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MG MGF Technical - Saved by the Coolant level alarm - But....

Another coolant level alarm thread!
B&G alarm went off in my partners F this evening and, thank goodness, she stopped immediately and called me out. Long story short, level had dropped substantially in reservoir. Topped up, got car home. Quick examination shows a steady dripping from LH of radiator (as viewed from front of car). Obviously I will strip the front down tomorrow - but law of averages and knowledge of previous failures in this area - whats the general concensus - is it more likely to be the rad itself, or just a hose / connection? Many thanks.
Steve Clark

how old is car most rads dont last long get ali one but be careful what you buy as a lot have cheap bleed screws as i found out the other day had to strip my new one in the end and chemical metal a brass nut in also take time to look at my thread on fitting a duct kit to guide the airflow into rad throgh bumper (you will see why when you strip it )also have used a product called water wetter in my f regards richard
tg hardwick

It is probably the radiator, aluminium ones are very good value and can be easily fitted without ditching the coolant or removing the bumper. Aircon makes it slightly harder.
Charless

Hoses can and do fail, but it is sadly more common for the rad to fail - so expect this when you strip the front end down.
Rob Bell

Thanks all - it was the rad. Most of the bottom row of the matrix rusted. Replacement (ali) off the shelf from a local old-fashioned radiator shop - £82 inc. For reference - its easy. Undo 5 screws that secure the front plastic bumper unit. Unbolt top (bonnet slam) panel - don't worry about bonnet catch mechanism - the whole panel can just be swivelled forward to gain access. Undo top hose (those bastard factory fit hose clips the most time-consuming part of the whole job!), remove electric fan (plug and 3 nuts), move fan to the other side, then bottom hose clip. Replacement is reverse etc.
Right, I'm off out to replace faulty temp. gauge sender thats been waiting to be done for months, then fill'n'bleed!

Thank god for the low coolant sensor alarm - and a partner, who for a change, listened to what I said!
Steve Clark

Good result really! If the coolant had a chance to bleed dry, you'd be looking at rather more than a bill for just a rad and a sensor! :o)
Rob Bell

This thread was discussed between 04/08/2010 and 06/08/2010

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