suggesting drilling a hole an inch or so below the bleed nut and hopefully bleeding the air out and then sealing the hole with a screw - is this feasible ? or is there another way to bleed the system without having to use the radiator bleed nut - bill is already £400+ - if I have to buy a radiator where best to buy one ?

............van is 89 2.1


Thanks in advance for any help.



Tony

[kevtherev]

Europarts sell T25 rads for £60
Brickwerks sell better quality rads for a little more.

the feasibility is a sound one ...as long as you can re use the screw
personally I would drill the bleed bolt and tap the hole to suit a little M5 hex head

[Dazco]

Doing as kev says would be best as at least you would have a thick bit of metal to tap for the new bolt. There is also a possibility that when you drill the old bolt it might then come out .

[tone]

thanks - I see your logic and will suggest this to the garage

[kevtherev]

By the way the bleed bolt is in a sleeve, so clamping the bolt to drill might be better, because if the sleeve turns in the radiator...it's definitely new rad time

The way it reads, the bolt already is turning in the sleeve without undoing.

[Aidan]

renew the radiator, you can't undo the bleed screw because the insert is spinning in the plastic part, water may start to pass the the damaged insert and you are back to square one, by the time they have removed the red to try and drill and tap the bolt and find a small machine screw and washer you could have the new one in and sorted and warranted for 12 months, unless they warrant the bodge for 12 months you are potentially on a hidning to nothing

these vans should cost £1k a year to run on average and anyone running one should be realistic about that, especially if you don't spanner yourself

and yes I know there will be loads of peeps saying it doesn't cost me that, but they either have vans that have been well maintained previously and/or they are putting off work that future owners will have to sort out, we've all seen peeps come on here with their new purchases that go wrong on the way home from buying them or on the first big trip - those are the vans that have been run on the cheap imho/ime

[Tony Tone]

Aiden, good point well made re the costs. Ive had my layest t25 2 years and have easily spent over 2k in that time just on rectifying years of neglect and being on the road for nearly 30 years. In my opinion, if you find the van for you and decide to start spending , keep the van .

[The Bishop]

£1000 a year sounds reasonable.

Consider what a new car costs you to run and what you lose in depreciation each year.

[skippymoss]

A grand a year sounds spot on.
I put away 100 a month into my van fund. Insurance and breakdown is 200 and I always spend the rest quite easily...

[R0B]

Corrected that for you.

Aidan, good point well made re the costs

[tone]

I'm not risking it so I've ordered a new radiator - prices do vary though - Europarts want £111 , Justkampers £138 , Brickwerks £138 - but I've ordered it from carpartsforless for £78 delivered free - was at first a bit wary why its so much cheaper but the dimensions are correct etc and phoned them up and double checked - Strangely enough Europarts have almost identical websites and the part number is the same yet its £111 ???????????

Anyway hopefully will be back on the road next week with a new MOT , new brakes , new radiator and a temperature gauge that works !!

[kevtherev]

Lets hope they don't send the wrong one...as there are two to choose from a thick 'un and a thin 'un

[tone]

well there you go - thick and thin !

just checked the websites :

justkampers 30mmm ( out of stock anyway }

Brickwerks ( 44mm and going on about this is the thick one made for VW )

Europarts / parts4less the one I've odered 42mm

Go on then Kev tell me which one it should ? Thick or thin ?

[kevtherev]

I dunno what have you got fitted?

it would seem sensible to order the same thickness as you current radiator

[tone]

I dunno what have you got fitted?

it would seem sensible to order the same thickness as you current radiator

unfortunately van is still at the garage so I can't check tonight but sod's law tells me I've got a thin one ( rad that is ! )

No mention is made on the websites about thick or thin only implying that a thicker one is better - ( can't argue with that and my wife agrees )

Surely they would both fit if its only a 12mm difference in width ?