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Have a slow coolant leak in what I believe is the radiator, dripping down at the drain plug. It is the lowest point as far as I can tell so could be leak is above running down to the plug area? Checked the drain plug and o-ring and thought maybe that was the culprit but still dripping so I guess not. No evidence of a leak anywhere I can see without doing some disassembly.
First thing I have to remove is the top plate and fan assembly/cowl and see if that will give me a clue as to where the problem is.
If the rad is leaking, I have a spare which I can fit but of course the side tanks have the steering and trans cooler fluid connections and I have to deal with those connectors. I saw Don's thumbnails over on jag-lovers and how he used a shim from brass pipe to fatten the tool he had on hand, but I was wondering if anyone else had removed these fittings using standard tools or have a workaround?
I'll go have another look, but I'm pretty sure on the '94 the fittings are not "wrenchable" they look like a/c or fuel line quick release type. I'll go take a pic and upload it in a few.
Hope all is well up Island!
Ok Jim - Just went out and took a pic and much to my surprise, the fittings are just as you say, "wrenchable" ..now I'm a bit confused as I'm PRETTY sure () the spare rad has the other type of fitting, kinda remember it when I did the parts car dis-assembly ...however as my parts stash is across town I can't check it yet ...here's my car
If the parts car rad is different I might be out of luck doing a swap - weird though, My VIN is early 94 and parts car late 94 ..and DonB's 93 had the quick release fittings according to his photo album here:
After looking at that writeup and sort of remembering the parts rad I just assumed my car was similar i guess. - However, not the case. I'm going to head over to the parts stash and take another look at the spare.
Ok tempest in a teacup, just got back from the parts stash and thank the lord the spare rad fittings are screw-on, just like mine so all good!
I guess I went off on a tangent after seeing Don's rad removal pix because THAT rad definitely had push-on fittings ...
Pic of my spare low mileage rad - end tanks look like plastic?
Good thing you had a spare. Mine went a few years back and i couldn’t find a replacement. After looking around for about 2 months I called the local Jag Dealer to see if they had a source and the parts guy had one they pulled out of wreck. $100 if it fit. I flew over there to get it and lucked out.
Ok tempest in a teacup, just got back from the parts stash and thank the lord the spare rad fittings are screw-on, just like mine so all good!
I guess I went off on a tangent after seeing Don's rad removal pix because THAT rad definitely had push-on fittings ...
I'm very happy for you, Larry!
I wonder if the difference between our radiators was due to mine being a '93 and yours being a late '94, or could there have been a difference between U.S. and Canada parts for some reason? I'll have to have a look at the parts catalog....
It looks like there was a parts change at VIN 687219, so that must explain it.
Seems like earlier cars might use screw on type fittings too - I think you were VERY lucky sourcing your spare with the same type of fitting you needed.
Of course I could have saved myself a few bucks if I'd checked my car earlier - by the time I realized the car had the screw on type it was too late to cancel the Amazon quick-fit tool kit - it had already shipped. Oh well!
Ok, this is what I found out about the different fittings/radiators ...
The change back to non-quick-fit trans cooler rads occurred at VIN 687219.
The quick-fit rads were part number CCC5476, introduced at VIN 667829 and replaced at VIN 687219. All other cars, earlier and later, used rads with threaded trans cooler line attachments.
Rad changed today, no issues other than lower mounts ... shot of course, had to make some up using a short section of hose that fit snugly over the lugs on the rad and then that assy fitted inside a snug larger hose, tapered so it started into the lower bracket then jammed in place. Works fine, used the same method to make the lower condenser mounts when I redid the a/c system some years back. Would have been nice to have the OEM bushes, but sometimes ya gotta improvise!
I say no issues, but actually lower rad hose was a bit of a PIA ..I ordered the recommended rockauto Gates hose - GATES 20694 - but found it to be a compromise - the URO hose would have been a better choice as it actually looks like it is the correct shape, which the Gates is definitely not. Water pump end is all wrong, so don't get that Gates if you have to do the lower hose.
Incidentally, I did use a new URO top hose and found it to be a far sturdier and to my eye a higher quality hose than the Gates.
As my car is a Canadian model, the lower hose is rather "special" (part # CCC4711 [NLA]) as it contains a block heater -so not having a new one of those hoses on hand, I just used the original hose from the old rad. I didn't see a spare listed with the heater yet, but I'll have a look around for one and replace it then. Even if it didn't need that special hose I don't think I would have installed the GATES 20694 - I think it would kink if I fitted it, to me it was just the wrong shape on the pump end.
07-31-2020, 07:32 PM
I might have to change the radiator ...tool?
) the spare rad has the other type of fitting, kinda remember it when I did the parts car dis-assembly ...however as my parts stash is across town I can't check it yet ...here's my car
