hi everyone

my girlfriend has just bought an 02 wrx wagon from a garage. when we took it for a test drive we noticed it had steam coming from the front . we looked with the sales person and noticed the expansion bottle lid was loose so assumed it was this....

a week later we have gone to pick the car up and found that it is infact the radiator. it has a split along the top, just to the right of the top hose. my worry is, what has caused this? im concerned that the headgasket may be leaking across the bore to the water gallery and has compressed the cooling system...are radiator faults a common occurance on the bugeye model? the garage has agreed to replace the rad, but im worried that she is going to get headgasket issues...

all input appreciated

thanks

Barry

To be honest, in my 8 years of ownership, ive not heard of a rad splitting, i could ask around for you on the other forums.

Is there not a product/tool that tests for this.

[Edited on 30/10/10 by meany]

Get the coolant gas tested to see if it's been pressurised, though probably too late if they've changed the rad.

got a reply for you.

"common on UK cars yes due to good old road salt, also happens alot to front mounted intercoolers..............ask her to get them to perform a cylinder leak test and system pressure test after the Radiator has been changed "

If in doubt, RAC AA check or walk away.

have heard on this problem on the scooby before there was also issue with early header tanks splitting (were made from some fruity plastic that broke down with age)

any rad that has plastic endcaps won't last forever but its a buyers market for them cars atm if in doubt walk away

ive had another owner say the same and i can confirm it is a common problem.
just get it tested when a newone is fitted.

And like dlatch says, its a buyers market out there at the moment, i would just walk away.