I think my radiator is clogged because both the hoses coming from radiator is hot. I know one of the hoses should be cooler than the other.

Would it be cheaper to get a new rad or get the one I have un-clogged?

 

If it was plugged your car would most likely be overheating from the lack of cooling and your fans would be running non stop. When was the last time your cooling system was flushed?

 

you can also disconnect the radiator and pull it from the car.

use a hose and run water through it.

if water comes out of the other side; not clogged!

 

The fans turn on after I turn my car off. They stay on for about 5 mins.
When I drive the fans do not turn on.

I never got the rad flushed, I just get the fliud changed every 2 years.
I changed out both temperature sensors. But that didn't fix the issue.

 

Hey Black Tire, how does the rad and coolant appear inside when ya look in with the cap off ? You can have the cooling system pressure checked. If it's been awhile since the last coolant change, pull the bottom hose off the rad and then put a water hose in the top and see if ya got good flow. You can try a specialty cleaning product to flush the residue from the cooling system and heater core.

Was the water pump replaced with the last T-belt service ? If indeed the rad is clogged, ya want to make sure that the system is flushed. If the rad is the original and internally corroded, buy a new one for peace of mind.

 

My car has been doing this the few days in 95-108° weather. Except my fans do come on while driving.
Fan turns off with car, about 30-60 seconds later comes back on and will stay on from I'd say 5-15 minutes. Temp gauge stays in it's normal position while driving.

 

Pull the 2 radiator brackets off (on the top) and pull the radiator away from the condenser. See if its clogged or dirty in between. Spray water on/thru the radiator and condenser to clean the fins.

 

Coolant is green as usual.



My temp gauge stays in it's normal position while driving as well.


I will try this weekend.

 

Hey Black Tire, after giving your original concern about both the hoses on the rad being hot......this is actually normal when the motor is warmed up and at operating temperature, especially considering the summer heat.

The only time that the top inlet hose would noticeably cooler than the lower hose is at a cold initial start up of the motor, before the T-stat reads the coolant's temp to come up to the operating level.....which when it does the T-stat will in turn open, allowing the coolant to flow through that hose into the rad to be cooled by either air flow or the electric fan.....then assuming all the sensors and water pump are working, the coolant will be circulated out the bottom hose and back through the motor passageways.

 

Anyone know where I can buy this in Toronto?

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/190837579641?...84.m1423.l2649

 

Any local auto parts store should carry a cooling system flush kit. Prestone has one.
What I do every couple years is drain the old coolant, then refill the rad with distilled water and a coolant cleaner product added. Run the car to operating temp with the heater on high. This will only help with normal routine PM or minor issues. Be sure to use silicate free coolant when replacing, for the TL motor's aluminum alloy internals. Check the fan's operation and burp the air from the system after refilling. Consider new hoses, clamps, T-stat and sensors if necessary.

 

This looks like it did the trick. The fans only came on once today after turning off car. Before they would come on every time I turned off the car.

Here is a before and after photos of the rad being hosed off with water.
From the photos, it does not look like a lot of dirt build up.


BEFORE:




AFTER: