Help - losing coolant - steam under bonnet - radiator looks good. Any tips before I rip it all apart - maybe the water pump???

 

My radiator looked good until I got the bugger up to pressure. Bloody smallest pin ***** of a hole down the side.

Thats where my money is.

 

I had that, hairline crack in the plastic end tank, Offside on side facing front of car, about 10mm long.
Became visable after a few weeks of head scratching when some coolant had dried around the location.
This is apparently a common thing, my local Impreza expert pointed it out when I said I was looksing coolant.

 

Thanks loads - now the next question would be where to get a radiator- without spending too much cash.

 

Well mate. I could get one locally for £125.00 plus VAT for a UK97 but this was at trade. Low and behold none in stock and I needed one urgently. Rang round and eventually got one for £150.00 plus VAT from AWD Motorsport. Think they're based in Scotland.

Here's the email address sales@awdmotorsport.fsnet.co.uk. Grant Swan is the guy to speak to there.

Sure you couldn't get one from a breakers? There were plenty of WRX ones kicking about cheap but thought I'd just get a new one to avoid any hassle.

Hope this helps and good luck.

 

Yea, came across the same trouble with my rad. If you lift the hood while keeping the engine running, when cold, you swing the trottle to rev the engine, as the revs build so will the pressure in the cooling system and low and behold a leek will show itself. Mine appeared on the drivers side near the top of the plastic header. If i was using my head at all i should have noticed the dried coolant stains on the rad. However its spotted and I'm getting a specialist to plastic weld it and they will pressure test it afterwards. That should circumvent the necessity to buy a new one.
Murfs