Its about time I got that radiator recored....

[Lankytim]

The Audi has had a leaky radiator core for since I bought it about 3 years ago. I think its the 1986 original but seeing as it a bottle of radweld seemed to cure the leak and it kept the engine cool it was a job that constantly got put on the back burner, MOT jobs taking priority over "non-urgent" work". The only real indication there was anything wrong was the fan keeps kicking in and out every 10 seconds or so in traffic.

 

I tried hunting down a new rad on ebay but it seems the 4 pot 1800cc type 44 Audi 100 is a pretty rare beast and I was impossible to find a replacement. The only option was a recore but the rad wasnt listed in the core catalouge, a bespoke core was the only answer. A bit pricey I thought at £125 but it needed to be be done before the whole lot split open on the M6 and cooked the engine.

 

I removed the rad last week and this is what I found..

 

 

EEK! Had I known it was that bad I would have had it fixed sooner. This rad has taken the Audi all over the country. It was obviously well past its prime!

 

A few days later I went back to the radiator reconditioners and collected this.

 

 

I love fitting new stuff to old cars. It just feels good! The rad is now back in place and hey presto, no more leaks and a fan that behaves itself. I wonder if this core will last 24 years like the first one? The end tanks will be 48 years old by then .

[seth]

If it ain't broke don't fix it or something like that I've had cores with innards falling out before but never quite to that extent. Well done!

[Tayne]

.

[Station]

I raise you a completely knackered radiator.

 

 

Was leaking as well! What makes it worse is that it came off a K-series! Yikes.

 

They still work like this, the little fins are just heatsinks. But not when they're leaking.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Did you take it to that old geezer in Stoke whose workshop is back off the road down a stone arch, and who looks like he gets one customer every 2 years?

 

He fettled the radiator in my Crab, and recognised what car it was from, straight away before it even made it onto his shop counter. An old pro.

[FredTransit]

Did you take it to that old geezer in Stoke whose workshop is back off the road down a stone arch, and who looks like he gets one customer every 2 years?

 

He fettled the radiator in my Crab, and recognised what car it was from, straight away before it even made it onto his shop counter. An old pro.

I love people/places like that. My 4 month old tiddley mickey mouse replacement starter (that looks like it would struggle with a 900cc fez engine) died. So I took the one that came off (the 10ld proper starter) to a little place on Hanger Lane, thinking I would have to leave it with them. They had one on the shelf! I was well pleased, and it was a good 20 quid cheaper than the crappy miniature that's going back under guarantee..... Now that's service.

[Peter C]

recognised what car it was from, straight away before it even made it onto his shop counter.

People like that you can trust to do a decent job. I have no faith in garages where the "mechanic" assigned to work on your car is not old enough to buy himself a beer and still falls for the get me a thermostat for a Beetle joke.

 

I remember taking my mum's old Volvo estate to Kwik Fit to get a puncture repaired. The tyre (a recent Pirelli) picked up a nail. The cheeky school drop-out that was on the case had the audacity to drag me from the waiting room to the ramp to tell me that the tyre is beyond repair and requires replacement. I refused to speak with him and asked for the manager, who promptly gave the twit a right bollocking and told me that the tyre will be repaired FOC. F'ing right I thought. The following morning the same tyre was flat again. I took it to a proper tyre shop who repaired the puncture properly. That was two years ago and the tyre has been fine since.

 

I digress. Nice looking rad!

[Station]

I took my starter to a similar place. No nonsense, no sucking on teeth, just did the job in an hour and phoned me to pick it up. The shop's walls and floor were black with soot and oil.

Also another radiator/fuel tank repair place called Croppers in Hooton, you need a 4x4 to get up the track to the shop. They just do it for you without any bother.

[Volksy]

get me a thermostat for a Beetle[/i] joke.

 

 

Beetles do have thermostats

[Peter C]

get me a thermostat for a Beetle[/i] joke.

 

 

Beetles do have thermostats

Yes, but not in the conventional way!

[gearoil]

Did you take it to that old geezer in Stoke whose workshop is back off the road down a stone arch, and who looks like he gets one customer every 2 years?

 

He fettled the radiator in my Crab, and recognised what car it was from, straight away before it even made it onto his shop counter. An old pro.

Sounds like the same remit for rad places all over the land.

 

Took my Sierra rad to a place near me, two old boys in a unit ( use the term unit losely ) about 12ft square, walls black in mank, large rad from an earthmover being brazed up by one on a stand other boy sees me and first thing he says is 'Cosworth..? No... V6. Old Serck job is it...? Yes, can you fix it..? 'Aye, it'll no be ready 'till tomorrow mind...' Return next day, fixed, painted £10..

 

Union Radiators Falkirk. Recognising shite radiators at 10 paces.

[Lankytim]

Thats the fella MrB. He's excellent isnt he.

 

Tayne, that is indeed a Daimler grile, its from a DS420 hearse.

 

The Audi has survived a trip to Brum and a circuit of the M42 ring without needing any topping up of water. Result!