1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Radiator Top Tank Crack... PLASTIC FANTASTIC

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by Monkeysuncle, May 24, 2011.

  1. May 24, 2011 at 1:36 PM
    #1
    Monkeysuncle

    Monkeysuncle [OP] My Cat's breath Smells like Cat Food

    Joined:
    Aug 27, 2008
    Member:
    #8809
    Messages:
    1,250
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Kevin
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    99 Tacoma SR5 4x4 5 speed Manual Hubs
    Diff Breather,CB thingy,GPS,Cop Shocks,Cop Brakes, old Man Emu 881's Dakar Leaf Springs and Nitro sport shocks. Deck Plate mod
    Lets hear it for fantastic plastic!! Driving home today I was at a stop light and I smell the sweet sweet smell of antifreeze. I think to myself, well it's really hot out, I have the AC on and I am sitting in trafic, so I must have some moving into the over flow, look at temp and I am good to go. Once I get home I open the hood and I find a hairline crack in the top PLASTIC tank and it looks like I have been through a mud puddle because I have dried water(coolant) on the tank, under the hood on the hoses...crap:eek:. I have already called on a new one I will be out the door for $150.00 and it's easy to do the install because I have had the rad out twice for my two waterpumps I have put in, but this can't come at a worse time, money is tight, between paychecks, and unfortunatly I live paycheck to paycheck. I'm at 125K now, and I am not bashing my truck but man, this coolant system has been a pain in the ass. Two pumps, one lower hose, one thermostat, and now this. I have changed the antifreeze twice in the past five years and try to keep up on the Preventive side of truck ownership. Thanks for letting me vent.
     
  2. May 24, 2011 at 4:37 PM
    #2
    meatman

    meatman I deal with dead animals

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2011
    Member:
    #53630
    Messages:
    3,728
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Greg
    Murphy N.C.
    Vehicle:
    (built) 04 Tacoma SR5 4x4 and 01 TRD 4x4 DD
    Dude that sucks and i know how hot it gets in Fl. but it is 12 yrs, old and that is not bad for a POS plastic radiator in Fl.
     
  3. May 24, 2011 at 4:51 PM
    #3
    travelingman

    travelingman What would Scooby do?

    Joined:
    Jul 3, 2009
    Member:
    #19254
    Messages:
    644
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Brian
    Ohio
    Vehicle:
    07lb4x4DC
    ticking eng.mo,ventvisors,locking tailgate,wheelmasters ss spare tire inflation line,weathertech mats

    Nothing lasts forever.12 years isn't POS plastic.
     
  4. May 25, 2011 at 7:57 PM
    #4
    Monkeysuncle

    Monkeysuncle [OP] My Cat's breath Smells like Cat Food

    Joined:
    Aug 27, 2008
    Member:
    #8809
    Messages:
    1,250
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Kevin
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    99 Tacoma SR5 4x4 5 speed Manual Hubs
    Diff Breather,CB thingy,GPS,Cop Shocks,Cop Brakes, old Man Emu 881's Dakar Leaf Springs and Nitro sport shocks. Deck Plate mod
    I know nothing lasts forever, but my first car was a 1965 Mustang that I got in 1987, had the original, well hell everything was original on that car, my only bitch is if it were metal I could fix it, but being plastic, it's a no go on repair, just open wallet shell out cash. Tomorrow should be a good day, new rad is in at carquest, new antifreeze going in and my girl is taking me to get new parts and treating me to breakfast because she feels bad for me. FYI, JB Weld doesn't even come close to fixing a hairline crack on a plastic tank on our radiators. Turns out our cooling system has upwards of 15 PSI when hot and there is nothing on the market that is a quick fix, I tried just to get to work today, or even to see if it could get me home if I encounter another failure on the road. Nope, it didn't work.
     
  5. May 25, 2011 at 9:22 PM
    #5
    brelandt

    brelandt Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 21, 2009
    Member:
    #19979
    Messages:
    460
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Terry
    Dublin, CA
    Vehicle:
    04 Prerunner reg cab SR5
    3" lift front and back
    yep, been there with my 91 Sidekick. Nothing held. Just bought a new radiator like you did. Got smart on the 2000 Civic I had. Changed it before anything happened but hey the Civic's radiator was only $50 shipped!
     
  6. May 26, 2011 at 9:59 AM
    #6
    bicklebok

    bicklebok Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 24, 2011
    Member:
    #57154
    Messages:
    215
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ronnie
    Montgomery, AL
    Vehicle:
    2000 Xtra Cab 4x4 SR5
    Things like that seem to come in cycles. I ended up replacing everything in my cooling system a couple of years ago. At least you will have a good cooling system once you get it behind you.
     
  7. May 26, 2011 at 12:31 PM
    #7
    Monkeysuncle

    Monkeysuncle [OP] My Cat's breath Smells like Cat Food

    Joined:
    Aug 27, 2008
    Member:
    #8809
    Messages:
    1,250
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Kevin
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    99 Tacoma SR5 4x4 5 speed Manual Hubs
    Diff Breather,CB thingy,GPS,Cop Shocks,Cop Brakes, old Man Emu 881's Dakar Leaf Springs and Nitro sport shocks. Deck Plate mod
    Got the new part, made in Canada. It has the bungs for the auto transmission already plumbed in, even though I stated 5 speed. He told me there is only one part number for my truck auto or manual, the difference is the distance between the upper and lower tanks which I had to measure. (20 and 3/4 inch)So now I have the option of cooling the oil?? That would take some work if it's even a good idea.. I don't know. but $156.00 out the door, plus some new antifreeze brought it to $189.00. Well it's fixed, So I am happy. I did it myself. Lets see at least 100K out of this one and i will be happy.
     
  8. May 26, 2011 at 1:40 PM
    #8
    bicklebok

    bicklebok Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 24, 2011
    Member:
    #57154
    Messages:
    215
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ronnie
    Montgomery, AL
    Vehicle:
    2000 Xtra Cab 4x4 SR5
    Awesome!
     
  9. May 26, 2011 at 6:09 PM
    #9
    brelandt

    brelandt Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 21, 2009
    Member:
    #19979
    Messages:
    460
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Terry
    Dublin, CA
    Vehicle:
    04 Prerunner reg cab SR5
    3" lift front and back
    x2
     

Products Discussed in

To Top