OT: Need Advise - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Perchjerker · 02-28-2004, 01:21 AM

Wife was just in an accident a couple of hours ago--hit and run. She's fine, not hurt thank God but my radiator is leaking in my 2002 Tacoma. Pretty sure is not the lower radiator hose. These new "fandangled" trucks have what looks like plastic radiators. Can these be repaired???
The new one from the Toyota dealership is BIG BUCKS!

krue · 02-28-2004, 03:31 AM

You may be able to replace the tanks if one of them is leaking. Take it to a good radiator shop and get their opicnion.

krue · 02-28-2004, 03:32 AM

Oh yeah, make sure ya'll called the cops!

Hooter · 02-28-2004, 03:53 AM

you can try melting the plastic with a torch and filling in the crack with more melted plastic, or you can epoxy it, not sure if that would work though

Chevy Wrench · 02-28-2004, 05:45 AM

The tanks can be replaced. I dont think I would trust an epoxy or plastic weld. I would call around to a few radiator shops and get some advise. You might be better off buying a new one anyway. Good luck

gonebad2 · 02-28-2004, 06:20 AM

Those plastic tank radiators can be tough if not impossible to fix. The ones I've seen have a large rubber "O" ring style gasket that runs the perimeter of the tank. The tank is held to the core by aluminum tabs that are bent over to keep the plastic tank in place. From my experience, those tabs only like to bend just one time, then break when you try and bend them back. If you are looking for reliability, I would buy a new one. It's not worth ruining your engine from overheating or having your wife stranded somewhere if the fix doesn't work. Plus, with your ride being so new, it might void any warranty down the road if something else fails on the engine. They might give you trouble saying something like the repaired radiator caused other problems. Just something to think about. I would shop around. There is a guy that sells new radiators on ebay all the time. His prices seem good. Sorry but I can't remember his user name.

Perchjerker · 02-28-2004, 10:17 AM

Thanks guys. All this plastic crap is disposable and is very expensive.
Yea we called the state troopers but in reality, the guy will just get away.
Very little body damage to the truck. I'm just going to sand and primer the dents until my wife saves the money to get it fixed. Driving a primered beast will be her punishment for cell phone usage during driving (which in my opinion and knowing my wife caused the accident). I'm not going to let the insurasnce company jack up my rates.

Bill72BB · 02-28-2004, 01:30 PM

If you can't fix it try an independant radiator shop, they are less expensive than the Toy or Nisson dealer's.

Perchjerker · 02-29-2004, 02:56 AM

400 bucks and a 5 hour round trip to Houston and I have new radiator. At least I'll meeet my deductable.

02-28-2004, 01:21 AM	#1
Perchjerker Beer Power!!!!!!!!!! Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nacogdoches, TX Posts: 280	OT: Need Advise Wife was just in an accident a couple of hours ago--hit and run. She's fine, not hurt thank God but my radiator is leaking in my 2002 Tacoma. Pretty sure is not the lower radiator hose. These new "fandangled" trucks have what looks like plastic radiators. Can these be repaired??? The new one from the Toyota dealership is BIG BUCKS! __________________ Rather be fishin'

02-28-2004, 03:31 AM	#2
krue Designated A-hole! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: South Mississippi Posts: 36,450	You may be able to replace the tanks if one of them is leaking. Take it to a good radiator shop and get their opicnion. __________________ "If it ain't broke, fix it 'til it is!" Being stupid ain't illegal. We're Still Debt Free Except for the House!!! www.daveramsey.com 70 GMC SWB Stepside project "Green Booger" soon to be 6.0l/4l80e 93 S-10 "Poppaw's Truck"

02-28-2004, 03:32 AM	#3
krue Designated A-hole! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: South Mississippi Posts: 36,450	Oh yeah, make sure ya'll called the cops! __________________ "If it ain't broke, fix it 'til it is!" Being stupid ain't illegal. We're Still Debt Free Except for the House!!! www.daveramsey.com 70 GMC SWB Stepside project "Green Booger" soon to be 6.0l/4l80e 93 S-10 "Poppaw's Truck"

