Nissens/Volvo radiator question

Post by **scot850** » 16 Sep 2016, 13:31

Anyone bought a Nissens or Volvo OE radiator for a 99/00 P80 with only the auto trans cooler connections (engine oil cooler in oil pan) recently? Volvo part # 36000001.

No one can tell me at the suppliers if either is supplied with the 2 plastic clips on 'O' rings or is you have to buy separately. On a Volvo OE I bought for a 98 about 4 years ago it came with the 'O' ring kit and the 2 metal cages. On those I don't mind re-using the cages with zip-tie security, but on the plastic snap in ones not taking the chance! From FCP the 2 plastic Volvo clips are $10 US each! I won't use Pro Parts Sweden stuff and the Volvo kit they supply has the 4 non-Volvo 'O' rings and 2 Volvo plastic clips and Volvo engine oil cooler 'o' rings I don't need.

If the Nissens is supplied with install parts has anyone used them and were they OK?

So before springing for these any input on what they come with or not appreciated!

My original post I started doesn't really cover this so split this into a new one here

Original post: https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums/vie ... 1&start=10

Thanks,

Neil.

Post by **erikv11** » 16 Sep 2016, 14:07

off-topic but does $268 from Volvo of Lisle, make the OEM one more plausible for you? Just throwing it out there, I thought I saw the number $350 in your other thread.

http://volvopartslisle.com/part/OEM-Vol ... 1/Radiator

Post by **scot850** » 16 Sep 2016, 15:25

Price is good, but they don't ship to Canada. Only dealer that I have found that ships to Canada is Tasca and then there is FCP. That price included shipping and tax/handling/duties in US$ at $350 from FCP. Also discovered that Tasca has a core charge on the radiator. Core charge on a radiator?! Then when I checked it was $0.01?? Their price is $273 US, but their shipping rate makes it only $12 more to ship with FCP and they at least give a lifetime warranty. Thanks for the tip though! Whilst I don't like using non-OE parts, I think I will be using the Nissens, then I'll also buy the new clips, 'O' rings and top radiator hose and still be about half the price of the OE. I took the old hose off and it is fine and supple, but I don't know how old it is and it has memory marks from the Volvo pipe on the inside face.

Pictures below of the OE radiator. So much for my belief the metal upper hose outlet sleeve reduced the likely snapping of the upper outlet. The best part is that the metal sleeve had slid out and it snapped where it should have been!

: Top radiator outlet pipe (1)

: Top radiator outlet pipe (2)

: Top radiator outlet pipe (3)

: Top radiator outlet pipe (4)

Makes me now think the OE part may not be worth it after all!

Thanks for the help again!

Neil.

Post by **sleddriver** » 17 Sep 2016, 11:17

Thanks for the photos Neil. I now understand what happened. Geesh....bugger that...what a mess.

Post by **scot850** » 22 Sep 2016, 12:04

Again a quick update. New radiator arrived from FCP yesterday in an amazing 2 days! On opening I have to say it is better supported in the box than the OE part. This radiator (Nissens) is also a great deal better made than the last one I had. The upper and lower hose connections are much thicker than I recall. Looks very well made. Won't get to install until next week at best, but will add further comments on completion if needed.

Neil.

Post by **abscate** » 22 Sep 2016, 12:11

Sorry I missed this thread. My Nissans came with the auto trans cooler connections and no hardware.

Post by **scot850** » 12 Oct 2016, 17:36

So time for an update.

No hardware was supplied by Nissens so bought2 x OE new clips and 'O' rings x 4.

After a lot of extra work that the jobs on this car always morph into, it is finally back together.

I started it up and there was a nasty squeeling from the RH side front area of the engine. I thought at first it might be the water pump bearing had gone out, but realised it was not coming from there as far as I could tell. I put a long nozzle on a WD-40 can and sprayed in the area of the front bearing of the alternator and it went quiet for a few seconds and then came back. Did it a few more times and then it stopped for a while, long enough to get the engine up to temperature and switched it off.

Bearing (pun not intended) that the top hose on the radiator broke and the coolant probably landed on the alternator, is it possible the coolant has damaged the front bearing? I'll be really pissed if it has as the alternator has only done 5000 miles and was a HO Bosch unit.

Thoughts please?

Neil.

Post by **j-dawg** » 12 Oct 2016, 17:59

Hypothesis: you got the drive belt wet when your radiator broke, and you are hearing the belt slip on the pulley. Coolant on pulleys does not make a pleasant noise - I had a Miata dribbling coolant on the water pump pulley and drive belt from the pump gasket, and it did squeal something awful.

Post by **scot850** » 12 Oct 2016, 18:56

I have a spray belt dressing or some suggest using talcum powder. I think I may also have a spare new conti-tech serpentine belt. Are you suggesting that it may make sense to swap the serpentine belt out for another?

Thanks,

Neil.

Post by **abscate** » 12 Oct 2016, 19:08

It's going to take thousands of turns to torch a bearing that is lightly loaded like the alternator.

Belt slipping or pulley slipping is my bet.