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I need help to find a solution how to change my Xj8 original radiator (MNC4205AF) to something else. I can't find radiator with the same part number anywhere...
They are not cheap, either -- somewhere between $980 US and $1600 (Amazon): me thinks it be better to find a radiator shop and have it cleaned and repaired . . .
Saw an aluminum aftermarket one on eBay for $450. It appears to have all the necessary fittings. I wonder if it's worth a try (?)
Hi Mark, I think they are worth a try.
I recently (last year) purchased a new radiator from Jaguar and it was faulty on delivery, which was not discovered until everything else was checked and some expensive parts changed. There was, I'm assuming, occlusion somewhere in the radiator that caused the engine coolant to run marginally hot but caused the transmission to overheat. I won't bore you with the tests that were performed, suffice to say that original, genuine parts are not always better.
I recently (last year) purchased a new radiator from Jaguar and it was faulty on delivery, which was not discovered until everything else was checked and some expensive parts changed. There was, I'm assuming, occlusion somewhere in the radiator that caused the engine coolant to run marginally hot but caused the transmission to overheat. I won't bore you with the tests that were performed, suffice to say that original, genuine parts are not always better.
Hi Troy,
Yea, I've had some stuff show up unusable, too. The worst one was a fuel sender that was all bent up in the box, and I had everything ready to install it and fit the tank. So, everything sat for another week while waiting for another one to arrive. Everything is mail order here.
I did get an email from the eBay site for the radiator saying, "Make an offer." I just might do that next week.
Yep, most things are mail order here too in Sydney, Australia. I could purchase parts from JLR Australia, but it's much cheaper and faster for me to order them directly from JLR in the UK.
Originally Posted by hispeed42
Hi Troy,
Yea, I've had some stuff show up unusable, too. The worst one was a fuel sender that was all bent up in the box, and I had everything ready to install it and fit the tank. So, everything sat for another week while waiting for another one to arrive. Everything is mail order here.
A similar thing happened to me, I had my radiator, fans and coolant reservoir replaced. The coolant reservoir leaked, so I had to wait until a replacement could be sent from the UK.
The radiator itself is fine. The problem is that when I replaced the SC belt a couple months ago, I gave one of the screws that holds the fan housing at the top one last little pull and broke the plastic that holds the nut. I was able to get a long zip-tie on there to hold it up. Another little problem is I only have one of the tabs at the bottom holding the radiator in, and of course, those are NLA. The picture of that aluminum radiator that I posted shows three tabs ... I wonder where they got those.
I replaced the radiator a number of years ago with an OEM Jaguar radiator. It was pretty expensive even at that time. I don't believe that the new radiator has sufficient cooling for the transmission. I can't directly prove that, but I developed transmission trouble that ended up being caused by fluid overheating on long drives on hot days. I bypassed the radiator and added an external cooler, and the fluid temps run normal all the time now. Later, I stumbled across a thread (maybe on here) that said something about the new radiators having less transmission cooling capacity. As I said, I have no way to prove the cooling capacity is less, but it sure seemed like it at the time. Not sure what I'm trying to say, but if this is true you might want to save yours and fix it at all costs, or go directly to an external cooler if you go with a new one. I tossed mine before I knew any better, unfortunately. Knowing what I know now, I would have done everything possible to repair the old one.
Eric, good point on the external cooler. I'll check the capacity on the current radiator vs what I end up with when I decide to do the change.
About the only way to save this radiator would be to super-glue the broken piece. I did that with a PPS; dropped it and that took a chunk out of the outside of the cable channel right where the T-piece fits. I actually followed the glue instructions and let it sit before putting the broken piece back on. That was about six years ago and the glue job is still holding up. It did go out and I sent it to ASI for a rebuild. It's now a spare ready for the next time the PPS goes out.
Eric, good point on the external cooler. I'll check the capacity on the current radiator vs what I end up with when I decide to do the change.
About the only way to save this radiator would be to super-glue the broken piece. I did that with a PPS; dropped it and that took a chunk out of the outside of the cable channel right where the T-piece fits. I actually followed the glue instructions and let it sit before putting the broken piece back on. That was about six years ago and the glue job is still holding up. It did go out and I sent it to ASI for a rebuild. It's now a spare ready for the next time the PPS goes out.
As long as whatever broke is not causing a leak, I would probably try to figure out a way to save it vs replacing it. Angle iron or strap iron fastened someplace to form a clamp - or to hold the nut for the fan shroud independent of the radiator maybe? I'd have to see it with my own eyes to come up with a solution, but knowing what I know now, I'd save that radiator. At the very least, store the old radiator safely in case the new radiator causes trouble. I sure wish I would have saved mine.
That said, the external cooler I installed has kept mine at perfect operating temps ever since, so that is a viable solution. However, my nephew is a machinist and he made me perfect fitting adapters to thread the transmission cooler lines into, with hose barbs on the other side. That way I didn't have to cut my cooling lines to plumb the external cooler. If you don't have access to something like that, then my recommendation to save the old radiator is even stronger! Otherwise you have to cut the lines, which will probably leak.
I ordered JB Weld Radiatorweld; it looked like the best one. But, it might be a couple of months or so before I do the repair depending on the weather. I don't like to work on the car when it's below 50F unless I have to. The zip-tie is still doing good.
I replaced the radiator a number of years ago with an OEM Jaguar radiator. It was pretty expensive even at that time. I don't believe that the new radiator has sufficient cooling for the transmission. I can't directly prove that, but I developed transmission trouble that ended up being caused by fluid overheating on long drives on hot days. I bypassed the radiator and added an external cooler, and the fluid temps run normal all the time now. Later, I stumbled across a thread (maybe on here) that said something about the new radiators having less transmission cooling capacity. As I said, I have no way to prove the cooling capacity is less, but it sure seemed like it at the time. Not sure what I'm trying to say, but if this is true you might want to save yours and fix it at all costs, or go directly to an external cooler if you go with a new one. I tossed mine before I knew any better, unfortunately. Knowing what I know now, I would have done everything possible to repair the old one.
Food for thought.
Hey Eric, we spoke a few times about radiator woes and transmissions getting too hot. My new OEM radiator was definitely faulty, even if not proven, I believe there was something preventing optimal heat exchange in the radiator, but not occluding the pipes. Like you, I bypassed my the radiator and installed an external cooler in front of the radiator, which resolved the issue of my overheating transmission. Unfortunately, since then, I've noticed my engine seems to run a little hot 205*F/208*F (96*C/98*C) in regular traffic on a mild day 86*F (30*C).
XJ8/308/1999 Radiator change/MNC4205AF
