After having the low coolant light flash on the dash and topping up I noticed a wet spot in the driveway. Passenger side, near the bottom of the radiator, it looks like it's seeping between the plastic tank and the core. It looks like the tanks are crimped on and I'd guess there's a seal in there too. Any chance of crimping this down harder to stop the leak or am I looking at a new radiator?

91,000 miles.

Thanks

As I had seen previous post in this forum. It is not worth to crimp the plastic tank back to the metal core. It is easier to replace the whole radiator. I replaced mine because the lower tranny hose connector was leaking slowly. The radiator itself was still in good shape. That was last summer/fall.

Ching-Ho Cheng
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1995 855 NA, Bilstein Strut & Shocks, K&N Filter, E-Code Lens, Alpine CD-Changer, AutoDim RearView Mirror

My lower transmission hose is "sweating" oil. Nothing serious yet. I was thinking that the O-ring is bad and bought a new ring and a clamp to fix it when I get to that area. Is this a problem with radiator? How did you concluded it wasa bad radiator connector?
Yuri

Yuri,

I could smell the tranny fluid when the car is running. The lower tranny hose connector was badly rusted. I could see the connector with different color while the car was running - wet vs dry. However, dealer kept saying that no smell at all even though they admitted the difference in color between the lower tranny connector and upper tranny connector. They refused to replace the radiator under the Volvo VIP warranty. I gave up on them and did the replacement myself. After I replaced the radiator, the tranny fluid smell was gone and no more color different between the upper and lower tranny hose connector.

Ching-Ho Cheng
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1995 855 NA, Bilstein Strut & Shocks, Volvo Protective Grill, K&N Filter, E-Code Lens, Alpine CD-Changer, AutoDim RearView Mirror

MR. Cheng:

Did you buy and replace the radiator yourself or did you take it to the shop. The reason I ask is that I am thinking of replacing mine since it has cracks although it is not leaking. What other items should I order besides the thermostat and hoses and was also wondering to know how complicated or difficult the job is. Thanks!

yona
1994 855 NA, 5spd.

I bought the radiator from Volvo dealer and did the replacement myself. If you are going to replace it yourself, you also need to buy the tranny hose clips (2) from the dealer. You have better not to reuse the old clip. They will deform after you open them up to remove the tranny hoses (upper and lower). I also replaced all the rusted screws around the radiator, fan shroud. New clamps for radiator hoses.

You drain the coolant out of the radiator by opening the drain cock. You can also drain the engine by opening the drain cock in the back side of the engine, right above the passenger side drive shaft. Bay 13 has the instruction to drain the coolant. Then you disconnect the hoses, tranny hoses.

You need to remove the cooling fan first. The radiator is connected to the A/C condensor by 4 screws around the 4 corners. The 2 screws in the bottom of the radiator are easy to remove but the top 2 are hidden behind the radiator. You can see them next to the headlight unit. You need a 10mm swivel socket with an 1/4" extension to unscrew them. Before you unscrew all 4 screws, use a piece of string to support the A/C condensor. Otherwise, the condensor will drop down after the 4 screw are removed. There are 2 big/long screws on each side of the radiator to hold the radiator/condensor to the car frame. You need to unloose them too to take out the radiator.

You add coolant back to the system via the expansion tank.

Ching-Ho Cheng
--
1995 855 NA, Bilstein Strut & Shocks, K&N Filter, E-Code Lens, Alpine CD-Changer, AutoDim RearView Mirror

Thanks Mr. Cheng for the prompt response. Will go ahead then and change it before it gets real hot summer. Since my 855 is manual, i am guessing there is no tranny hoses coming up to the radiator. So i will make sure i buy all the clips and screws. Also thanks on the tip about supporting the condensor.

yona