Busted Radiator

[Midwesterner]

I hit a raccoon early this morning on the highway. The temp. lights and check engine lights were on shortly after I hit it and I took it the last few miles home.

I took a look - the radiator was pushed back into the engine, which poked a hole in it. The question is whether I should have it towed or if I can make it 2-3 miles at low speeds (20-25 mph) to a repair shop. Of course I know there is a risk here, but trying to weigh the risk with the cost.

I attached a photo of the hole. There is some small amount of coolant below the hole, but it is very low. To avoid more spilling, I did put a pieced of duct tape over the hole, but obviously that only minimizes loss of coolant and doesn't stop it altogether.

[fnkngrv]

I know this doesn't pertain to your immediate issue, but I have my OEM radiator and fan/overflow unit if you want it.

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[bronsin]

Is there coolant in the radiator when u remove the cap?

[Midwesterner]

Is there coolant in the radiator when u remove the cap?

Yes, but the level is really low. AS you can see from the pic, the hole is not all the way in the bottom. There is some coolant well below where the hole is.

[CTScott]

Yes, but the level is really low. AS you can see from the pic, the hole is not all the way in the bottom. There is some coolant well below where the hole is.

That is not the radiator - it is the overflow tank, which mounts to the radiator, but is only connected by the little hose from the radiator fill neck. The radiator cap is on the upper hose. Remove that (not hot) and check to see if you have coolant in the system.

[Midwesterner]

That is not the radiator - it is the overflow tank, which mounts to the radiator, but is only connected by the little hose from the radiator fill neck. The radiator cap is on the upper hose. Remove that (not hot) and check to see if you have coolant in the system.
That makes sense, sorry. I used a flashlight to look down into the big hose under the cap, and it looks like it is a bit damp is all.

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[Midwesterner]

I mapped it, and it is 1.6 miles to the repair shop. I'm thinking maybe I should go tonight after dark and it cools down, then drop it off and call them tomorrow.

[CTScott]

I mapped it, and it is 1.6 miles to the repair shop. I'm thinking maybe I should go tonight after dark and it cools down, then drop it off and call them tomorrow.

Fill it via the cap with water and look to see if the radiator is actually dripping. From there you can tell if the run is safe or not. If it is slowly dripping you should be fine, but if it quickly loses it, it is more risky, but keeping it slow should prevent it from getting hot in that short of a distance.

[Midwesterner]

Thank you.

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[Midwesterner]

The water is coming back out pretty fast.

It doesn't matter anyway because it won't start anyway. I wonder if I also damaged the starter. :(

[tarkus]

Bet that raccoon won't start either

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[rabbito]

what about the racoon..is he any good?

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[bronsin]

The water is coming back out pretty fast.

It doesn't matter anyway because it won't start anyway. I wonder if I also damaged the starter. :(


You have to take the cap off the radiator not the white plastic thing.

Does the starter crank the engine?

[Midwesterner]

You have to take the cap off the radiator not the white plastic thing.

Does the starter crank the engine?
Yea, I put water under the cap with a warning about not opening hot, which is over the big hose.

There is no cranking at all.

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[Midwesterner]

It might be as simple as something disconnected, though. In any case, I am just going to get it towed today.

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[bronsin]

Good luck and tell us what happens!:smile:

[Midwesterner]

Thank you all for your help - I'll let you know what happens. It is a local small mechanic shop, and I told the guy I don't care about anything cosmetic. I just need it to reliably run.

I asked him to not fix anything until talking to me... it has nearly 160k miles, so if it too much cost, I might just replace it. I also need to get new tires in the next couple weeks, so could probably end up with $1K or more this month.

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[bronsin]

For $1000 I'd keep it!

[Midwesterner]

For $1000 I'd keep it!
Yes, even if it is $1K for repairs plus $400-$500 for tires, I will still keep it. I figure it will be at 200k in 1-2 years at my current annual mileage of 25k-30k. I hope to trade it in around that time. For now, $1.5K is less than 1-2 years of car payments, higher cost insurance, and higher cost license plates.

More than $1K for repairs, and I'm going to have to think hard about whether it is worth it, factoring in risk for additional mechanical repairs over the next 40K miles.

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[fnkngrv]

Well like I said earlier if you need a radiator and reservoir I can send you mine. Would just want the cost of shipping. Will give you the parts for free. Only thing is I am flying out tomorrow until the 18th to PHX.

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[Midwesterner]

I still might consider... where would it ship from? I don't want to wait too long and overnight shipping might be as much as a new unit. I can't work on it myself anyway... this guy might be willing to put it in for labor, though, so might save a bit. Waiting to hear back.

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[fnkngrv]

Maine. PM me if you want. I totally understand about time. I wasn't planning on making this trip.

Sent from m-o-b-i-l-e

[Midwesterner]

Definitely can't make overnight shipping work for that distance, but thank you for the offer.

The shop towed it, but couldn't get it in to assess yet today. Hoping to get a cost in the morning.

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[Midwesterner]

Heard back from mechanic, and this is the short story as I understood:

The radiator is busted, which I knew.
There is a cable that connects from the shifter up through the dash to put it in park. Not sure how, but apparently this cable broke and it won't start because it isn't actually in park.

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[Midwesterner]

Heard back from mechanic, and this is the short story as I understood:

The radiator is busted, which I knew.
There is a cable that connects from the shifter up through the dash to put it in park. Not sure how, but apparently this cable broke and it won't start because it isn't actually in park.

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I feel like I'm getting a super good deal, as he gave me a total of $375, including the cable, radiator, tow, and labor.

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[bronsin]

Wow!

[WeeYari]

You keep saying the radiator is busted, when all we can see is a damaged overflow reservoir. Is the radiator itself indeed damaged and being replaced, or just the reservoir?

[Midwesterner]

You keep saying the radiator is busted, when all we can see is a damaged overflow reservoir. Is the radiator itself indeed damaged and being replaced, or just the reservoir?
Yes. As described earlier, when I poured water into the big tube, it came out of the radiator as fast as I could pour. Apparently there are 2 grommets and plastic pieces on the bottom that busted off as well as the hole in the overflow tank.

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[WeeYari]

Great deal at the shop then. Well done.