1997 240sx

So, last week my radiator decided to break on me (the top radiator hose mounting pipe ripped off). I got it ziptied back together and drove the car home. When I got home I noticed that the top radiator hose was extremely "plump", it felt like it was super-pressurized. I have had problems with the radiator throwing off hoses before.

A few days ago I put a new used radiator on and flushed the system, however the top radiator hose is still very hard once the car gets warmed up. There is no air in the system to be expanding (I know water expands too btw). The engine stays cool and runs fine, but the hard hose is worrying me. I have compared it to my family's other cars, and another 240 and it feels a lot harder than their hoses.


Should I worry about it? I am going to have to drive back to state next week and I don't want my car to explode on the drive there (about 3.5 hour drive). I did not replace the t-stat but the engine warms up quickly and once warm doens't heat up anymore, so I believe the t-stat is working fine. Also about 4000 miles ago I put on a new water pump, could it be working to much or something?

Basically my car hates me, and I worry about it a lot. Thanks For the help guys,



[Edited on December 31, 2006 at 1:39 PM. Reason : sd]

12/31/2006 1:38:39 PM

you should have replaced that top hose, just wait till next time you feel it when it is "plump" and it explodes hot coolant in your face

12/31/2006 1:55:10 PM

Well the hoses look perfectly fine, hopefully I won't get a facefull of scalding hot water.

12/31/2006 1:59:15 PM

Quote :

"Well the hoses look perfectly fine"

Quote :

"When I got home I noticed that the top radiator hose was extremely "plump""

?

12/31/2006 2:02:50 PM

^ but it looked fine, as in it wasn't deteriorating or ripping - it looks new, just very firm. I'm not afraid of the hose ripping.

12/31/2006 2:11:28 PM

but being plump or swollen is a sign of deterioration

12/31/2006 3:12:22 PM

^

replace your 5 dollar radiator hose and don't worry about it after that

12/31/2006 3:17:17 PM

replace hose

[/thread]

12/31/2006 3:18:20 PM

Alright, I guess I will get a new hose . Can't be too pricey anyways.

12/31/2006 3:49:02 PM

Even if it's 20 dolla, that's still one fuckload cheaper than a new fucking engine.

12/31/2006 5:09:16 PM

Yup.

Although a new KA is only like $400 these days, still beats a $20 radiator hose.

12/31/2006 5:41:23 PM

Quote :

"^ but it looked fine"

i give up. the hoses are cheap. replace them when you replace the damn radiator.

/end of story

12/31/2006 6:09:24 PM

uh, have you put a new cap on there, not to be captain obvious or anything but it sounds like its building up too much pressure

12/31/2006 6:26:23 PM

No, stock cap.

1/1/2007 3:10:24 AM

i've got a new radiator, but need it installed. any suggestions on a good place to have it done?

1/1/2007 12:06:48 PM

pm 69 he can most likely take care of it for ya.

1/1/2007 12:15:36 PM

he works on cars?

1/1/2007 12:17:08 PM

Honestly radiators are pretty trivial to install (at least on my car) it took me about 7 minutes to install mine, then like 10 to refill it.

So I'm sure he could do it for you, just about any person with a few tools could. Hey, you could even try it yourself!

[Edited on January 1, 2007 at 1:50 PM. Reason : d]

1/1/2007 1:49:26 PM

if it only took you 10 minutes to fill you might have air trapped in it. burp it for awhile

1/1/2007 2:28:22 PM

It warmed right up and I burped it for a while 10 minutes may have been a little exaggeration. I'm very confident I got all the air out. Used the bleeder screw, popped the rad cap, filled it up, squeezed all the tubes, put the heater on full blast etc. I've bled it multiple times before so I know what I'm doing when it comes to that.

1/1/2007 2:30:13 PM

you dont sound like you know what your doing when it comes to anything.

1/1/2007 2:30:57 PM

Sure, I don't know anything

1/1/2007 5:42:20 PM

Quote :

"No, stock cap."

my point exactly, test the cap

1/1/2007 7:18:59 PM

I'll put on my spare cap and see if that helps. (I don't really know why I have a spare one but I do)

1/1/2007 7:46:41 PM