99 S70 Broken plastic nipple on top of Radiator

ashlee2319 · Post by **ashlee2319** » 28 Mar 2015, 15:02

I was holding my foot down on a wrench on the tensioner replacing my PS pump and Bam, I see leaking coolant everywhere. I guess my foot was sitting on the neck of the radiator where the hose connects and broke it off.

Do I need a new radiator or is there a fix?

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 28 Mar 2015, 16:47

There is no official fix but I would pick up a threaded brass barb. Drill and tap the hole and then liberally coat threads on the barb with RTV as you thread it in. It may or may not work over the long haul but it is cheap to try.

Something like this.

http://store.schnitzracing.com/schnitz- ... aQodkgQAhQ

...Lee

Post by **abscate** » 29 Mar 2015, 09:18

Pull the piece of the nipple out of the hose and use JB weld to put it back on. Put the hose on the nipple first, JB weld, then secure it until the JB sets for 24 hours.

If you can get a piece of copper tube to fit into the nipple that will make that repair bullet proof. JB weld into top piece, let dry, then JB into the bottom piece.

Azik09 · Post by **Azik09** » 29 Mar 2015, 11:43

Once i've repaired broken plastic nipple by this way:
Turner made a metal nipple (steel, brass or any other metal) with 2 barbed ends. One end was matched to rubber hose, other end was a little bigger than inner diameter of broken nipple. I heated metal nipple in a flame and quickly melted in in a plastic. Important - mounted nipple must cool down without any moving!

ashlee2319 · Post by **ashlee2319** » 30 Mar 2015, 11:36

I've never drilled and tapped but it doesn't seem too difficult. But can't i just tap it from here? I will also try putting JB weld too just to reinforce it more.

volvooh · Post by **volvooh** » 30 Mar 2015, 12:07

I did the same thing, except I got a face full of warm anti freeze. After getting some recommendations here, I ended-up replacing the radiator. With the summer months coming, you certainly don't want to leave yourself stranded with a temporary fix. My was in a C70. Not a picnic, but do-able.

ashlee2319 · Post by **ashlee2319** » 31 Mar 2015, 10:36

I didn't even think about the Arizona summer. Thanks. Ill just replace it.

volvooh · Post by **volvooh** » 31 Mar 2015, 11:21

If you have the non-turbo, the job is a little easier. I just removed the condenser from my '99 S70 (non-turbo). Radiator looks pretty straight forward- FYI, I'd take it out the bottom.

If you have a turbo you have the turbo cooler to deal with as well- its a sandwich, so to speak- radiator, turbo cooler and condensor. There are a couple write-ups on here describing the process.