pewe
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| posted on 28/11/13 at 01:07 PM |
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Tin top weeping radiator - help....
One of the the SAAB's radiator end cans is weeping when hot.
It's not a huge amount but sufficient to drip underneath and need topping up monthly.
So the question is - will a can of Barrs leaks or similar sort it out, or given the rad is 12 years old should I bite the bullet and buy another
rad?
The question then is do I go for the locost option of a second-hand one @ c. £40 or new @ c. £110?
Any thoughts/advice welcome.
Thanks, Pewe10 
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Daddylonglegs
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| posted on 28/11/13 at 01:17 PM |
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I'm sure you will be able to get the core repaired at a radiator specialist? Not sure where to go but someone will be along in a while with some
links 
It looks like the Midget is winning at the moment......
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nick205
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| posted on 28/11/13 at 04:01 PM |
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TBH, I'd just fit a new one.
Stop leak never works well or for long in my experience and I'm never keen on it rinsing throung the rest of the engine.
Have you tried Northern Radiators for price...I've found them cheapest a couple of times in the past.
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britishtrident
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| posted on 28/11/13 at 05:18 PM |
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Barrs Leaks is an engine killer, same goes for Rad Weld, modern engines and rads have such narrow passages that these products block them.
K-Seal is safe to use.
Re-coring and repairing rads is a thing of past except for brass/copper rads these days it is much cheaper to buy new, price of new rads varies
greatly Northern Radiators on ebay usually has the best price usually rads for cars of this size range are £40 to £70 new.
[I] “ What use our work, Bennet, if we cannot care for those we love? .”
― From BBC TV/Amazon's Ripper Street.
[/I]
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ianm67
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| posted on 28/11/13 at 05:28 PM |
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Take it to Berkshire Radiators. 266 Gosbrook Rd, Caversham. They put a bleed valve into the rad for the Tiger that I built. Top job, a good price and
turned it round fast for me......
Always biting off more than I can chew.....
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Bare
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| posted on 28/11/13 at 06:17 PM |
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NO! don't even waste time thinking about patching the rad.
Saab ones, like most current rads are of Ali matrix with crimped on plastic end caps.
When aged out the crimps start to release, but by that time the plastic has heat/pressure deteriorated to the point of being surprisingly brittle.
Some shops can and will recrimp the end can tabs..
BUT labour is identical to a fresh rad instal and there is a charge for the recrimping work, however temporary it will prove to be..
Just buy a New replacement and never need to worry about it again... during your tenure.
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pewe
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| posted on 28/11/13 at 06:34 PM |
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Thanks for the replies guys.
Kinda knew rad sealant wasn't the way to go so have just found a new rad on fleabay for c.£80.
Even if it turns out to last only a few years by then I'll probably be needing another set of wheels anyway.
Having said that there was an Aero on PH the other day still going strong @ 250k miles - mine only has 140k on the clock!
Cheers, Pewe10.
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nick205
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| posted on 28/11/13 at 09:42 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by pewe
Thanks for the replies guys.
Kinda knew rad sealant wasn't the way to go so have just found a new rad on fleabay for c.£80.
Even if it turns out to last only a few years by then I'll probably be needing another set of wheels anyway.
Having said that there was an Aero on PH the other day still going strong @ 250k miles - mine only has 140k on the clock!
Cheers, Pewe10.
Saw that on PH. Always like the idea of buying a car like that just to see how far you can get them to go.
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pewe
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| posted on 3/12/13 at 06:38 PM |
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As mentioned above I bought a new rad from fleabay supplier pru_trading for £80.
It looks exactly the same as the OE part in that the end can mouldings are exactly the same - either that or it's a damn good copy - time will
tell.
Removing the auto trans pipe banjos revealed one trip pressure sealing washers.
My local accessory shop, Marparts in Caversham, came up trumps with Dowty washers for c.£1.50 each.
Now it's only a case of re-fitting, re-new the coolant, top up the auto trans. and the jobs a good 'un.
Cheers, Pewe10
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02GF74
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| posted on 3/12/13 at 08:15 PM |
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what saab is it? I have saab rad you have foc. .... ofcourse now you will ask me whcih model and I just dont know - would be early 2000 ish 900
perhaps?
i have it listed as saab 9000
[Edited on 3/12/13 by 02GF74]
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PSpirine
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| posted on 3/12/13 at 08:36 PM |
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I bought a brand new (pattern) rad for an Audi off ebay. Seller recommended by someone on PH. Got the rad NEXT DAY delivered, complete with new
o-rings, and 2 year warranty.
...FOR £25!!!! K-seal (at a tenner) is hardly worth it....
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pewe
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| posted on 3/12/13 at 09:18 PM |
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02GF74 ^^ deffo not a 9-5 rad.
Looks very much like a 9000 but prob. Auto as the two take-offs on the right are similar to the 9-5's for transmission oil cooler.
Google will probably help identify it?
Cheers, Pewe10
v v Thanks but no thanks - try SAAB Tech Talk
[Edited on 3/12/13 by pewe]
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02GF74
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| posted on 3/12/13 at 09:31 PM |
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so no good to you then?
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