02-28-2004, 03:53 AM	#4
Hooter My other Love Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Castlegar B.C. Canada Posts: 4,085	you can try melting the plastic with a torch and filling in the crack with more melted plastic, or you can epoxy it, not sure if that would work though __________________ Castlegar B.C.The great white North (Canada Eh!) Hooter_5@hotmail.com First generation Monte Carlo club pictures of my life

02-28-2004, 05:45 AM	#5
Chevy Wrench former desert rat Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: salt lake city, utah Home of the 3 M's Mormons, methlabs and minivans Posts: 320	The tanks can be replaced. I dont think I would trust an epoxy or plastic weld. I would call around to a few radiator shops and get some advise. You might be better off buying a new one anyway. Good luck __________________ 94 Chevy Silverado Ext cab 4/6 drop w/ 18's and 2500watt system (work truck). 67 Chevy swb under const. frame off custom, 20's, bagged and a large rat under the hood,and a 1940 Chevy truck under const.

02-28-2004, 06:20 AM	#6
gonebad2 Merciless Butcher Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: CC Nevada Posts: 1,447	Those plastic tank radiators can be tough if not impossible to fix. The ones I've seen have a large rubber "O" ring style gasket that runs the perimeter of the tank. The tank is held to the core by aluminum tabs that are bent over to keep the plastic tank in place. From my experience, those tabs only like to bend just one time, then break when you try and bend them back. If you are looking for reliability, I would buy a new one. It's not worth ruining your engine from overheating or having your wife stranded somewhere if the fix doesn't work. Plus, with your ride being so new, it might void any warranty down the road if something else fails on the engine. They might give you trouble saying something like the repaired radiator caused other problems. Just something to think about. I would shop around. There is a guy that sells new radiators on ebay all the time. His prices seem good. Sorry but I can't remember his user name. __________________ Your Bought And Sold....I Got Your Soul! Last edited by gonebad2; 02-28-2004 at 06:25 AM.

02-28-2004, 10:17 AM	#7
Perchjerker Beer Power!!!!!!!!!! Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nacogdoches, TX Posts: 280	Thanks guys. All this plastic crap is disposable and is very expensive. Yea we called the state troopers but in reality, the guy will just get away. Very little body damage to the truck. I'm just going to sand and primer the dents until my wife saves the money to get it fixed. Driving a primered beast will be her punishment for cell phone usage during driving (which in my opinion and knowing my wife caused the accident). I'm not going to let the insurasnce company jack up my rates. __________________ Rather be fishin'

02-28-2004, 01:30 PM	#8
Bill72BB Thats the Hillbilly way Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Torrance,Ca Posts: 5,980	If you can't fix it try an independant radiator shop, they are less expensive than the Toy or Nisson dealer's. __________________ BILL Torrance Calif 90504 Member DUF Club Member Old Farts Club 72 3/4ton Custom Camper BB402/400 trans Dynomax Cerama-coat headers , Hei distributor ,Edelbrock 1411 air,ps,pb,leafsprings ,98 chevy 60/40 seat,S10 shoulder belts tilt,3.54 Dana 60 rear. 16" Eagle wheels with LT265/75 16 tires,Gaylord Lid,H4 headlights with 100W relay conversion. " If I knew I was going to live this long I would have taken better care of myself " Marriage changes passion...suddenly you're in bed with a relative. A GUY'S PRAYER.... Lord, I pray for a nympho with huge boobs who owns a liquor store and likes to fish and hunt and has a Harley .Amen ,

02-29-2004, 02:56 AM	#9
Perchjerker Beer Power!!!!!!!!!! Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nacogdoches, TX Posts: 280	400 bucks and a 5 hour round trip to Houston and I have new radiator. At least I'll meeet my deductable. __________________ Rather be fishin'



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