Radiator plug problem

Discussion in 'General Motoring' started by not hereplease, Dec 3, 2003.

  1. 1988............740 Volvo Estate.


    My son is away with the above car, he has had the plug for the temperature
    gauge for the electric fan pop out and cause the engine to over heat. The
    engine does not have an electric fan it is pulley driven so.
    The radiator has been temporarily repaired at the roadside by the roadside
    recovery service ( RAC ) in the U.K.
    How do I replace the plug that has popped out.
     
    not hereplease, Dec 3, 2003
    #1
  2. not hereplease

    Barry Leslie Guest

    I replaced a radiator on my (ex) 740 a couple of years ago and re fitted the
    temperature sensor with a new grommet and remember thinking "this thing
    could pop out". Not happy with just leaving it as it was, I made a two
    pronged clamp that conveniently bolted to some lugs moulded into the plastic
    top tank of the radiator. I didn't worry after that!

    Regards
    Barry
     
    Barry Leslie, Dec 3, 2003
    #2
  3. not hereplease

    Mike F Guest

    Get a new seal (and plug if it was lost) and install like normal. The
    plug has a slotted top, position it so that you can wrap a long plastic
    tie through the slot and around the tank to hold it in.

    Anybody else with this rad design, I'd suggest doing this before that
    plug (or temp sensor) pops out on you!

    --
    Mike F.
    Thornhill (near Toronto), Ont.

    NOTE: new address!!
    Replace tt with t and remove parentheses to email me directly.
     
    Mike F, Dec 4, 2003
    #3
  4. What would cause the plug to go other than the plug itself.
    Could there be a fault in the rad or engine
     
    not hereplease, Dec 4, 2003
    #4
  5.  
    not hereplease, Dec 4, 2003
    #5
  6. not hereplease

    Mike F Guest

    The plug is not the problem, the seal is. There's nothing but friction
    of the seal holding the plug in. The pressure inside the rad goes from
    0 to 150 kPa (the pressure of the cap) and from freezing cold to above
    100 degrees C, repeatedly over a period of years. The seal rubber gets
    harder, the coolant functions as a lubricant as it slowly creeps its way
    out. Then one day, Poof! and you have problems. If the cap is
    defective the pressure can get way higher, so it's a good idea to have
    the cap checked (or replace it) since you've had this problem.

    --
    Mike F.
    Thornhill (near Toronto), Ont.

    NOTE: new address!!
    Replace tt with t (twice!) and remove parentheses to email me directly.
    (But I check the newsgroup more often than this email address.)
     
    Mike F, Dec 5, 2003
    #6
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