coolant leak along side of radiator

[EMBPilot]

after getting the fans down i was able to pressurize the system to about 15 PSI. the needle holds and will taper off over several minutes, but while its at the top there is a drip from the bottom left of the radiator pan. drips about once per three seconds.

I just fixed the top overflow fitting and the ones beneath it look fine, just some residue from the old leak. aside from that they are dry.

fix one leak and another pops up. this looks like it just sort of oozes down the silver bezel that attaches to the black side of the radiator...

should i remove the radiator and take it to a radiator shop?
any other ideas?

[jezza944]

I had the same thing about 6 months ago. Took the radiator out. The shop here only charged $30Aus to give it a clean and re-seal the ends.
Apparently its a common leak on our cars.

[Techno Duck]

Take it out and have a radiator place resolder it.

The 944 radiator is a nice piece, but the plastic end caps are what kill it.

I need to fix my fan switch sometime, gasket is starting to leak. not looking foward to dumping the coolant again.

[many944s]

Ditto.
Had the same leak on one of mine (85) about a year ago. Took mine out, local shop charged $32.25 for cleanout and reseal.

Radiator leaks can be a nightmare! First they will leak, then they crust up and seal themselves. After a month or so they open back up. Just when you think youhave it fixed, another will pop up.

-Nick

[EMBPilot]

guys thanks, when we get a good streach of bad weather here i'll drop the radiator out and take it to the rad shop, i feel a little better now. i understand that there are some set bolts at the top and once those are out it just 'drops out'.? (judging from clarks)

when they ask what kind of car its for what did you tell them? i hate saying its a porsche casue then i feel like i get one of two answers 1) we cant do it 2) your 30 dollar job just became 100


thanks a million.

[Techno Duck]

Tell them its for an old VW Jetta or a old Audi 100..your winter 'beater' car. .

[EMBPilot]

lol perfect

[EMBPilot]

friend of mine who owns an auto body shop said a radiator with plastic sides cannot be soldered. something having to do with the heat to resolder messing up the soldered stuff on the inside of the radiator AND it not being compatable with plastic, that my "best option" is to spend 2 and a half bills on a new radiator.

your mission, guys, is to dismiss the above facts.

[Panzer909]

Originally posted by EMBPilot

when they ask what kind of car its for what did you tell them? i hate saying its a porsche casue then i feel like i get one of two answers 1) we cant do it 2) your 30 dollar job just became 100


thanks a million.

An "Old beat up '86 Scirocco" is my standard answer. Never say the P word unless you absolutely have to

[Dana Norris]

I had the exact same problem with my first 944 a 1984, removed the rad.
and took it to a shop known for good work and recommended by a good friend.
The guy took one look and said that with plastic sides with an alum. core the seals would not withstand a hot flush and he did not have the tools to separate the sides from core even if he could find the seals. To make a long story short I got a good used rad. for $75.00




________________________________

1986 944Na just got it 3 weeks ago
First Porsche 1984 944 NA
Second Porsche 1969 912 upgraded with 2.4 CFI
Third Porsche 1976 911S upgraded with 1983 SC 3.0

[jezza944]

I think some shops just don't want work! My shop pulled the plastic ends off, put in new seals, soldered a small hole, re-soldered the bottom mounting lugs, painted it black, Aus$30. (about US$23.50)
Yep Kevin, it CAN be done.

[EMBPilot]

Just thought id put this out there for anyone with future projects.

there are kits on ebay for 944 complete cooling system hoses. I think they are a little over priced and dont come with the hose clamps.
here is a mostly complete list of cooling system clamps and hoses for a later 944NA

im doing the radiator with a used one that seems to be in good shape, while its out, i figured id might as well get these crusty clamps and old hoses off.

the only parts i didnt replace was the overflow fitting (cause i just got it like two weeks ago), Thermoswitch (working), and the overflow hose from the rad to the tank (appears to be just fine).

heres the list for referance.

