Little radiator nub popped off
 

My little plastic nub just popped off the radiator again. The parts department called it just a fitting, part number 0005000894. It only cost $8.00, so tha is much better than the head gasket. I wonder why it is doing that now. The dealer told me that they do not remove it during the flush or when they were replacing the water pump, but it seems odd that it is doing it now. As many of you have said, it is 11-years-old. I may try just spreading the ends a bit, until I can get back to the dealer. It looks like it is simply held in place by the pressure of the fit. Again, that seems rather odd for such a sophisticated machine, with a radiator cap that is pressure sensitive. Why would they have that second very simple little plastic thing that can just pop off? :confused:

sounds like it was never fitted correctly in the first place.

Based on the construction of the fitting it seems like it would break before "popping" off.

I've always kept a spare out of fear of breakage... but so far that has not happened.

Sturdy little thingy
 

That is what I thought, but they said they never messed with it.

It does look kind of fragile when it is just inserted into the radiator, but the little thing is actually quite sturdy when you have it out and hold it in your hand. It is just a very small hard plastic thingy with flared ends that must make for the pressure fit.

Mine one also poped up, i just had and epoxy stell on it. It is doing fine for the last 15000 Km. No problem at all.

Sounds funny, but a little trick I learned to keep it in place good.

Take off the top radiator hose near the fitting that keeps popping off and look inside the neck where you just took the hose off.

Some cars have a small clip that you have to install to keep it clipped into place. You may need that as well.

You have to take off the top hose to access it inside the hose neck.

A zip tie will also do the trick.

Ask the dealer that sold you the part if it also calls for a hold down clip.

Some cars have them, some don't.

Just be careful, if you tighten the radiator hose too tight on reassembly you may break the radiator neck collar.
the updated radiators have a steel reinforcement collar but the older ones do not, be careful not to strong arm the clamp.

But first ask to see if that part comes with a hold down clip.

Some parts guys just don't care to look or they just don't know unless you ask.

Mine popped off once. I went and bought a new one...it comes with a new O ring.

However, as a temp repair, I took off the old O ring and then wrapped ptfe tape around the thing and fitted the O ring over the top. That was six months ago.

Thanks for the help & ptfe tape?
 

Now that is the kind of thing that could have been affected by the coolant flush and replacing all of the hoses. If my car has that clip, but mine is missing, then it certainly could have come off during the service. I will be sure to ask the parts guys if my motor calls for some kind of a clip.

I am planning to get the new one, but I am curious, what he heck is “ptfe” tape?

Replaced it today on my 1994 E320 at 121,000 miles for $6.45. Old part was broken just above the 'O' ring. Was able to extract about 1/2" of the remainig part from the fitting at the top of the radiator, but the 3 prongs are likely sitting on the bottom of the tank. Time to begin watching the coolant temp even more closely?
regards,
Mark

The stuff plumbers use to stop pipes leaking at the joints. Maybe you guys have different name for it, you do for most things. They use it central heating systems as well so it's perfect for this application.

http://www.plumbworld.co.uk/171-0000

here you go.

Good luck
 

I suppose you might get lucky and it might come right out of the bottom radiator hose. Fortunately, mine is still in one piece.

I get it
 

I used what we call Teflon tape for a similar purpose with plumbing fixtures and it looks like the same thing from the picture in the link. That probably would work, but I am just going to get the very inexpensive part. Right now I am using plastic zip strips to keep the thing from popping off. I think that will be OK until I get the nub.