2.1TD Radiator- looks easy but surely it can't be!

[Mountain]

Hi,

Not been around for a while.- mostly due to the Pug chugging along nicely with no problems whatsoever.

Until today that is!

My radiator sprung a large leak and needs changing.
It looks relatively straightforward. Take off hoses, unclip radiator hoses, put new rad in, attach hoses. Fill with coolant, bleed air off.

However, I suspect the hoses will be a bitch to remove and probably end up splitting or something!

Any tips?

Cheers

[HimBigChief]

I did the radiator on my 2.1 earlier in the year. Pretty much as you describe really. The hoses have a little place where you can put a flat blade screwdriver to lever them out, but be careful with the bottom hose as it's a 1 piece unit and cost about £80 IIRC as I had to replace that as the end had corroded away to nothing so it wouldn't lock back in when refitted.

Do a search for the bleeding part as you need the drivers side corner up higher than the rest, or do as MJB does and park it with that wheel up on a kerb.

[teamster1975]

As Chief says the only swine is getting the hoses off with those crappy conrad fittings. Odds are the bottom hose union will be rusted to hell so you may need to replace it.

[steve_earwig]

Is that the one somebody had to wait months for?

[teamster1975]

Is that the one somebody had to wait months for?

6 week turnaround, unbelievable

[highlander]

It's maybe something you've already thought of, but you need to wait for the cooling system to cool down completely before attempting this.

The number of people I've heard of who have had skin severely scalded because they've removed a hose from a hot radiator is unbelievable.

[steve_earwig]

Maybe we need to start our own Darwin awards

[mjb]

Yeah, I've made the mistake of taking an expansion tank cap off right after a long drive... Shocked that the force of the cap being ripped out of my hand and shot upwards propelled by a fountain of scalding hot coolant didn't leave a dent in the bonnet...

Needless to say I've not made that whoopsie again

[Mountain]

Cheers guys ,much appreciated.

The bottom hose doesn't *look* too bad.....however, if it looks dodgy upon closer inspection i might just saw through the fitting above the hose if that's possible.

I shall remove it tomorrow.....

But after getting home late last night on the back of a recovery vehicle, and spending 6 hours on public transport today for 4 hours pay........

I am devoting this afternoon to the consumption of beer

[Mountain]

Er well...
Thought I'd pop outside and have a look. 3 hoses no problem.
Bottom hose is rusted in. However, I've very gently levered it out about 3 ml so I think I might get away with it. Will try some WD40 and more gentle levering tomorrow as I've run out of light.


Now....fridge...beer

[Mountain]

Well, bottom connector is indeed knackered
-
So, the plan is....
get a top hose with decent conrad connector from the scrappies. Buy an aluminium hose connector and bodge it with a couple of jubilee clips and instant gasket.
-
Anyone know the exact hose diameter? I measured it at about 1 1/4 inch but it's a bit hit and miss!

[HimBigChief]

I just replaced the whole pipe as it includes the metal bit on the inner wing aswell, and being 12 years old I thought it may have been slightly past it's best.

Your plan should work too though, and save you a nice big wedge of cash.

[Mountain]

Well it's a case of no car, no work, no cash! Excuse for a couple of days off I suppose.
-
New radiator and hose connector in the post. Got the old man to pop into the scrappies and get me a decent top hose.....would go myself but I'm carless at the minute!

[teamster1975]

So, the plan is....
get a top hose with decent conrad connector from the scrappies. Buy an aluminium hose connector and bodge it with a couple of jubilee clips and instant gasket.

Sounds familiar!

[Mountain]

Ah that'll do the job!
I'm thinking that a good hose connector and some gasket sealant will provide a semi permanant fix
-
Mind you, the ol' man called in a the scrappies. Not a hose in sight. All the 406's and 306's had missing hoses.......
-
I'm now onto plan C.
I cut the bottom hose at about the same place as the photo expecting better fitting...However, as all Peugeot Conrad hose ends are already taken I have been forced to try to salvage the knackered one with a view to re-attaching it.

My God it was rusty!
Still, I scraped what I could off and soaked it in penetrant. Bent the lip back into shape, gave it some wire wool.
It now looks almost respectable and luckily the 'O' ring is OK. Seems a reasonably good fit in the new radiator, so I might get away with it.