Cracked Radiator

Discussion in 'Modifications & DIY how-to' started by Trancetto, Dec 10, 2009.

  1. Trancetto

    Trancetto Active Member

    Well good fucking morning to me. Took my car for a ride this morning, and all of a sudden I see smoke coming under the hood, I looked at my temp and it was HOT baby. I pull over, and there i see my radiator has a crack on top of it right under neath the yellow sticker. It's a small crack, but its big enough for me not to drive anywhere. So this means I gotta replace the radiator, yey me.

    Anyone have 02 wrx radiator for like cheap? I need one ASAP, and also, you would have to drive to my place, cus my car isnt going anywhere.
     
  2. nsvwrx

    nsvwrx Active Member

    Get the Mosimo(SP) radiator from Ebay, i hear its better and cheaper than the stock one.
     
  3. Trancetto

    Trancetto Active Member

    I would, but I dont wana wait 3-5 days. I need one like today.

    And how hard is it to install the radiator. Is it just time consuming, or you actually need to know what you're doing?
     
  4. FTZ

    FTZ ^.^

    You can go to your local Auto Parts store and get the radiator repair stuff. It probably wouldn't be a permanent fix, but could probably buy you a couple of days while you wait on the delivery of the eBay radiator that is being suggested by nsvwrx.
     
  5. wagunz_pwn

    wagunz_pwn Active Member

    you can look all day for a Mosimo radiator, but you might have better luck if you search for a Mishimoto. Call Tray at Zen, he might have one in stock.
     
  6. Trancetto

    Trancetto Active Member

    I might have to do the quick fix, its just a small crack, but god does it have big effect :(

    I'll still wait till tomorrow and see if anyone on here has one, if not, ebay it is.
     
  7. XanRules

    XanRules Active Member

    Mishimoto is good - I use a Griffin in mine, and it's amazing.
     
  8. Ben@TTR

    Ben@TTR Member

    radiators are overrated. i just looped the upper radiator hose to the lower. it works just fine. lol

    good luck finding one local. trey would be your best bet or just patch it until one comes in.
     
  9. Jake

    Jake Active Member

    cracked radiators are very common. i have seen 2 mishimoto radiators with hairline cracks in the welds from the factory. but chances are you'll get one without them. haha
     
  10. Trancetto

    Trancetto Active Member

    Why did you have to post that, :argue:

    Guys you think this is like repairable? not talking about temporary repair. I mean its only hair line crack..... XD
     
  11. XanRules

    XanRules Active Member

    Get a Griffin and be done with it.
     
  12. ZenMotors

    ZenMotors Member

    I can overnight you a mishimoto cheap. Let me know if you need one.
     
  13. Cool_____

    Cool_____ Banned

    Tray can hook you up or give Josh at ImportImageRacing.com a call. Got my GMS radiator next day shipped for $205.

    Least your radiator just cracked....look what happened to mine. The hole you see was like that all the way down under the Perrin shroud! YIKES!
    [​IMG]
     
  14. 7wolf

    7wolf Member

    i just had to replace mine when i was on leave. i got a Mishimoto from fastwrx.com, they were cheaper than most and i got it in a few days. i replaced the rad and thermo in the parking lot of my buddies work with jack stands and hand tools. good luck bro, i've been there.
     
  15. Jake

    Jake Active Member

    i think it was a common problem on their first models. apparently they have fixed that issue. thats why i said you shouldnt have that issue

    http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MISHIMOTO-RACING-RADIATOR-1-3-CAP-01-07-Subaru-WRX-STi_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem33578966d7QQitemZ220511954647QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories
     
  16. WRXCoupe

    WRXCoupe Active Member

    Tray got me one so damn fast it was confusing. If you get the Mishimotto either trim your upper radiator hose or just flip it around otherwise the fan will munch it. You might want to keep your coolent level topped off and limp it to Zen while it's still just a hair line. Once those go they go! Good luck!
     
  17. Sparta

    Sparta Active Member

    Your gonna have to get the 04+ coolant reservoir hose assembly since the mishimoto has a cap ontop of it. I think these parts were about $30-$50 at Subaru
     
  18. Bug-Rex

    Bug-Rex Active Member

    Actually, it comes with a nipple to go over the outlet. Just put that on and ziptie it down. Has worked for me for almost a year now. Zen got mine to me next day for a good price. Install is pretty simple as well.
     
  19. Trancetto

    Trancetto Active Member

    Well Zen, if you can get me one cheaper than 255 over night send me a PM.
     
  20. The install is pretty easy. upper and lower radiator hoses and like 6 bolts and you have to swap over your cooling fans. If you go with a mishimoto then youll have to get another cap and some updated hoses like said in prior posts. I think I paid like 30 bucks for it but all you really need is the one metal line that runs on top of the radiator the rest is just rubber hose you can get from any parts store.
     
  21. XanRules

    XanRules Active Member

    if you need any help with the install, shoot me a PM.
     
