Radiator Average Life (Preventive Maint. Question)

I have a 94 GC with the 3.3 engine. I had the head gasket done when I
purchased the van due to a coolant leak. Since that day it has not
lost so much as 1 drop of coolant, and it runs great.

I am a firm believer in preventive maintenance, and this is why I am
here now. I looks like this summer I will be doing a LOT of driving
through the Rocky Mountains. I will have six people in the van + gear,
so we will be fairly loaded, but NO towing of any kind. I am pretty
much due for a coolant flush & fill (been a little over 2 years now),
and I was wondering...

What is the approximate life of the radiators in these vans? The last
thing I want is to be stuck in the Rocky Mountains waiting for some
gas station to get the part in at God knows what price. As far as I
can tell this is the original radiator, then again I am no expert and
do not know exactly what to look for.

If I was going to get the coolant done anyways....

In any case, my vehicle has been well maintained. Any advice about the
radiator, or anything else I should have checked before such a trip
would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

PS: I just had the trans serviced - new solenoid pack, new filter, and
ATF+4 installed by excellent shop - so that base is covered.

 

When I have experienced radiator problems, it has usually started with
a small leak, so I have not been left stranded. Since you have a 1994,
it is the bigger radiator. The 1992's and before used the smaller one
that could overheat. I have a 1993 and have driven the mountains of
Arizona, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana without any overheating
problems.

Has the water pump ever been changed? Mine failed at 72,000 miles. It
started to make a lot of noise, but I was able to make it home. A
friend was not so lucky. His seized up on a trip, leaving him stranded.

Also, make sure your sepentine belt is in good shape. The belt
tensioners tend to fail on these engines. I am on 3rd one after 13
years and 89,000 miles. Both failed close to home, but required a tow
to the shop.

You were wise to have the transmission serviced. One less thing to
worry about.

-Kirk Matheson

 

IIRC, the previous owner changed the water pump hoping to fix the
leak. When I told him prior to purchase that my mechanic had
identified a leaking head gasket, he absolutlely refused to accept it.

New belt and tensioner about 1.5 years ago - both as preventive
maintenance (no tow to shop). Belt was starting to squeel, and
tensioner bearing was squeeking badly at the time.

Thanks

 

My radiator went bad at 104K, a 1999 T&C.

 

What happended when it went bad? Did it start leaking, or not cooling?

When radiators were made of brass, they could be repaired in most
cases. Now, most of made of aluminum with plastic tanks. The radiator
in my 1990 Dodge Spirit developed a leak, and the shop said they
couldn't fix it. A new one was $100.

-Kirk Matheson

 

I believe that most rads are a plastic called kryptonite nowadays.

I recall when my 87 Olds was having a problem, and I took the rad in
to have it fixed. It was about $125 to have it re-cored. No problem at
all. While I was picking it up, a plymouth voyager drove in with a rad
leak. The guy at the shop said it was indeed bad, and also plastic and
could not be fixed - at least not with any tools he had at his shop.
The solution - new rad. $250 for the part + labour to install + taxes.

Admittedly, he was in and out of the shop in less than 30 minutes, but
it cost him over double what it did for me to get my brass rad fixed.

I am just considering the possibility of putting a new rad in as a
major preventive measure. I will be on a long trip and do NOT want any
surprizes in the middle of nowhere.

 

If you are that paranoid, I'd just buy a new car before your trip.

Matt

 

It is still way cheaper to maintain my existing vehicle than it is to
drop $600 a month to purchase a new decked-out mini-van. Besides, a
new vehicle is no guarantee of reliability. All you have is a
warranty. So if it breaks, they will fix it. You still could be
stranded for a few days while they get off their ass to do it -
presuming, of course, that you don't get hassled by the non-existant
customer service exhibited by most large companies these days.

I just got finished watching CBC's marketplace. A woman had a 1999 van
where the pin blew out a hold in her transmission case. Her repair
bill: $2200 + tax. Chryslers response: Oh, no one else is having this
problem, and your vehicle as 170,000 km on it, so there is nothing we
can do. She got to speak with the head of Engineering for Chrysler
Canada. He would NOT do anything for her.

And another couple who had to take DC to the Supreme Court of Canada
to get their money on a defective truck that caught fire over a
headlight assembly that Chrysler KNEW was defective and tried to ignor
them. It took them 7 years, but they WON in the Supreme Court. It
should have been settled 6.5 years previous, IMHO.

I'll take my chances with my old van. At least with the help of you
all here, and an honest shop, I am managing to stay ahead of the game.