deliriousga

I have a leak on the passenger side, top of the radiator. I ordered the end piece, but didn't pay attention to the fact there are no oil coolers on that side. I remembered having an oil cooler, but I was mistaken on which side the hoses connect. Anyway, I ordered the correct part today, but the other one fits my driver's side end with the coolers.

So, since I have them both should I replace both ends or is it too much of a risk since the driver's side does not leak? I don't know if the driver's side tends to eventually leak or not and I don't want to take any extra chances of damaging the tabs on that side if there's no reason to do it.

TIA!

JHowell37

I would say replace both since they are plastic and almost 20 years old. That way, you only have to remove the radiator once. I really don't have any experience on this subject and perhaps others should chime in who have been down that road already.

Bill Ball

I would leave well enough alone. You generally only get one shot at the tabs, so don't do it unless needed.

Garth S

One failure mode of plastic end tanks is excess heat - and the passenger side is the (hot) inlet: have you had any overheating situations? If so, I'd be tempted to replace only that tank.

Jim bailey - 928 International

Just do the side which is leaking NOW ... because if the tabs happen to break as they do the second tank you are screwed... New alloy radiator from us is $895 swapping two tanks is $200 plus labor IF IT WORKS !

SharkSkin

Agreed, leave well enough alone. Pulling the radiator is a relatively small task, IMHO.

deliriousga

Thanks guys. I'm with you SharkSkin, it only took about 1 hour to drain it and pull it out so that's not a huge deal.

pasa

Hi John, have you consider buying an aluminum rad. from Devek? I bought mine for 485.00(no trany cooler) it’s beautifully built and the side tanks are welded on so no more leaks. If you are going to spend 200.00 on repairing the one side tank you might consider the all aluminum rad it will solve all those leaky side tank issues.

Dan 1990 928Gt

deliriousga

That was my first try. I called them earlier this week before ordering the parts to fix it, but no calls back. We're down to one car now so I need to get her back on the road asap.

Jim bailey - 928 International

John needs an engine oil cooler radiator ... which I have in stock for $895 and we answer our phones and have done so from the same location, same business ,same name,same owner, same "sales guys" for about 14 years now.

deliriousga

Thanks Jim. If the "fix" doesn't work, that's what I'll do. I had to get a torque tube from you guys this week too, along with a clutch and clock spring for the Boxster from Oregon so I'm relegated to trying the cheap "fix it" route first. Unfortunately overnighting those little end cap boogers all the way across the states costs as much as the darn part.

Jim bailey - 928 International

Yes John airfreight charges with UPS FEDEX just keep going higher and higher but our instant gratification , cell phone ,internet mentality has all of us hooked on being able to get almost anything the next day! I hope the repair works out well. How much is a clutch on the boxster and I will not even ask about the airbag clock spring

Bill Ball

Sidetank replacement done by a shop that has the equipment to work on the Behr radiators (jig for holding the tank on compressing the gasket, tool for tab manipulation) will work. I called a local shop whose Yellowpage ad listed Behr radiators. They pressure tested to radiator verifying the leak location, I got the sidetank and gasket from Jim, and the shop installed it in an hour, and that included rodding the radiator. That was 2 years ago.

Jim bailey - 928 International

Bill..."and the shop installed it in an hour, and that included rodding the radiator. That was 2 years ago." and how many smoking burn outs ??

deliriousga

Clutch on the Boxster is way less than the 928. There's a dealer in Oregon who sells Boxster parts for cost+20% so it's $400 for the Porsche clutch kit (flex plate, release bearing & clutch plate) and new pilot bearing. The clockspring isn't bad either, around $100. Bad thing about the clock spring is if it shorts, the throttle no longer works without clearing the OBDII code it throws every time the key is turned. Cruise doesn't work either. That's a painful little booger.

Now, if we could just figure out how to get someone else to pay for our daughter's wedding.....the 928 would be getting all kinds of cool stuff. (hope the wife didn't see that one )