  22. xerxesXXVII

    xerxesXXVII Member

    Wtf? Must be a bad week for radiators. I just replaced my radiator on monday. Call 1800radiator, they delivered my radiator and it cost about 150 for the radiator and delivery. My radiator was delivered to topspeed from their wharehouse in smryna, but they also have a location in lawrenceville.
    I'm pretty sure they will deliver to a residential address.

    Good luck!
     
  23. tolnep

    tolnep Member

    i bet that place is on 41. couple years ago i went looking on the net, found that place and just went by and picked it up and installed it that afternoon in my CRX.
     
  24. Trancetto

    Trancetto Active Member

    Well I am getting the mishimoto radiator. So I cant just reuse my old hoses?
     
  25. Trancetto

    Trancetto Active Member

    wow, what brand. And was it for 02 wrx? 150 is extremly cheap delivered. pm me soon please.
     
  26. Bug-Rex

    Bug-Rex Active Member

    You can. I didn't have to buy any new hoses when I installed my Mishi.
     
  27. Trancetto

    Trancetto Active Member

    Well if this guy doesnt reply to me about the 150 price till tomorrow, im gona go ahead and tell zen to order the mishi.
     
  28. Dr.Chris

    Dr.Chris Member

    Mine went last week while my car was in King's hands. So since I was already at Subaru I got their updated version with the new radiator cap and hoses. Not even close to being cheap, but I already had a large bill, so on the CC it went. Must be something in the cool air?
     
  29. Trancetto

    Trancetto Active Member

    ^^

    Mine was already wrincled where it crancked, so it was just matter of time.
     
  30. you can use the lower and upper hoses. I had to trim the upper hose a little bit just for clearance. Youll have to get a new cap for the 04+ setup and then theres a couple of hoses. There was a thread with the part numbers from subaru a while back but I couldnt find it.
     
  31. Trancetto

    Trancetto Active Member

    ^^

    Well ill give zen motors a call tomorrow and see if they have any in stock. If not, ill just call subaru ds and see how much the stock 02 radiator go for.

    Im gona install this crap my self, hopefully everything goes well.
     
  32. Bug-Rex

    Bug-Rex Active Member

    Its pretty straight forward.
     
  33. Trancetto

    Trancetto Active Member

    Well my radiator will be in tomorrow. I went out cus of boredom and decided to start work earlier. I got everything unbolted, and everything is lose and ready to come out. Now from what I know, i gotta take off the bottom hose to drain the coolent. Well i got the thing unbolted, but the thing is still too tight. So the only thing keeping the raditor from coming out is the top hose and bottom hose. Any tips on how to take these two hoses off with out getting a headache afterwards?
     
  34. Cool_____

    Cool_____ Banned

    Twist the hose to break the seal. You may have to take a flat head and pry up on the hose/connector to break it loose. Then pull them off. You can drain the radiator by using the petcock on the pass bottom of the radiator....unscrew it and it'll drain.

    But don't listen to me because my name is BigMouthRex.
     
  35. Trancetto

    Trancetto Active Member


    I see, this should be easier from what it sounds like. I had to stop since it started to sprinkle here.

    SO just another question. Once you drain the coolent from the radiator through the petcock screw, the radiator will be ready to come out? Or will there be mroe coolent comeing out once i remove the bottom hose?
     
    Last edited: Dec 14, 2009
  36. Cool_____

    Cool_____ Banned

    There may be a little more but not much.
     
  37. STiBottom

    STiBottom Member

    I hate using that Petcock cause all the coolant drains onto the subframe and runs all down the car. Just pull the bottom hose and it is a lot faster. I always use new coolant anyway. Learn by doing
     
  38. Cool_____

    Cool_____ Banned

    True but that's what that little nipple is for.....hose on it into the bucket. Viola no mess.
     
  39. STiBottom

    STiBottom Member

    I know but I am just impatient when it comes to that stuff. Petcock way takes around 30 minutes... removing lower hose takes about 30 seconds and I have done it enough to not make too much of a splash haha. I don't know if thats a good thing. I love my Koyo though
     
  40. Trancetto

    Trancetto Active Member

    Well ill finish up the work tomorrow. Thanks for the help guys.
     
  41. Bug-Rex

    Bug-Rex Active Member

    I just took the bottom hose off and voila coolant everywhere, but at least it didn't take long to drain.

    Perks of having an anytime pressure washer in the garage.
     
  42. ZenMotors

    ZenMotors Member

    PM'd tracking information!
     
  43. Trancetto

    Trancetto Active Member

    Hey guys, I just finished installing the radiator. Everything seems okey, i drove the car, temps are good.

    Only one slight problem.

    My power steering is kinda off. It's little bit stiffer. It doesn't feel all that tight, as if i didnt have power stearing, it's just little stiffer than the usual.

    Why is that?

    So far, im happy with the product, everything bolted on.
     
  44. Bug-Rex

    Bug-Rex Active Member

    Hows the mishi working out for you?
     
  45. Trancetto

    Trancetto Active Member

    SO far so good. I even went on a 320+ trip to Kentucky and everything worked out well. I highly recommend this radiator to anyone by what I've experienced so far..
     

Share This Page