Hairline crack in plastic header on top of radiator.. NB 2001 LS

On my way to work this morning white smoke started coming out of the hood. I have a hairline crack on the brown plastic header on top of the radiator.

I know there's gunk you can put on there.. Does this work? How long will it last? (long enough to get a new radiator online ? ) Brand name recommendations?

This is my primary and only vehicle so I depend on it as my daily driver.

Also, I know this isn't the parts forum but if anyone has a radiator for sale, esp an all aluminium one, feel free to PM.

Matt

Anything you try will probably not hold. The combination of heat and moisture will make it separate. They make kits but I would not trust it. Stop driving it and get a replacement asap.

Also, don't try adding any of the stop leak crap as it will also block important passages inside the motor.

This is interesting, melt it back together.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gidENnM4VKs

I wouldn't ever pour anything in. I know there's "plastic weld" kits where you melt some new plastic on and that looked interesting. Not to be confused with JB Weld but I may also consider epoxy. If I do the epoxy that means I can't do the plastic weld.

I am planning on replacing the radiator, but in the mean time, I need to get to work!

You can try some jb weld, but it is better to just order a radiator from amazon or locally and get it changed asap. You can keep adding water in the meantime, as you probably aren't losing too much.

I've tried jb weld never worked all that well... YMMV

Call Track Dog and I'd bet they have a radiator in Stock.

Link - http://trackdogracing.com/

You can try and put some JB weld on it, might hold for a little while before the crack splits more.

Also, you can run with the radiator cap loosened one notch, which will keep the system form pressurizing. Might overflow at the cap at times, but will avoid making the crack worse. Good enough for a couple days in this weather.

I have actually used JB Quik and it will get you by until you can get a new radiator, but the joint must be Clean/Dry and 180 sanded.

I blew a radiator in our '92 in LaGrange at 11.45 on Sat of 4th July weekend.
NAPA was open for 15 min and couldn't get a radiator for 4-5 days.
I bought all the JB they had and coolant. used a tube to fix the 6in split with vicegrips.
was back on the road in .45 and crossed the coastal plain to Rockport in 103* heat.
I intended to leave the cap loose, but when I checked at RKP it was tight.
Barbara drove it for 2 weeks like that, no issues.
I patched a brass radiator in my MGB w/JB and it lasted for years, until I sold it.

Clean and sanded!

Radiators in stock at 1-800-Radiator for $108
just south of 35E and 635

If the plastic is brownish/greenish color, the entire plastic piece is toasted! The new plastic piece should be drak brown color. Under pressure the plastic that you have may disintegrate and blow. You will lose all the coolant with little notice. I won't drive it much longer w/o a replacement.

I have one of these new in the box if you're interested...$80 is what I paid this past July.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sammm

I have one of these new in the box if you're interested...$80 is what I paid this past July.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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Smoking deal and <30min to swap….Done!

You Save:

$371.38 (83%)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sammm

I have one of these new in the box if you're interested...$80 is what I paid this past July.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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Is that an NB Radiator?? Amazon shows it will not fit my 2002 Miata??

OP's car is a 2001.

The one pictured is NA. All NB should be the same.

It's technically for an automatic, but one-size-fits-all. (NA, NB, standard, auto)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sammm

It's technically for an automatic, but one-size-fits-all. (NA, NB, standard, auto)

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I don't think that is true NA and NB's Radiators are slightly different.

http://www.miata.net/garage/compatibility.html

^Maybe so, I always thought they were all the same.

That radiator will not fit a NB 99-05. It is a NA 90-97 radiator only. We do have a stock style NB radiator in stock at TDR.

Radiators are generation specific…..I'm sure Amazon has one for a 2000 for the same price but w/ shipping you likely can beat that by buying local with no wait.
All aftermarket replacements cool better for automatics, just disregard the brass cooling tubes.

I'll take that NA radiator Sammm, since NA's are better. ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rogue

I'll take that NA radiator Sammm, since NA's are better. ;)

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It's yours.

PS-
Here's the NB version of that one...
http://www.amazon.com/TYC-2268-Alumi...Amazda%3Amiata

Quote:

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Originally Posted by POS Racing

I don't think that is true NA and NB's Radiators are slightly different.

http://www.miata.net/garage/compatibility.html

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But he could use that spiffy double row radiator like you put in ViViD?

Sammmm your LE will need it 2 days after you get rid of it ;-)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sharpie

Sammmm your LE will need it 2 days after you get rid of it ;-)

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Don't jinx me! ;) (You're probably right)

I have a true NB radiator (AutoZone). I used it to get home from Hallett and a few weeks after until I got a larger radiator. $75 picked up in Flower Mound.

I actually need an NB automatic radiator...

Here is what I did.. I cleaned it off with rubbing alcohol and sanded it 220 grit, cleaned a few more times. I then put 30 lb of weight on it and hit it with a heat gun until the plastic got soft and started to discolor. Now I am about to go get the finest fiberglass cloth and epoxy resin from the model store to cover that up (super fine crack, didn't want the coarse fiberglass fabric from autozone.) Hopefully that will last me unti I can find time to swap in a new radiator.

So, who's got an NB automatic radiator? :P

I haven't done the Automatic Transmission part, but I know you can put the radiator in in about 45 minutes. I did it in the parking lot of a Best Western in Seminole, OK.