Sanity

Looking for some ideas here , I have a hole in the top of my radiator which has a plastic top tank where the hole is.

I hate this car and dont want to spend any money on it , but I need to block the hole. I have tried using a soldering iron to melt the hole over , but no go.

Does anyone have any ideas on how I might be able to bodge this up ?

TIA

Fernbay

Patch her up with a fiber glass repair kit?

__________________
FS:- DM7020 - $525 DM500S $170 , DM500 2A PSU, $25ea... DM500 mobo - $130 - Free domestic express post

PM for details

hoe

any business that does plastic welding will be able to fix it for a few dollars, or try aralditing a piece of plastic over it.....

__________________
hoe@austech.tv

Sanity

Hmm......araldite..might be worth first try. If not I might go the fibreglass option. My missus has ****ed the motor so she can just drive it until it explodes.

Thanks for the replies.

ssrattus

araldite isn't good at high temps....

Selleys Araldite 5 Minute Everyday



Selleys Araldite Super Strength

ssrattus

You could try Selleys Knead It Steel it says it can be used for fixing radiators... doesn't say plastic though.

tytower

There is a strip put out by selleys which you rip off a bit of two colloured putty , knead and plug it up . It is sold as petrol tank/radiator repair material and is about $9 -works bloody well on petrol tanks.

Put a paperclip in the hole push the putty in a bit and use the paperclip to rol and expand the bit of the plug inside ,remove the clip and a last push with the finger tip seals all. Its expanded like a rivet inside so cant come out.

a blob round a pop rivet could be fashioned to do the job too

Sanity

I found some similar shit to that Selleys knead it that withstands higher temeratures so I have dumped some of that on.

I previoused used something similar from loctite that said it could be used for fuel tanks or radiators but it got blown off after 3 days. I'll see if this stuff hangs on.

Sanity

Yep , spotted that while I was reading the tube. If this stuff fails I will try a fibreglass repair kit.

z80

Probably cheaper to get a second hand radiator at the wreckers.

If it's got one hole it will probably get another.

__________________
Disclaimer:
(all my posts are my,opinions etcetera and prone to gross
errors,ommissions,lies,generalities,and more lies or prejudices as suits me on the day )

Sanity

The radiator is actually in good condition. The hole is in a molding line below the radiator cap. More a fault with the radiator than anything else.

I wouldnt spend the money on a second hand radiator from a wreckers.It still wouldnt be cheap being a Hyundai and the percentage of radiators with holes knocked in them at wreckers can be very annoying when you replace something that leaks with something that leaks as well.

Its a 2000 Hyundai Sonata whos lifespan is terminal due to the cooking my missus gave it. Its not running particuarly well after being boiled dry and I only intend to bog the hole so she can drive it until it blows up.

Its not worth repairing in my opinion , a motor replacement or rebuild will be almost what the car is worth. It has already cost me too much as it is , the whole intake assembly has to be removed just to change the spark plugs.

Not a car I would recommend

global88

A common problem with those crappy plastic radiator side and top tanks, thats happened twice to me on fords.

The first time i bought for next to nothing a smashed radiator, opened it up to remove its good side tank and put this on my radiator.

Second time i got a second hand one for $60, just couldnt be bothered with all the mucking around.

Ive heard of people using liquid steel or the gum type knead repair system.

Have you thought of calling a radiator repair place for a price to change the cracked top tank?
Stay away from Natrad their ripoffs.

You would think they would have stayed with the old fashion system instead of the plastic crap of today.

Sanity

The only local radiator place is a Natrad dealer. Last time I went there , I came home $650 lighter.

I dont really have a problem with the plastic tanks , its just this one has popped a leak where 2 pieces of it have been moulded together at the factory. It would seem its the weakest point. There are no cracks , its just popping pinhole type leaks along the mould join.

global88

Id be tempted to sand it (for a good key in surface) and use the knead it steel (not the 2 part liquid one), nice, wide and thick layer.

Much cheaper than a replacement unit.

billone

use plastic weld kit called Q-BOND [alcars paint supplies croydon sell it !].. or i might have a second hand rad for you.

Sanity

It ended up going KABOOM.

Expect to see a 2000 model Hyundai Sonata with a blown motor on Ebay soon.

z80

They're paying up to $250 for scrap metal now due to steel demand.

Sanity

Thats probably what I will get for it on ebay.

circuit

How many times can you recycle a Coke can ?
Hyundai's (not the best car IMO) must be made from a lot of old Coke cans and old tyres with a lick of paint.

Although Daewoo must be made of old Hyundai cause they fall apart even quicker.

z80

true...I hadn't considered that before posting my suggestion....LOL