W124 - Radiator differences in a/c and non a/c cars

[eyelight]

I've got a 1994 E280 with occasionally has an overheating problem. Only happens when in heavy traffic combined with a warm day, but needs to be sorted. Have replaced thermostat and viscous coupling but although things are better, problem is still there.

Anyway, I've located a secondhand radiator for sale nearby, but it's from a car without a/c and my car has a/c. I notice that GSF list different part numbers from a/c and non a/c cars.

What are the main differences here? Is the rad for the a/c car a bit more heavy duty?

Thanks for any tips,
Larry

 

[television]

Look here Larry they are not the same by a long shot

http://www.detali.ru/cat/oem_mb2.as...GM=717.440&CT=F&cat=44R&SID=50&SGR=015&SGN=01

 

[eyelight]

Thanks Malcolm

 

[television]

Have you tried flushing it out, you can buy something to do this with

 

[eyelight]

Yes flushed the radiator about two months ago when I replaced the thermostat. Thought problem was solved, but a trip through busy Hammersmith, Barnes and Wimbledon on a warm Friday afternoon last week pushed the temp gauge needle ever upwards. Had to open the windows and turn the heater on to cope. Sleeping 11 month old daughter in car so didn't want to stop anywhere.

The scary thing is that when the car runs hot like this, it causes problems with the ASR. Warning light pops on, and car goes into limp home mode. Luckily it happened only once last Friday while at a standstill in traffic, and turning ignition off and then on again solved that.

 

[television]

Yes flushed the radiator about two months ago when I replaced the thermostat. Thought problem was solved, but a trip through busy Hammersmith, Barnes and Wimbledon on a warm Friday afternoon last week pushed the temp gauge needle ever upwards. Had to open the windows and turn the heater on to cope. Sleeping 11 month old daughter in car so didn't want to stop anywhere.

The scary thing is that when the car runs hot like this, it causes problems with the ASR. Warning light pops on, and car goes into limp home mode. Luckily it happened only once last Friday while at a standstill in traffic, and turning ignition off and then on again solved that.

I wonder Larry if the sender transmitter for the electric fan is faulty, maybe you could change it for a 80c version rather than the 100c, just a thought

 

[eyelight]

Thanks Malcolm, but it's a viscous fan. Replaced the coupling about 2 months ago.
Car needs a service, so maybe when it has fresh oil it will help a bit with the cooling.
I'll still keep an eye out for a radiator though. The one in the car now is not original, can't think of the brand off the top of my head now, but it was made in India.

 

[MIW615]

Thanks Malcolm, but it's a viscous fan. Replaced the coupling about 2 months ago.
Car needs a service, so maybe when it has fresh oil it will help a bit with the cooling.
I'll still keep an eye out for a radiator though. The one in the car now is not original, can't think of the brand off the top of my head now, but it was made in India.

Changing the engine oil won't make any difference - you say that it only overheats in heavy traffic, which to me suggests that the air flow through the radiator is restricted. This could be one or both of the following........

The radiator is "clogged up" inside with sludge, which means an overhaul by a specialist, best to have a new core fitted if this is the case or....

The cooling fins could be blocked with dead flies ect. thus restricting the air flow - find someone who has a high pressure air line and blow through the rad from the engine side and see what debris comes out.

Be wary of buying secondhand (e-bay etc.) as you may be buying a rad with similar problemproblems.

 

[wireman]

The rad for my non aircon 250D cost £86 from GSF, a snip.
Changing the coolant at the specified intervals (2 years) makes a marked reduction in the incidence of cloged up radiators and heater matrices.