My radiator just went pop :(

Jeo · Postby **Jeo** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 6:48 pm

Having being told that my radiator was not long for this world since I bought the car almost two years ago, she finally let go today. Nothing major, just a small crack in the top tank. Temperature was fine the whole way home, only noticed it because once I stopped the car at home, I could hear a feint hissing noise. Open the bonnet and sure enough, it’s boiled the overflow reservoir and there’s a small crack in the top tank.

Do I just buy a replacement second hand OEM one or is it worth going after market? If yes for aftermarket, what and where from?

Postby **Okibi** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 6:54 pm

I'm sure someone should have a 2nd hand item laying around but the Chinese aluminium radiators are so cheap it's worth the extra few dollars.

Steampunk · Postby **Steampunk** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 6:57 pm

My 2c, find an OEM rad from a low mileage automatic NA. Almost twice as thick as manual NA rads, and zero fitment issues. $100.

Fatty · Postby **Fatty** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 7:05 pm

i wouldn't risk putting a second hand radiator in my car, unless you knew it was only a few years old. mx5 centre sells a good new oem equivalent rad

http://www.mx5centre.com.au/index.php?m ... ucts_id=92

or the cooling pro could be a good option, tried and proven.

in fact i have a cooling pro and it's been great altho i've been thinking of replacing it as i prefer an oem appearance. it's only about a year old... maybe we could come to an mutually beneficial arrangement :lol:

Hellmun · Postby **Hellmun** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 7:07 pm

I thought there were hardly any automatic mx5's. Quite a few people on here have upgraded to cooling pro radiators or PWR. I know I have an NB8B radiator sitting in a shed at my parents place that only have 40,000km's on it. I'm sure there's someone local with a few, I'd try carco.

Postby **Okibi** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 7:17 pm

Even if it's low mileage the plastic is still old and brittle, it's another time bomb waiting to happen. Next time you might be stuck in the middle of no where.

Fatty · Postby **Fatty** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 8:03 pm

Okibi wrote:Even if it's low mileage the plastic is still old and brittle, it's another time bomb waiting to happen. Next time you might be stuck in the middle of no where.

yep.

Bauer · Postby **Bauer** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 8:46 pm

Anyone had any experience with Nationwide Radiators?

$297 from their website freight free

or

$209 via their ebay store freight free

I dont know anything about their quality though. I was just looking through ebay.

TieNN89 · Postby **TieNN89** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 9:11 pm

I just got a Cooling Pro from JustJap $299 for an NB + $20 postage bought yesterday arrived today

wun911 · Postby **wun911** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 10:53 pm

I got a PWR need a little adjustment and trimming to fit the radiator fans... and not 100% sure if the oem rad cap fits properly... But its a pretty good rad... forgot howmuch I paid though

broady · Postby **broady** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 11:28 pm

Mate if I was you, and I will be soon enough (my rad is pretty brown) I'd go ASI/Cooling Pro/PWR etc. - whichever is cheapest really.

Haven't heard about any quality issues other than fitment and that apparently has improved in the last few years.