Radiator blew out

pws > wrote:

>Leon van Dommelen wrote:
>
>> After I bought a 10 mm nut driver at Sears, the shield does not frighten me
>> as it used to.
>>
>> Leon
>
>I am sorry that it ever frightened you, but you are clearly a complete
>pussy, so it is not a shock to me.
>
>A person like you who is so easy to find should probably not be so quick
>to insult people in a public forum. (I count 3 from you in 2 days)

I do not, but you are easy to take offense where none exists
and respond with real ones.

>That is not a threat, just an opinion on safety and common sense.

I guess I better not respond to neither of these.
Leon

>Pat
--
Leon van Dommelen Bess, the Miata Bozo, the Miata
http://www.dommelen.net/miata
The only thing better than a white Miata is two white Miatas

My 96 witk 60000 Miles has a crack about 15cm long in it. Replacing the
radiator in on my to do list, along with the timing belt. At the moment I
keep a close eye on the temp gauge, and put in about a gallon of coolant a
fortnight. I think 10 years is about average for a plastic tank.

"Frank Berger" > wrote in message
...
> Last night on the way home from work. Had to be towed to dealer. A
> little over $400 parts and labor. Leaked at the top, he said. Is this
> unusual? First time my '96 left me stranded. Of course, it's never been
> 10 years old before, either.
>

In article >,
"Frank Berger" > wrote:

> Caveat: there had been a screeching noise on cold starts for quite a while
> now, like a belt slipping, but the tension seemd OK. Could it have been bad
> WP bearings causing the pulley to be stiff and make the belt slip until the
> pulley got up to speed?

More likely a weeping seal dripping coolant onto the belt. A leaking cam
cover gasket can do the same thing.

--
Lanny Chambers
'94C, St. Louis
http://www.hummingbirds.net/alignment.html

Every car I've owned that came with a plastic tank radiator has had the
plastic tank fail. This includes two that were warrenty replacements and the
warrenty replacement failed after the warrenty ran out. In some cases, it's
possible to have a radiator shop replace tha plastic tank with a metal one.
Others, you just bite the bullet, and get an all metal radiator.
(Several of the failures were on Mazdas.)

"Mal Osborne" > wrote in message
...
> My 96 witk 60000 Miles has a crack about 15cm long in it. Replacing the
> radiator in on my to do list, along with the timing belt. At the moment I
> keep a close eye on the temp gauge, and put in about a gallon of coolant a
> fortnight. I think 10 years is about average for a plastic tank.
>
> "Frank Berger" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Last night on the way home from work. Had to be towed to dealer. A
> > little over $400 parts and labor. Leaked at the top, he said. Is this
> > unusual? First time my '96 left me stranded. Of course, it's never been
> > 10 years old before, either.
> >
>
>

Sounds like a bargin. Here in Australia, an original style plastic tank
radiator is around $450AUD ($300USD?). Any fellow antipodeans know where I
can get a metal radiator at a sensible price?




"Lanny Chambers" > wrote in message
...
> In article >,
> "Frank Berger" > wrote:
>
>> Last night on the way home from work. Had to be towed to dealer. A
>> little
>> over $400 parts and labor. Leaked at the top, he said. Is this unusual?
>
> Not really. Heat and age degrade the plastic top tank; when it turns
> olive green, its days are numbered. I replaced mine preemptively with a
> $130 all-metal radiator for an automatic Miata, with about twice the
> capacity. Not a difficult job, just tedious and hard on the back.
>
> --
> Lanny Chambers
> '94C, St. Louis
> http://www.hummingbirds.net/alignment.html

"Mal Osborne" > wrote in
:

> Sounds like a bargin. Here in Australia, an original style plastic
> tank radiator is around $450AUD ($300USD?). Any fellow antipodeans
> know where I can get a metal radiator at a sensible price?

I just picked one up for under $130 US from www.radiatorbarn.com. I
couldn't find anything definitive on their website about sales outside the
US, but they do say this:
"..if you live outside of the continental United States, expedited and
special arrangement shipping is available for an extra cost. For your
specific shipping needs, please contact us via e-mail for the quickest
reply."
Here's their contact page:
http://www.radiatorbarn.com/feedback.asp

I found several US-based retailers w/ prices under $150 when I bought
mine.. HTH

-Scott

Thanks. Their online database is a little screwy, it lists MX-5 as being a
1.6 in 92, 94, & 96, and MIATA as being a 1.8 in 92, 94 & 96. Sounds like
I am being picky, but hate to get the wrong one.. Think I may look a
little harder on this continent first.



"Scott Hughes" > wrote in message
...
> "Mal Osborne" > wrote in
> :
>
>> Sounds like a bargin. Here in Australia, an original style plastic
>> tank radiator is around $450AUD ($300USD?). Any fellow antipodeans
>> know where I can get a metal radiator at a sensible price?
>
> I just picked one up for under $130 US from www.radiatorbarn.com. I
> couldn't find anything definitive on their website about sales outside the
> US, but they do say this:
> "..if you live outside of the continental United States, expedited and
> special arrangement shipping is available for an extra cost. For your
> specific shipping needs, please contact us via e-mail for the quickest
> reply."
> Here's their contact page:
> http://www.radiatorbarn.com/feedback.asp
>
> I found several US-based retailers w/ prices under $150 when I bought
> mine.. HTH
>
> -Scott

"Leon van Dommelen" > wrote
> After I bought a 10 mm nut driver at Sears, the shield does not frighten
me
> as it used to.

Back to the ease of of removing the shield and ignoring perceived insults -
I added an electric screwdriver to the mix and can remove the undercarriage
shield in about two minutes. There are 3 screws, 2 nuts and 6 bolts. As Leon
mentioned, they are all 10mm. My Black & Decker with its articulated handle
allows easy access to the horizontal bolts in the wheel wells.

I pull the shields for every oil change to not only get improved filter
access but to get a good look at what is going on with the engine.
Especially for the short crank '90.
--
Ken Lyons '97 Brilliant Black/'90 Classic Red
Inside the Beltway
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