Hello,

I noticed my doblo (1.9 jtd 2002) was losing water over night (not while driving) - When I looked underneith I spotted a slow dripping from the corner of the radiator (passenger side) where the radiator slots in

How difficult is it top replace a radiator myself? My father-in-law knows his way round an engine so I'm hoping to get his help but could do with an idea whats involved first - 2 hour job, something like that?

any thoughts appreciated
thanks in advance
Andy

Try your local motor factors,311 is a rip off,where was that from?

Lockwood & Greenwood in Ashton-under-lyne, found them through that good garage scheme. Price includes coolant though

I'm gonna try some K-seal first - if that fails i've spotted a new radiator for £49 on ebay, so I'll fit the thing myself (with some help)

choc1903 said:

311 is a rip off,where was that from?

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Not for an OEM part fitted its not.

dont put K-seal in it, it clogs up all your water ways and heater matrix

dave said:

dont put K-seal in it, it clogs up all your water ways and heater matrix

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Not to mention the coating it applies to the thermostat and temp sender - messing up their performance.

If you can see a hole, there are two part compounds which you can use to stop the leak.

That price quoted looks about right actually. I had a new radiator a while ago and I paid something like that. Don't forget, if it's done by a Fiat dealer it comes with a year's warranty.

I see cars where I live where the owner has done work themselves and cut corners to save money, but they seem to be outside under their cars all the time, and I can't see how that can be an inexpensive way to run a car. I know how much it costs to keep a car on the road, but there comes a time when it seems sensible to bite the bullet and borrow some money to get a newer, hopefully more reliable car. I can't say when this point arrives because there is no sensible formula, but shoving gunk into the coolant isn't going to work, and the knock-ons will cost far far more to rectify.