When a cracked radiator is a good thing

[alrock]

Yes, new cylinder head. I've had the P0300 code on and off pretty much since I've owned this truck though 80% of the time it shows up off road, not on the street. The CEL came on with that code on the way to the dealer for the radiator repair.

I'm curious to see if my MPGs go up at all, if the head was reducing my efficiency at all. I've been in the 13s and 14s over the past several months vs. 14s and 15s where I used to always be.

 

[H3slate]

That is concerning to me because I have had the p0300 code recently. Also had a couple of other codes but they related to crankshaft issues.

 

[Hunner]

Losing 15% compression explains the oil smoke and mileage drop. That means you were loosing power by about that much from blow by. Let's hope part of that was not rings for some reason.
Zoom zoom your H3 will have new life!

 

[DJinCO]

OK, dumb question, does an H3 Alpha have a radiator crack issue or is it just the I5?

 

[MaxPF]

Losing 15% compression explains the oil smoke and mileage drop. That means you were loosing power by about that much from blow by. Let's hope part of that was not rings for some reason.
Zoom zoom your H3 will have new life!

Well, hopefully they did a leakdown test to determine that the head was the issue rather than the rings. But ya never know with them stealership techs :hjob:

 

[alrock]

OK, dumb question, does an H3 Alpha have a radiator crack issue or is it just the I5?

I don't know that either of them have an "issue" with cracked radiators. I'm not upset about mine failing nor do I think it is premature after nearly 100,000 with a lot of bouncing off road (and off of rocks). There are certainly more failed radiators on the I5s that we've heard about but they've also been around an extra two years.

 

[bebe]

I don't know that either of them have an "issue" with cracked radiators. I'm not upset about mine failing nor do I think it is premature after nearly 100,000 with a lot of bouncing off road (and off of rocks). There are certainly more failed radiators on the I5s that we've heard about but they've also been around an extra two years.

Mine (2008) has never been off road and it's at the dealer now with a cracked radiator. They are saying it's not covered and want $700.00 to replace it.That's BS in my mind.

 

[Xlr8n]

Is it the usual crack on the top of the tank and does the tank make unwanted contact with the radiator support as many do?

I'd talk with the service manager and see if they'd be willing to push for the goodwill repair through your regional manager. You can print and use the 'cracked radiato'r thread as ammo for your cause. If your radiator neck is making contact with the support, you should have no problems getting them to cover it.

I assume with all your knowlege of the tranny cooler issue, that if they aren't willing to foot at least half of that bill for an OEM radiator that you'd go aftermarket and eliminate both risks.

 

[alrock]

Ouch. I do think that's about what I paid the dealer for a new OEM radiator, including labor. They matched the price of a local shop. I guess you have more than 50,000 miles on the '08, huh?

 

[f5moab]

Bebe's and I have been discussing this situation today. It appears my 08 has a lead at the top of the radiator in the upper gasket area. Tomorrow, the dealer will pressure test and let me know for sure, what I have basically figured out already; and that is I need a new radiator.
However, you can bet I'm calling the assistance center the minute they state that the radiator has failed. I have a little over 49K, and it just went off the 4yr/50K warranty the end of Feb.

As for is there a problem? All I can say is that last month at GM (Oct. 2008) when I ran the last warranty report for H3s, I could count the number of radiator failures on one hand (ok maybe two) but it was so far down the list it was not an issue. (And the warranty reports include ALL GM paid warranty. That includes GMPP since GM paid the warranty and billed GMPP for the money via the WINs warranty system.)

However, viewing a link to another forum with a lot of failed radiators, it appears sometime in 2010, a bunch of 2007 vehicles started to get radiator failures at the same spots (neck and the top gasket area). So, I can sit here in my recliner and assume that their could have been a run of defective radiators produced and some of those could have flowed over (no pun intended) to the 08 model year. I have no way of verifying if this is a correct assumption or not and I guess it does not matter.

My dealer gave me a price of about 700 bucks for a radiator replacement along with a complete flush and fill with new coolant, and about another sixty to add in an external trans cooler while they have the radiator out of the vehicle. However, like I said, when I find out the problem, and I have the dealer list it as an obvious factory defect; this guy is calling the 1800 number and hopefully, they will cover all but the basic diagnosis.

(Another incentive to the dealer is if they can help me get the radiator covered; I'll pay for the new coolant, since I'm sure GM will only pay for the coolant in the radiator (cheap bastards that they are), and I'll pay for another backflush of the trans before the cooler is installed. This backflush is great money maker for the dealer, and might give them a great incentive to help out more than usual.)

Strange, I was considering dumping the H3 a few weeks ago, but decided to keep it. But I wonder, will it be worth it? I have a bad feeling that the 3 will turn into a large money pit especially after it drops off the powertrain warranty; Feb or next year.

 

[f5moab]

Called the assistance center today, they in turn called and talked with the dealer, and then called back and said they would cover 100 percent of the repair.

 

[mkmcgreg]

Good to hear they stepped up and took ownership mine went out last month but it is out of warranty. I was still taken back that it is not part of the powertrain. Ohh well got an ac delco off line for 179

 

[autumn walker]

Called the assistance center today, they in turn called and talked with the dealer, and then called back and said they would cover 100 percent of the repair.

great news, congrats!

 

[jakesz28]

This is quite interesting. I'm out of state and the wife called and said the Hummer smells like antifreeze. Time to order more parts or complain to Hummer/GM. A friend looked at it and said radiator by tank and fins.
My bumper to bumper is up and only have the power train left.

 

[f5moab]

This is quite interesting. I'm out of state and the wife called and said the Hummer smells like antifreeze. Time to order more parts or complain to Hummer/GM. A friend looked at it and said radiator by tank and fins.
My bumper to bumper is up and only have the power train left.

Not sure what "radiator by tank and fins" means, but I do recommend calling and explaning the situation once a dealer has verified the problem. It worked great for me and I never had to mention that I used to work for the executive who runs the US assistance centers (would have if needed).

You do have to get dealer involved and usually they will charge a fee to diagnose (the local Chevy dealer here did not charge me, and GM is paying for their diagnosis of the problem). Assistance center will contact the dealer and talk it over with them.

 

[jakesz28]

I did not see it but were the plastic tank is attached to the cores. It sounds like it is separating.

 

[alrock]

F5, glad you got it covered

 

[Steve #1]

I just had mine replaced a couple weeks ago. I'm at 73K and paid $200. Would have been nice if they had covered the whole thing, but still not a bad deal.