Odd Xantia radiator leak

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firstrebel
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Odd Xantia radiator leak

Post by firstrebel »

Recently I got a coolant leak on my 1.9 TD Xantia SX. It seemed to be coming from the lower offside area of the radiator. Not a very accessible area. The rad was new earlier this year. It leaked mostly when warming up and cooling down; didn't seem to leak much when hot.

Today I had time to look at it and I washed the entire area down with water and let it dry. Removing the intercooler pipe gave more vision. As it warmed up I saw coolant start to trickle from the nylon blanking plug that is about one third the way down the offside of the radiator. The plug turns but will not tighten.

I spoke with DickieG who said that a sensor is fitted there on some cars with AC, so getting an old one might be the easiest way to fix this. I might try to stem the flow by wrapping some PTFE tape around the gap between the rad and nylon plug until I find an old one.

Anyone come across this before?

Bob
Robert Isaac

1997 Xantia 1.9TD SX Estate. 152000 miles
1995 Volvo 855 T5 Auto - Chipped. 186000 miles
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Post by Peter.N. »

Hi Bob

No I havn't but I think that wrapping it with PTFE tape is an excellent idea, might even make the thread grip.

Peter
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Post by addo »

I was recently warned about these threads by a radiator importer. Basically, he said the thread forming (speaking generally; the car in point was a Vectra) in aftermarket radiator tanks could be a bit hit-and-miss.

If it's never going to be used, a brass plug and blue Hylomar should do nicely.
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Post by citronut »

the thread in the OE astra rad fan sensor point was just cut into the thin plastic rad body (thin being about an 1/8th of an inch), so if you go to fit a new sensor you have no chance of making it grop the thread,

then an after market rad had a brass insert built into the rad body,

so i dont know about OE being better aty least in this case

regards malcolm
firstrebel
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Post by firstrebel »

The rad came from GSF.

Bob
Robert Isaac

1997 Xantia 1.9TD SX Estate. 152000 miles
1995 Volvo 855 T5 Auto - Chipped. 186000 miles
firstrebel
Posts: 70
Joined: 18 Apr 2009, 22:08
Location: Uxbridge
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Post by firstrebel »

Went to GSF today and explained the problem. A helpful man looked around but they did not have any blanking plugs. I showed him the nylon plug on the rad and he came up with a 'rad thermo switch' GSF p/n N93476 that should fit. Came to £12.08. A job for tomorrow.

Bob
Robert Isaac

1997 Xantia 1.9TD SX Estate. 152000 miles
1995 Volvo 855 T5 Auto - Chipped. 186000 miles
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