How to Test a Defective Radiator
 

My 98 E300TD radiator recently failed (antifreeze got into the radiator cooler), and I'm in discussions with the manufacturer, who wants me to pull the radiator and send to them for verification that the radiator has split, enabling ths to happen.

I have to believe that there is a way prove (on the vehicle preferably) that the radiator is defective, and allowing the engine cooling side to leak into the radiator cooler. Any wisdom from you veterans?

Yes, it (antifreeze) did kill my trans.:mad:

Pressure Tester
 

Since your Radiator and Transmission Heat Transfer unit are already "Toast"...
Hook up a Cooling System Pressure Tester to your Cooling Recovery Tank and
Pressurize to 1 Bar.Coolant will flow through the breaks in the Radiator/Heat
Exchanger Interface and flow out the transmission Cooler Line Orifice.

(Don't look @ the Harbor Freight Price,It's a Little out there.)

I would have the local Radiator shop run this test,so that you have DOCUMENTATION...
ZomeZing tells me these "Radiator" people you
are in negotiations with MIGHT "Lose" your defective Radiator if you
just ship it off to them willy nilly.

Yeah, videotape the test. Then you can always put it on Youtube if you don't get your money. You will have to learn to play guitar however...

What brand Name Radiator?
 

'Two reasons for my inquiry:

1.Avoid that brand like the Plague.
2.Curious about a Rad maker that even approaches the question of Damage
Liability.

I suspect they are more interested in inspecting the radiator to determine why it failed.

Pressure testing will tell you that it failed but you already know that.

I don't know how long its been installed but I suppose if they can show that it was caused by corrosion and not a manufacturing defect they are off the hook so to speak. There are labs that do the work but they're not cheap. Should be some in Tampa area. Try google or yellow pages.

Good luck.

It would surprise me if the manufacturer will accept any responsibility for a defective radiator on a 12-year old car. You may be wasting time and money shipping the radiator to the manufacturer.

i agree on the pressure testing,but with that being said,you already know what happened,and on the age its not likley to be covered,i would buy a new radiator or at least bring it to a radiator repair shop,maybe they can resolder the trans cooling coil.

This brings up several ethics questions..... Are they ethical enough to admit the fault and pay you for the damage their part did?

Are you too ethical to have your friendly indy mechanic write you a receipt that says that the tranny was rebuilt only 6 months ago?

Ethics are funny things......