Ok, I had to replace the radiator on my '03, and have really screwed up. When I installed the new one, I used the wrong bolts to connect the condensor to the front of the radiator. They were too long, and the one on the driver's side went through the plastic tank on the radiator.

My question is, can this hole be repaired, or did I just destroy my brand new radiator???

Thanks,
Jeff

 

You may be able to use a plastic welder to melt a new piece to fill the hole. The hard part is going to make sure that you don't get anything inside of the hole. Any sort of stop leak you DO NOT WANT TO USE! That stuff will clog every microscopic valley in the cooling system.

You may be able to find repair tapes that may work. Google like h*ll and good luck!

 

In order to repair plastic the CORRECT way, you need to identify the material and then use the same material, melt it and fuse it together.

Problem with this repair is that you do not have the access from the inside. Nearly impossible to repair correctly.

When you repair a fractured plastic bumper cover, you repair from both sides. Now that is for mostly for looks and some structural reinforcement to prevent fracture propagation. But we are talking radiator.

Since radiator gets pressurized and heat cycled repeatedly, the repair even if done correctly from the outside of the radiator, I would be very very incompetent about the durability of the repair as the radiator is what keeps the engine from going poof.

I am sure this is not the answer you were looking for but you saw this coming. I would get another radiator and not worry about the radiator blowing up on you when you are on the highway trying to visit your girlfriend 3 states away.

But that is just me.

 

Ok, thanks guys. Just ordered another radiator... sigh. I was just afraid that a patch wouldn't hold on a pressurized tank. Live and learn, slow down next time and pay attention!