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Thread: May need a new radiator, to go aftermarket or not ? reccomendations ?

  1. #1

    Default [WA] Radiator repaired, now the dramas begin ...

    Hello all,

    So i have established i got a leak with the radiator system and the car is going to be "gramps driven" to a workshop tomorrow

    I have an 2005 manual SP23 with nearly 100 000k's on the clock, in case anyone hasn't figured it out

    Had it running for about 15 mins today, trying to locate the leak, no luck
    I have wriggled all the pipes and it appears that they are still in tack
    The fittings for the aftermarket gauges are all secure as well

    My guess is its coming from the bas eof the radiator itself, so i may need a new radiator

    I Mate has suggested i get an aluminum race one with the dual fans and stuff

    Which leaves me wondering:

    - Is there a massive price difference between a race on and the factory ?
    - What are the pros and cons of each system ?
    - Will they both last as long as each other ?


    Any other feedback would also be greatly appreciated

    Most would be thinking, no point getting a race one if im not using the car on the track, but if there price difference isnt huge and its worth my while i may still get it anyways

    So yeah, put simply: do i go with a factory replacement or do i go with aftermarket ...

    ---------- Post added at 10:19 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:18 PM ----------

    P.S. if i have this in the wrong section, can Mods please move it - cheers
    Last edited by RED3VIL; 26-05-2011 at 10:03 PM.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Surrey Hills, Victoria
    Age
    49
    Posts
    5,866

    Default

    Not sure what the factory unit costs, but here's an idea of a performance radiator:

    http://store.awrracing.com/products/...mpetition.html

    As you've mentioned though I'm not sure if you'd really see a tangible benefit from it if you're not planning on doing competition race work etc

    Visually it's impressive though


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  3. #3

    Default

    Yeah win lose situation
    Have been told the factory ones have plastic fittings on them where as the after market doesnt
    Either way, looks like im up for a pretty penny, so may as well go the aftermarket, no plastic fittings - one would assume it would last longer

  4. #4

    Default

    I would make enquiries about a recon radiator from a specialist. They often have them in stock because there are a lot of common fittings. Probably fit it for you. Yes, modern radiators seem to go along that bottom edge.

  5. #5

    Default

    Only need to replace the main part of the radiator, not the entire cooling system - still its gonna be a costly one
    Will have to sort it out for my next RDO ....

    I have just been told by one of the mechanics that the AWR race radiators arent all that good, tough choice ...

    Got charged $25 or something for inspection, not too bad .. a place in Joondalup called Auto Solve

    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Foxy, thanks for you advice, just as a bit of a discussion. dont you think its a bit of a risk taking the chance with a recon or 2nd hand radiator ?
    This car cost me $32 000 brand new plus all the parts i have added onto it etc..

    If the whole cooling system blows out, its a chain effect if you dont realise quick enough
    Coolant goes, radiator drys up overheats and is fried, thermostate and water pump will be the next to get then the negine will eventually suffer ..

    Have had it in the past with my '87 astra, $1500 later i had the whole lot replaced ...

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Surrey Hills, Victoria
    Age
    49
    Posts
    5,866

    Default

    I should have prefixed my post above to say I have no experience with AWR. It just looked like the sort of thing you were mentioning


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  7. #7

    Default

    :P

    Have got the car booked in for the 25th
    Have decided to go with a generic - similar to mazda but will be cheaper and still does as good of a job

  8. #8

    Default

    i would just get a generic aftermarket one. performance radiators are made fully of alloy and this you wont get busted tanks etc. but you also pay a premium for that

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Surrey Hills, Victoria
    Age
    49
    Posts
    5,866

    Default

    Good call Matt


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  10. #10

    Default

    Ok, just got the ofrst quote and i think they are ripping me off:

    $652 - to supply and fit
    $149 to flush and fill with non genuine mazda coolant

    Opinions please ? Will be getting a few more quotes on Monday

  11. #11

    Default

    got new quotes, booked into new place and had the job done, the problems have only just began ....

    Got the new radiator fixed but i am absolutely pissed at how the situation has panned out

    I get a phone call at about 330pm:

    Your car is ready but we had to fit a new thermostat to it - no phone call was made prior to the extra work being done
    That costs me an extra $100 or so, they then tell me the water pump may be on the way out and the leak "should" be fixed

    I take that on board and keep my cool, thinking i will have to "deal" with it - pay the money, collect the car, tak ea look at it and all looks in order and make the 45min trip home during peak hour

    I get home to find the splash guard hanging from underneath ... who ever put the car back didnt fit the tray back on properly

    I send an email with photos to the workshop and call them today. I get a respsonse of "just bring the car back"
    I have asked them to explain to me how this could have happened and that i am clearly not happy
    They still show no concern at all, the work cost me $620 after all that and more drama's

    Just priced the bolts and clips from Mazda, $5 a piece !!

    I have had my car up on a wheel jack and managed to remove and re-fit that guard with basic tools, so i'd like to know how the hell a workshop can mess it up.
    Car is parked up again at home becuase i havent had time to remove or temp fit the splash guard properly, i go in for an operation on Monday and now looks like the car wont be drivable for a few weeks

    To top it all off, they didnt even bother to clean up the left over coolant when my car was ready for pick up, the branch manager said " that will dry up, blow away"

    If anyone in Perth plans to get a radiator replaced, dont go to the workshop in Beechboro, name will stay un-named so i dont end up with a law suit or something against me - PM and i will tell you the name if you want to know

    I have been asked to bring the car back and they wll sort the problem .... poor customer service

    ---------- Post added at 11:02 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:01 PM ----------

    Ok, first email and reply from them:


    > Hello XXXXX,
    >
    > I have just collected my vehicle and paid $615 to your company. On arriving home, I was disappointed to find that the splash guard wasnt fitted back correctly to my car. I would appreciate receiving the bolts back from you. (please see photos attached). I would like to know the reason why this happened and if the bolts have been lost by your staff, I would like them replaced urgently as I am without a car at the moment.
    >
    > I was also annoyed at the fact that no one called me to advise that extra work was being carried out with additional costs.
    >
    > I will be calling you tomorrow and hopefully this can be sorted out.
    >
    > Matthew
    > <DSC03690.JPG>
    > <DSC03689.JPG>
    Reply:

    Morning if you stop in today I will have a mechanic look at the damper.
    Regards
    XXXXX
    Sent from my iPad

    And another reply:

    Morning Again
    I have just spoken to the mechanic and the damper is clipped and has a plastic button to hold it in place. I have plenty in stock so any time convenient to you.

  12. #12

    Default

    Problem has been fixed at my expense, i will be calling RAC to see if there is anything that can be done
    The workshop i went through was a registered repairer with RAC, so they should know better

    P.S. dont go to Mazda, they wanted $5 a piece !!

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