car over heating

[tombo]

My alfa has been running hot for a while, and recently it has gotten a lot worse, i can only keep the temperature at a reasonable level if i have the heater on. And in this weather it sucks :-({|= .

enough is enough so i decided to pull the radiator out and flush it with clean water, but that was not the problem...

best i can figure is that the fins on the rad are aluminium and the winter salt has completely eaten them away :shock: the fins that are left just crumble when i poke them. I spose the efficiency affected a bit by that :wink: . Gonna cost about 200 for a new one, and it will cramp my tool buying for a while.

 

[DaveL]

Tom,

Have you checked around for someone who rebuilds radiators? I had an old Humber Scepter that over heated on sunny days. :x
I found a local (to me at the time) firm that re-cored the rad for about £50, ok it was late 1980's but might be worth a ring round before the Alfa chaps take all of your tool money. :twisted:

 

[devonwoody]

Dont forget to check the breakers yards (they even have computerised stock lists these days and can tell you where there is one)

 

[Midnight]

Tom....

I'd back up what Dave said... if the top and bottom tanks are intact simply have it recored. For around half the price of a new one you'll get a proper job done, pressure test to verify the work and a respray to make it look as good as it'll work... well worth letting your fingers do the walking...

I had the Landrover rad recored about this time last year... left it in the shop in the morning, collected it just before closing time...

 

[tombo]

not too keen on a rad from a breaker it might have the same problems, called a local refurb company this morning and they can give me a new one for 80 quid... result

 

[devonwoody]

Back end crash and newish model might still be OK.
When in business myself I used to find it cheaper to put in a breakers engine than have a service.


Ah those were the days.

 

[DaveL]

called a local refurb company this morning and they can give me a new one for 80 quid... result

Well done, so what you going to buy the left over cash. :shock:

 

[tombo]

Dave,

You know how it works, its not as though i actually had £200 just lying around to be spent on a tool. I just have to be a bit more sneaky :wink:

Tom

 

[mahking51]

Tombo
You may want to check out Serck Marston in your area, great prices on warranted radiators, I use them a lot and no problems.
Regards
Martin

 

[tombo]

cheers guys!

put the new rad in a couple of hours ago what a difference!!

went for a blat and there was no need for the heater hooray. When i think how long i've put up with this....

Tom

 

[DaveL]

When i think how long i've put up with this....

Yep, been there, done that with the old Scepter, like having a new motor not having to worry about how hard your pushing it.