HC-90-110-9-M130 $1.25 1 $1.25
Hose Clamp, Adjustable, 90-110mm, each Brand: Gemi

----------------------------------------------------------------------
HC-32-50-9-M130 $0.75 2 $1.50
Hose Clamp, Adjustable, 32-50mm, each Brand: Gemi

----------------------------------------------------------------------
HC-70-90-9-M130 $1.25 2 $2.50
Hose Clamp, Adjustable, 70-90mm, each Brand: Gemi

----------------------------------------------------------------------
HC-40-60-9-M130 $1.00 4 $4.00
Hose Clamp, Adjustable, 40-60mm, each Brand: Gemi

----------------------------------------------------------------------
HC-12-22-9-M130 $0.50 2 $1.00
Hose Clamp, Adjustable, 12-22mm, each Brand: Gemi

----------------------------------------------------------------------
HC-25-40-9-M130 $0.75 6 $4.50
Hose Clamp, Adjustable, 25-40mm, each Brand: Gemi

----------------------------------------------------------------------
944-106-353-01-M100 $9.50 1 $9.50
Radiator Drain Plug w/ Seal, 924S/944/968 all, each Brand: Genuine
Porsche

----------------------------------------------------------------------
944-106-241-03-M101 $4.00 1 $4.00
Water Hose, Water Pump to Heater Pipe, 924S/944S (1987-88), 944 (1983-
89), 944 Turbo (1986-89), Each Brand: Elaplast

----------------------------------------------------------------------
944-106-245-02-M260 $34.75 1 $34.75
Water Hose, Radiator to Coolant Expansion Tank, 944S (1987-88), 944
(02/85-88), Each Brand: OEM

----------------------------------------------------------------------
944-106-239-07-M101 $15.50 1 $15.50
Upper Radiator to Cylinder Head Hose, 944 (02/85-89), Each Brand:
Elaplast

----------------------------------------------------------------------
944-106-237-07-M101 $12.50 1 $12.50
Lower Radiator Hose To Water Pump, 944S (1987-88), 944 (02/85-89),
Each Brand: Elaplast

----------------------------------------------------------------------
900-123-118-30-M131 $0.50 2 $1.00
Washer for Thermoswitch, As Needed, Each Brand: Fischer & Plath

----------------------------------------------------------------------
951-106-107-00-M136 $2.00 2 $4.00
Radiator Mount, Lower, 2 Per Car, 944/944S/944S2/944 Turbo/968 (02/85-
95), Each Brand: OEM

----------------------------------------------------------------------
944-106-928-00-M100 $2.75 1 $2.75
Seal for Radiator Fitting 944-106-927-00-M100, 924S, 944, 968, Each,
Each Brand: Genuine Porsche


cheap cooling system insurance for around 90 bucks.

i added some bonus stuff too...
a new Jboot, Intake gaskets, and fuel injector reseal kits incase i ever decide to send the injectors out to be cleaned.

[Razorback1980]

Kevin...you may also check the For Sale forum. Someone on here was offering a complete aluminum radiator for sale for a manual transmission car. I can't remember the price, but I'm sure a search will yield the thread.

[EMBPilot]

thats where i found it tom, its a low mile rad, the guy was great, hes a user here.

[EMBPilot]

So i go out and buy $100 of new hoses, clamps, gaskets, mounts from PP, then bother countless people to try and track down a good radiator, nail one down, get it here, all the parts ready to go... been driving the car for several weeks since this popped up...

now the thing STOPS leaking?! Not a freaking DRIP!

[jezza944]

That sounds normal, the crap seals it for a while, then it decides to leak again!

Good luck. I'd fix it anyway, there's nothing worse than dumping your coolant on the white line on the h'way.

[EMBPilot]

Hey guys i was getting this radiator ready for installation today by cleaning it up. I plan on putting this in (even though mine leak appears to have stopped for now). I was planning on doing this when the rest of the parts get here for all the crap under the intake.

i noticed when i started to take a closer look at this unit there are these fittings on the passenger side of the rad. when i flushed the rad out, no water came out of these fittings.

my current radiator DOES NOT have these fittings!
what are these for? can i still install this to replace my current one?

[Britwrench]

That radiator is for the auto-trans model. You can use it.

[EMBPilot]

what do i do about those fittings? is it okay to leave them the way they are?

[Techno Duck]

You can leave them open, i would just plug them with an appropriate size bolt if you can find one.