can a plastic radiator end cap be fixed on the vehicle?

Question

it is split at the seam below rad. hoose

Answer 1

I depends how big and where! Also it depends on your ingenuity! I have one that broke loose right at the seam between the radiiator core and the tank! I put a 1/4" metal ("U" shaped) channel (in pieces about 5" long at a time),- all the way up and down tanks on both ends. I did this 3 years ago, and no leaks yet (used JB weld). Actually it was the brass part of the radiator that was cracking - (not the plastic) - which means there was no salvation available with a "new tank", - so I "went for it!" This was on a 93 Plymouth Acclaim.

If the area is easily accessible, you probably can repair it, however it will take you a couple days with the car out of service to get it set up really good! If it is a crack "crosswise" across the tank end, You must make a "band" about 1/2' wider each side of crack,- the band has to go where you can bend it into a 90 degree- (preferably with a very small 90 on the end of it too (to hook over the end of the radiator flange securely). you then spread a light layer over the crack in the end cap, - after it has dried, get all the "high" spots and bumps fairly leveled down. After this has been done,- and JB weld has set for a day or so, you them mix up a bout 1/4 of a tube (both tubes) and put a thick layer all the way arond the, plastic tank, - then you set the "band in place (in the fresh spread "JB") and secure it with some kind of clamp, - or "sandwitch" it between a couple stationary objects with a couple small sticks of wood,-- naturally you are trying to get the band centered on the crack! After all this dries, (like maybe 5-6 hours), you can remove it from "clamped" conditon, knock off all the big bumps (for esthetic purposes) with a file or sandpaper! Then last of all you flow a nice band of JB weld over the whole thing (patched area)-about 1/16-1/8' thick - making sure you have a good "bunch" covering the ends where it is clamped to the radiator core flange! When finished you should be able to see no metal showing anywhere on the patched area!..... Note, no "JB" on inner part of the metal flange on radiator till you put the "clamp" in place!

The only way you can patch a vertical crack ( between tank and flange areas) is to "saddle" the whole end about 2" apart all the way from top to bottom, and this takes a while, but can be done, - it is going to take you about 4 "cards" of JB weld (for all 4 sides) though, and be careful not to mix more than you are going to use each time, because when it is mixed it is basically "gone" as soon as the setting time has passed, it is a "block" of wasted material! (if you come up short on mix, there is plenty time to mix a little more before the stuff that you already have on sets!

So it can be done, but it isn't easy, (but is cheaper than a new radiator). Make sure that the crack is not on the metal "flange" where it crimps over the edge of the plastic end! If it is, -like mine was, - you are going to have to make a "u" channel, mine worked out at 1/4" (in 3 successive bends (I happened to have a junked electronic organ keyboard, and this was the size of the metal pieces that hooked to the keys), - so I had ready made parts "ready to glue", You will have to put them on in short pieces, rigging a clamp to hold them against the inner part of "flange till they have dried in place, doing one at a time more or less end to end ( a small crack where JB squished out will be ok), - after you have all them "glued in place", you can then put a couple light coats of JB al the way up inner and outer flange areas, make the last smooth as possible, and covering whole "patched" part evenly - this makes it look nice! One other thing if it has cracked on one side, you might as well do all four sides! as it won't be long till all the other ones start cracking too!

Remember nothing is impossible if you want to do it hard enough, but some things are "darn hard"!!

Answer 2

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A few months is not a temporary repair. Don't be cheap replace it. The heat and pressure building in the tank is what causes the jb weld to fail. A temporary (very temporary) fix is to leave the cap loose (first stop when taking it off). Not so loose that it can fall out when you hit a bump, this stops the pressure from building and forcing the coolant out. Rock Auto has radiators for your car for around $90 and they are easy to put in. You could go to an auto graveyard and get a used one but it is buyer be ware on used auto parts. Good luck!

Answer 3

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RE:
can a plastic radiator end cap be fixed on the vehicle?
it is split at the seam below rad. hoose

Answer 4

i own a repair shop,and no it cant be repaired on the vehicle,it has to be taken off ,and the plastic tank replaced on it,i always send all mine out to have them done i don't lie radiator work at all,but it has to come completely off of it,good luck i hope this help,s.

Answer 5

Nope, if it was metal then yes...but plastic nope. Ante up the cash for a new radiator.

Answer 6

it,s a waste of time using duct tape ! as soon as it gets hot it will start to come off ! if JB weld don,t hold it then it looks like your going to have to get another radiator !

Answer 7

needs to be done at radiator shop to be done right

Answer 8

nope.