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Thread: Shaky radiator mount?

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    Senior Member NotoriousJT's Avatar
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    Shaky radiator mount?

    Any one ever experience their radiator to be kinda lose wobbly?


    Cars:
    15' Mitsubishi Mirage DE CVT
    17' Toyota Corolla LE


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    Business Up Front Johnny Mullet's Avatar
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    The radiator is set in place with bushings because if it was mounted rigid, it would break. There should be some looseness, but if it's literally rattling around then there might be a problem.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Johnny Mullet View Post
    The radiator is set in place with bushings because if it was mounted rigid, it would break. There should be some looseness, but if it's literally rattling around then there might be a problem.
    2nd what Johnny M said ^^^^. Even years ago, some were mounted in bushings allowing a little movement.

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    Senior Member IchabodCrane's Avatar
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    Actually just noticed on Friday. I'm chasing a rattle/vibration in my '17 Mirage and found the wobbly rad. This thing moves a lot. It seems to be attached at the bottom while the top is left to bounce around behind the hood latch. It moves freely forward and back over a centimeter with no restraint aside from tension of bottom mount. I can kick it forward with my finger and hear it bouncing off back of latch assembly.
    Will weld for beer.

        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2014 Mirage SE 1.2 automatic: 45.3 mpg (US) ... 19.3 km/L ... 5.2 L/100 km ... 54.5 mpg (Imp)


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    Senior Member Top_Fuel's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by IchabodCrane View Post
    ...It seems to be attached at the bottom while the top is left to bounce around behind the hood latch. It moves freely forward and back over a centimeter with no restraint aside from tension of bottom mount. I can kick it forward with my finger and hear it bouncing off back of latch assembly.
    My 2015 is the same way. I can move the top of the radiator back and forth (towards the engine and back towards the front bumper) about half an inch. This is completely by design and I don't see any issue with it. The top of the radiator is well-secured inside a rubber isolator (see image below). That isolator allows the radiator to move back and forth a slight amount. I can't imagine a situation where anyone would feel a vibration in the car because of this.

    Here's the top radiator mount that's below the hood latch...

    Name:  rad1.jpg
Views: 910
Size:  91.0 KB

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        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2015 Mirage ES 1.2 manual: 52.2 mpg (US) ... 22.2 km/L ... 4.5 L/100 km ... 62.6 mpg (Imp)


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    Senior Member NotoriousJT's Avatar
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    I'm actually glad this is something that is not a problem for the car, I was quite nervous about this and was planning on taking it in tomorrow morning.
    Cars:
    15' Mitsubishi Mirage DE CVT
    17' Toyota Corolla LE


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    Senior Member IchabodCrane's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Top_Fuel View Post
    My 2015 is the same way. I can move the top of the radiator back and forth (towards the engine and back towards the front bumper) about half an inch. This is completely by design and I don't see any issue with it. The top of the radiator is well-secured inside a rubber isolator (see image below). That isolator allows the radiator to move back and forth a slight amount. I can't imagine a situation where anyone would feel a vibration in the car because of this.

    Here's the top radiator mount that's below the hood latch...

    Name:  rad1.jpg
Views: 910
Size:  91.0 KB
    I see the mount but do not see how the rad could move back n forth 1/2 an inch and still be in contact with it.
    Looks more like a rubber grommet that allows shake/vibration not lateral movement.
    Either way it's not the source if my issue.
    Will weld for beer.

        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2014 Mirage SE 1.2 automatic: 45.3 mpg (US) ... 19.3 km/L ... 5.2 L/100 km ... 54.5 mpg (Imp)


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    Senior Member Cobrajet's Avatar
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    Agree with all of the above. Plastic radiators are set in rubber grommets to isolate them from body flex and engine/road vibrations...both of which would eventually cause them to crack and fail. Sometimes the tolerances between the grommets and the radiator support pins can be quite substantial.

    This arrangement has been around for as long as there have been plastic radiators. Nothing to worry about. Check to make sure all of the grommets are present and in good condition.

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    Senior Member Top_Fuel's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by IchabodCrane View Post
    ...Looks more like a rubber grommet that allows shake/vibration...
    Quote Originally Posted by Cobrajet View Post
    ...the tolerances between the grommets and the radiator support pins can be quite substantial.
    Yeah...that top grommet is definitely allowing for the movement. When you move the top of the radiator, the pin inside that grommet has a fair amount of wiggle room.

    I'm still blown away by how small this radiator is...

        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2015 Mirage ES 1.2 manual: 52.2 mpg (US) ... 22.2 km/L ... 4.5 L/100 km ... 62.6 mpg (Imp)


  12. #10
    Senior Member daleWV's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by IchabodCrane View Post
    Actually just noticed on Friday. I'm chasing a rattle/vibration in my '17 Mirage and found the wobbly rad. This thing moves a lot. It seems to be attached at the bottom while the top is left to bounce around behind the hood latch. It moves freely forward and back over a centimeter with no restraint aside from tension of bottom mount. I can kick it forward with my finger and hear it bouncing off back of latch assembly.
    I just checked my '17 and the radiator is pretty stiff in its mount. I can move the top maybe 2 or 3 mm front and back. There's no way it can come in contact with the hood latch.



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