Re: Radiator Neck Repair

[Ali.Mouline@Eng (Ali )]

Hi Jason and Co. :

I have used the radiator neck repair kit on my 85 5000S about 2 months
ago. After about a week of use I noticed that some of the excess epoxy glue
(white in color) was flaking and peeling off the side of the neck. Then
last week while I was replacing the whole radiator I pulled on
the top hose to slip it off the neck, instead, the insert came off the 
radiator and was stuck inside the hose. Basicily the glue didn`t hold
very well. I used the glue from the dealer (Chem weld ??) that dried to
a white color. I followed the instructions and let it dry overnight.

I don't think this solution is very permanent. The plastic parts of
the radiator eventually get destroyed by the heat. I replaced
the radiator because the small top nozzle broke off and the plastic of 
that whole area was crumbling. 

So, my experience has been that the neck repair kit is only good for
a few months or as a quick fix. You will eventually have to replace
the radiator. I believe the one that I replaced was the original one, so
eight years is not too bad.

FYI, I got my new OEM radiator here in San Jose, CA for $229 the same
day that I needed it. ( $430 at the dealer). Also, the dealer mentioned
that you can get the old one repaired (they replace the plastic sides) for
about $150 somewhere in Palo Alto, CA. If anybody wants the name of the 
place I can find it for you.


ali-
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>From m17108@mwunix.mitre.org Tue Jul 20 14:22:58 1993
To: quattro@aries.East.Sun.COM
Subject: Radiator Neck Repair
Content-Length: 1297
X-Lines: 25

Audi has made available a kit to fix one particular type of radiator failure.
First, the story --

My 86 5000S radiator broke in a very unexpected way last night (fortunately
I was 200 feet from home!).  The "neck," or pipe that exits from the plastic
side tank snapped in two.  (There are two necks, actually, one for the the top
hose to fit on, and one for the bottom).  Anyway, the one for the top hose
snapped cleanly in two, and the car lost about half its coolant in maybe 15
seconds.  The temp guage showed normal, but the autocheck system picked up
the problem.

There was enough of the neck left that I was able to refill the system and
drive today.  This is only a temporary fix, however, because the ridge that
holds the hose one was on the broken off piece.

ANYWAY, here is the interesting part.  Neck failure is sufficiently common
that Audi dealers stock a repair kit!  (the local vee dub dealers never heard
of it).  For about $20 you get a plastic insert that goes into the old neck
and a package of some really industrial sounding glue.  Since PAP is now 
asking $260 for a radiator, its worth a try.  The part numbers:
	200121003  glue  sugg retail $10.05
	200121001  insert     retail $11.20
One local dealer wanted $28 for both (the nerve), but the other charged $18.

Jason 


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