Changed Radiator, Still Leaking?

1. MickyWelsh172 Established Member Joined: May 2010 Sunderland Posts: 1966 Clio Sport 172

   #1 26th April 2012, 14:42

   Went to fit a vts radiator to my vtr, cut the lower pipe down so it would fit, but the radiator i bought doesnt have the plug for the sensor to plug into.
   
   So now im going to put a standard vtr radiator back in, but wondering what i'll do with the lower pipe now that ive cut it down?
   
   It will physically pull along, but not sure i can get the opening over the plastic on the radiator?
   
   Any help would be appreciated?
   
   
   Thanks?
2. Baz Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Nov 2005 Coventry Posts: 17782 Fiesta ST150

   #2 26th April 2012, 14:59

   How come your VTS Rad didn't come with a blacking plug for where the sensor goes?
3. MickyWelsh172 Established Member Joined: May 2010 Sunderland Posts: 1966 Clio Sport 172

   #3 26th April 2012, 15:00

   It has mate, but surely i need the sensor?
4. Baz Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Nov 2005 Coventry Posts: 17782 Fiesta ST150

   #4 26th April 2012, 15:01

   Why? I've just used the blanking plug, been fine on mine in the 3 years its been on there
5. MickyWelsh172 Established Member Joined: May 2010 Sunderland Posts: 1966 Clio Sport 172

   #5 26th April 2012, 15:02

   Does the fan still come on when it heats up?
6. Baz Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Nov 2005 Coventry Posts: 17782 Fiesta ST150

   #6 26th April 2012, 15:05

   It does indeed
7. MickyWelsh172 Established Member Joined: May 2010 Sunderland Posts: 1966 Clio Sport 172

   #7 26th April 2012, 15:06

   So whats that sensor actually for then if it still works without it? Are you talking about the blue pug that goes below the top hose?
8. Gandi699 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 9100 Amazon green VTR 16v, Inferno RS clio 182

   #8 26th April 2012, 15:27

   Dont use Mk2s ECU controlled fans? Hence why the plug is redundant?
9. MickyWelsh172 Established Member Joined: May 2010 Sunderland Posts: 1966 Clio Sport 172

   #9 26th April 2012, 15:28

   So what i mean is, how does the fan know when to turn on?
   
   Thanks
10. Gandi699 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 9100 Amazon green VTR 16v, Inferno RS clio 182

    #10 26th April 2012, 15:37

    It uses the sensors in the coolant elbows as far as I'm aware
11. Baz Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Nov 2005 Coventry Posts: 17782 Fiesta ST150

    #11 26th April 2012, 15:37

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by MickyWelsh1984 So whats that sensor actually for then if it still works without it? Are you talking about the blue pug that goes below the top hose?

    Yeah thats the one, one below the right hand side pipe as you look at it from the front
12. MickyWelsh172 Established Member Joined: May 2010 Sunderland Posts: 1966 Clio Sport 172

    #12 28th April 2012, 18:44

    Changed the radiator today believing thats where the water leaks was coming from, but its still leaking? Is there any other water related pipes/hoses down near the bottom of the radiator near power steering pump/motor?
13. user_20080 Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.

    #13 28th April 2012, 19:18

    Are you sure the pipes going to heater matrix aren`t leaking?
14. MickyWelsh172 Established Member Joined: May 2010 Sunderland Posts: 1966 Clio Sport 172

    #14 28th April 2012, 19:23

    Thing is, it only leaks when the engine is turned on, does that mean anything to you?
15. user_20080 Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.

    #15 28th April 2012, 19:26

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by MickyWelsh1984 Thing is, it only leaks when the engine is turned on, does that mean anything to you?

    Turned on meaning running?Yes the water will be being pumped around the engine & forced out of any split/crack.
16. MickyWelsh172 Established Member Joined: May 2010 Sunderland Posts: 1966 Clio Sport 172

    #16 28th April 2012, 19:28

    yeah when the engine is running, is starts to drip slowly, thinking its just the bottom bleed screw isnt tightened enough, but went back under to tighten it and it snapped inside!
    
    *Buy Cheap, Buy Twice* as they say!
    
    Anyway, still got a drip coming from there, so gonna replace it again, total waste of £30!
17. Gandi699 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 9100 Amazon green VTR 16v, Inferno RS clio 182

    #17 28th April 2012, 20:29

    I bought a "cheap" VTS one from ebay and its been fine. I'd return it to the seller and say its defective or just seal that bleed screw back in, its not like you need the lower one really
18. MickyWelsh172 Established Member Joined: May 2010 Sunderland Posts: 1966 Clio Sport 172

    #18 29th April 2012, 15:12

    Well it goes from bad to worse in this case, when attempting to remove the radiator fan, the lug that the top part slots into has now also snapped, so ive fucked that off, reported him to ebay and mended the old radiator till i get a proper one when i get paid.
    
    Dont know where i stand in terms of a refund as his 'policy' is only accepts returns in un-used condition in original packaging, in this case thats impossible.
    
    Learnt a valuable lesson though, definitely buy genuine gear rather than cheap shite!
19. Baz Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Nov 2005 Coventry Posts: 17782 Fiesta ST150

    #19 29th April 2012, 22:55

    go to a garage and get the to pressure test it mate, that will soon locate the hole
20. Cah L-plater Joined: Apr 2012 Dundee Posts: 40 Saxo Furio

    #20 29th April 2012, 22:58

    iv had a leak ever since i changed my coolant, put radweld in and no more leak
21. Gandi699 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 9100 Amazon green VTR 16v, Inferno RS clio 182

    #21 30th April 2012, 01:44

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Cah iv had a leak ever since i changed my coolant, put radweld in and no more leak

    That stuffs a get moving fix at best, I wouldnt use it for any period of time in the cooling system
22. MickyWelsh172 Established Member Joined: May 2010 Sunderland Posts: 1966 Clio Sport 172

    #22 30th April 2012, 15:56

    Ive bodged the old rad up with a load of Cataloy stuff, just till i get a decent rad when i get paid, seems to be doing the trick