Coolant Leak = New Radiator

[StuartW]

I've had to top up my coolant twice in the last 500 miles or so which has been a bit of a concern, I had put it down to hot weather and somewhat spirited driving but then I spotted the dreaded anti-freeze on the garage floor.

I was hoping for a loose pipe clamp as I guess we all do but it's very hard to see anything in the GT engine bay or underneath. So I dropped into my local MD today (Marshall Maserati Peterborough - a nice bunch) and it turns out I need a new radiator! It is a very small leak from the core itself which could have been caused by a stone, who knows, but it's been quoted as a 7 hour labour job plus the part cost.

Very fortunately for me, the cost is going to be covered under the warranty from Nareman @ Nuvola, even though a rad would normally come under wear & tear. However, it must have been a pre-existing fault as it was using coolant right after I got the car last month so I am very grateful that his warranty is so comprehensive and that he has been so reasonable about it.

So the GTS will be off the road until the part comes in and the MD can book me in but this will hopefully be next week.

After my AC dramas experienced in the last 2 years, I do hope this is a one off!

 

[allandwf]

I hope it will be trouble free after this. 7 hours! sounds like they have to dismantle the car around it.

 

[D Walker]

Could you not use rad weld or something similar to tide you over. Had it in my passat for over a year.

 

[Contigo]

Really? You'd put rad weld in a GT? Or any Maserati for that matter!

 

[CatmanV2]

I have to say, I wouldn't

C

 

[D Walker]

I've never professed to being a professional mechanical engineer, just know that's what they tried in my passat, and it worked.

 

[jluis]

I'm always suspicious of quick fixes to complicated problems.
Seems a difficult task to seal a pressurised cooling system from the interior using just a chemical product. Must be some nasty stuff to get the job done.
I would not want that stuff circulating in my cooling circuit on any car. Regardless of the car brand.

 

[CatmanV2]

Egg whites due the same job, for a while.

It's more (from my perspective) the impact of it blocking any waterway could be *way* more than getting it repaired 'properly'

C

 

[russellp]

Does anyone have experience of the use of synthetic coolants (non aqueous)?
No or very low positive pressure is one of the benefits.
Russell

 

[VMSRTI]

I've had to top up my coolant twice in the last 500 miles or so which has been a bit of a concern, I had put it down to hot weather and somewhat spirited driving but then I spotted the dreaded anti-freeze on the garage floor.

I was hoping for a loose pipe clamp as I guess we all do but it's very hard to see anything in the GT engine bay or underneath. So I dropped into my local MD today (Marshall Maserati Peterborough - a nice bunch) and it turns out I need a new radiator! It is a very small leak from the core itself which could have been caused by a stone, who knows, but it's been quoted as a 7 hour labour job plus the part cost.

Very fortunately for me, the cost is going to be covered under the warranty from Nareman @ Nuvola, even though a rad would normally come under wear & tear. However, it must have been a pre-existing fault as it was using coolant right after I got the car last month so I am very grateful that his warranty is so comprehensive and that he has been so reasonable about it.

So the GTS will be off the road until the part comes in and the MD can book me in but this will hopefully be next week.

After my AC dramas experienced in the last 2 years, I do hope this is a one off!

I had to replace my radiator and without pulling out the receipt to check, I'm pretty sure the labour component was no where near that on the GS.

 

[conaero]

its probably a bumper off job hence the 7 hrs labour.

 

[StuartW]

its probably a bumper off job hence the 7 hrs labour.

Correct Matt, the rad is buried behind all sorts of cowls & components. I'm relieved I bought with a warranty!

 

[Contigo]

Correct Matt, the rad is buried behind all sorts of cowls & components. I'm relieved I bought with a warranty!

Even without an extended warranty I think you'd have been well within the 3 month period anyway.

 

[bigbob]

It's interesting to hear what goes wrong. I have less than a year to run on my 2 year extended warranty and the only thing of merit is that the car needed a new a/c compressor which appears to be happening a few times looking on here.

 

[highlander]

All good news Stuart, except the period she will be away to get fixed. You had your share of bad luck with the AC so are now due a turn of the other side of the coin I reckon.

 

[StuartW]

Cheers Greg and yes, this is just a blip I'm sure for a wear & tear part. With my AC, it got to the point where I was scared to take it out for fear of a catastrophic failure of some kind - no way to be!

 

[Sham83]

Just read this, that sucks, but glad it's getting fixed. Nareman is a good guy- I actually have my car in with Nuvola at the moment to get my gasket replaced, he is very reasonable on pricing compared to the main dealers...

 

[StuartW]

Nareman generally uses Giallo in Kent for his service work who do a good job

 

[mcs]

Nareman generally uses Giallo in Kent for his service work who do a good job

Or Maserati Colchester when Giallo are too busy or are unable to sort an issue. Nuvola is a fantastic dealer - hard to beat IMHO!

 

[StuartW]

The new radiator has finally arrived @ Marshall Maserati from Italy so hopefully they can squeeze me in this week before the long weekend.
It's been torture not being able to use it much for the past 2 weeks as it's been dry and sunny, perfect cruising weather.