2001 Grand Prix GT: possible multiple issues...

the pic link did not work for me, that is what I was getting at(find what is breaking the radiator first. Get it up to temp for some time in your driveway. If it breaks there it is the radiators, if it only blows while going down the road, your sub frame(what the radiator sits on and what goes back towards the car-just not a full frame as older vehicles have) could be flexing enough to crack the radiator when going over bumps, turns, etc. I also thought that the hose would break before the radiator would crack, but I don't know that for sure.

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Originally Posted by bluegtp91

Looks like a stress fracture maybe? Sounds like there is a TON of air in the system to do something like that...or am I losing it?

I figured it would blow the hoses clean off before cracking the radiator.

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I would rule out a stress fracture...like I posted previously, doesn't seem that it's mis-mounted in any way...

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Originally Posted by Liquifire

the pic link did not work for me, that is what I was getting at(find what is breaking the radiator first. Get it up to temp for some time in your driveway. If it breaks there it is the radiators, if it only blows while going down the road, your sub frame(what the radiator sits on and what goes back towards the car-just not a full frame as older vehicles have) could be flexing enough to crack the radiator when going over bumps, turns, etc. I also thought that the hose would break before the radiator would crack, but I don't know that for sure.

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Sorry about the link...we had a major maintenance today...check again. There's not a recall on radiators that anyone knows of?

looking at the picture and reading about the issue, it has raised a question or two lol. i see a rust color when i see the pic. was the radiator you put in to replace the first one used? i would replace the radiator cap for sure, you might be looking at a cracked head. i have seen northstar engines put engine compression into the cooling system only under load, idling the car will idle and stay cool for hours, as soon as you take it down the road, its spitting it out the over flow bottle, fast! how many miles are on the grand prix? i do not want to be the bearer of bad news but i dont think unless soething is really wrong you are gonna see two radiators basically blow apart. i do know radiator caps can cause way too much pressure if they are bad. good luck!

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Originally Posted by mikedinthecity

looking at the picture and reading about the issue, it has raised a question or two lol. i see a rust color when i see the pic. was the radiator you put in to replace the first one used? i would replace the radiator cap for sure, you might be looking at a cracked head. i have seen northstar engines put engine compression into the cooling system only under load, idling the car will idle and stay cool for hours, as soon as you take it down the road, its spitting it out the over flow bottle, fast! how many miles are on the grand prix? i do not want to be the bearer of bad news but i dont think unless soething is really wrong you are gonna see two radiators basically blow apart. i do know radiator caps can cause way too much pressure if they are bad. good luck!

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Yeah, there is rust on the first radiator, which is what the photo is...it had been leaking quite a while...we were looking for the leak by letting the car idle in the driveway until it got to operating temperature. The pressure had water coming out the crack...we've even revved the car to the limiter and didn't have any issues...

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Originally Posted by mdurisseau

I would rule out a stress fracture...like I posted previously, doesn't seem that it's mis-mounted in any way...

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For this to happen it would not have to be mis-mounted. It could be that the sub frame is flexing more than it was supposed to. Did you get a NEW radiator to replace the original or used? Is it a GM radiator or aftermarket? what type?

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Originally Posted by mdurisseau

I would rule out a stress fracture...like I posted previously, doesn't seem that it's mis-mounted in any way...

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I meant a stress put on it from the inside out...like a fluids build up or from a pressure spike due to a massive amount of air in the system...not a external mounting screw up.

Maybe it's me, but I'm having a hard time seeing the crack in this pic:

http://www.thepostnewspaper.net/radiator.jpg



Are you looking in the center of the pic at the bottom?

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Originally Posted by Liquifire

For this to happen it would not have to be mis-mounted. It could be that the sub frame is flexing more than it was supposed to. Did you get a NEW radiator to replace the original or used? Is it a GM radiator or aftermarket? what type?

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Which sub-frame are you referring to? I'm not real familiar with these vehicles...

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Originally Posted by bluegtp91

I meant a stress put on it from the inside out...like a fluids build up or from a pressure spike due to a massive amount of air in the system...not a external mounting screw up.

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Ah...I would have to agree it's something internal...but what?

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Originally Posted by mdurisseau

Which sub-frame are you referring to? I'm not real familiar with these vehicles...

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there is only one subframe. It is what the motor/tranny bolts onto on the bottom side. It is what your radiator support cross beam attaches to from side to side. It is the "frame" of your car in the engine bay. Not sure if this is damaged, or flexing at all. It could contribute to your problem or have nothing to do with it. Did the new radiator slide right in, or was it very tight like it was not aligning properly?

this thread has the engine cradle/subframe ...........
http://www.grandprixforums.net/f81/b...ybe-21219.html