frozen radiator, Umm Ya. - Land Rovers Only

Corbit · 11-28-2006, 03:06 PM

Oh how I love my rover. So it's been losing coolant , so I put some block seal in to no luck. I've been topping it off every time I use it. Head gasket is probaly gone . So I'm just trying to milk it out a little longer. I topped it off last night , and then it snowed. I went out to start it today and it wont turn over ,click click . I hit it with the charger , just hopeing . Nope, no go. I painfully open the rad to find it is frozen. So anyone ever have this happen. I know we've all heard the nightmare story of how it will crack the block or the freeze plugs will blow out. Any idea's aside of rebuild at this point would be great . Thanks Corbit.

RageRover · 11-28-2006, 09:00 PM

Well, the stuff you probably threw into the cooling system probably destroyed the coolant's ability to anti-freeze the system.

OR

The anti-freeze you're using is probably no good at preventing itself from freezing, and if this stuff is also in your engine block, might as well fear the worst, not to be the bearer of bad news, but it could've cracked the block, probably even worse at where it was leaking from, so when everything thaws out, the leak will probably be constant.

So, I would recommend letting the truck thaw and do a thorough visual of the cooling system and see what can be done, and yeah, check the head gaskets.

Good Luck!!

Corbit · 11-28-2006, 09:35 PM

More than likely . But it take's a real grease monkey to do this one. I can't tell you how many times my pops would tell me this would happen , espeically with an alloy block . I told him today the goods and he said " poetic justice for half assing ."

RageRover · 11-29-2006, 12:39 AM

Yeah....but hell when one is in real need of something to drive, that one would go a cheap route to afford an OK repair....I know, I have done so before, and sometimes still will.

So what are your plans? Gonna do the work yourself? From what I see if you are located in the northern states look forward to a cold winter starting soon, but hell time will tell.

Best of luck man!

OkieRover · 11-29-2006, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corbit

I told him today the goods and he said " poetic justice for half assing ."

Your dad and mine must have gone to the same DAD Training Course.

Just yesterday I watched a guy leave an O'Reilly's Auto Parts store with the pecan shell plugs for his leaky radiator, as he said, "cause it's only a small leak".
Well it will continue to leak. And Winter is HERE so I hope he remembers to wear a warm coat and take his cell phone with him.

It may be the unpopular opinion but if you have to rely on this truck to get you from A to B you should spend some time figuring out what is toast. If it was "just the head gaskets" by waiting you've made a few hundred dollars to fix into possibly a few thousand.

I wish you the best of luck finding the problem. Hopefully it's just the freeze plugs and the head gasket. Maybe if your lucky you dodged a bullet and can get her back on the road with just a gasket replace and a couple freeze plugs.

Let us know.

Corbit · 11-29-2006, 09:50 AM

I love this rig. It is 87 2" lift 32 m/t white and sweet to drive I went threw a splurge on rover this year and bought my first ( 91 ) for $900 . The guy I bought it from SAID it had a bad tranny and that I could pick up his good tranny for $100. So I towed it home pulled the tranny ( got to love the 9 bell houseing bolts )and after wrestling with it for along while got it in. I bolted every thing back in and fired it up. NO GO , yes I put fluid in and I hooked up all the elecrtical crap. I 'm thinking now that the transfer case is shot , SWEET !! So like any grease monkey I start looking for a good used tranny ( OXYMOREON) and I find this 87 with 300k on it for $800 with the lift and some really nice weld rims and bull bumper. It had a intermitten ( I love that word ) electrical gremlin as well as a leakey valley pan seal , exhaust leak and a hand full of other crap. Turns out I put another valley pan seal on and it to leaked , I think the breather on the valve cover was very clogged I couldn't blow threw it at all. So now this is my daily driver , it rides great and wheels like no other. I've had all makes of 4x4. So now I'm back to thinking about the other rover I bought first , my 91. I found a kid out here that cut the top in half of his 88 and was looking for $500 on it , so I picked it up. It is a great runner , it burned off in the street , I didn't think the rover was capable. It was so haggered from this kids evil molestation I designated it the trail beater. I robbed all the goodies off for my 87. Now last week I found a 92 on craigslist for $1000 ( with a 2" OME lift ) , I drove across state to check it and it has a valley pan leak ,and a ABS gremlin , but hey I just drove like 200 + miles, I want this. After I pointed out the problems to this youngster he and I settled for $500, and I drove it home. So now I have 3 and a half RRC's . In less than 6 months I got the Rover Bug. I really do enjoy how well they drive , I do not like working on them , but looks like I found a new obsession .

So my Plans , I dont know. I like the idea of a a daily driver and off road stomper . I'd like to build a 4.6 or better for one of these and down size to just 2 rovers. I'll wait for the snow to melt and hope that the block didn't crack , if it did I'll be putting the 91's 3.9 in . As of now the latest purchase is running real nice , except for the valley leak and the abs issue . But hey if I didn't have a Rover I'd wouldn't have grease on me , and I love the grease. Thanks David.

OkieRover · 11-29-2006, 10:33 AM

I was a little concerned that you were perhaps not the grease monkey you are. Good for you. Working on my Rovers is a double edged sword. I like the feeling of solving a problem and I like the feeling of learning a little bit more about my Rover. But I don't like the time it takes to get them fixed and I don't like constant worrying something else will leave it stranded.

Betwixed the three you should have a nice trail rig and a nice road ride.
Let us know how it all turns out.

Corbit · 11-29-2006, 02:00 PM

The learning curve has been a little rough , but I'm very thankfull to have a site such as this one with a wealth of resorcefull write up's and problem solveing. I found a online manual ( life saver ). Then I read a post by you Okie about the stepper motor , and removed the assembly to find there was a spring missing on the plunger and it was carboned up. I replaced it with a new used one and WOW it made a huge improvement it the power. I also replaced the cap and rotor with a after market unit , very bad deal . It didn't have any bridges on the pick ups and burnt out in less than a week , so the Rover is a little bit picky and loves the lucas. Thanks for all the people who finish there posts after finding the solution , always a huge plus to have hindsite. David.

Greg M · 11-29-2006, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corbit

Oh how I love my rover. So it's been losing coolant , so I put some block seal in to no luck. I've been topping it off every time I use it. Head gasket is probaly gone . So I'm just trying to milk it out a little longer. I topped it off last night , and then it snowed. I went out to start it today and it wont turn over ,click click . I hit it with the charger , just hopeing . Nope, no go. I painfully open the rad to find it is frozen. So anyone ever have this happen. I know we've all heard the nightmare story of how it will crack the block or the freeze plugs will blow out. Any idea's aside of rebuild at this point would be great . Thanks Corbit.

Just out of curiousity were you topping it off with water, antifreeze, or both?

Corbit · 11-29-2006, 05:30 PM

Both , I had put antifreeze in a day before and some Bars block seal , but I dont think the two go very well together. Ya it was very bad timing. The sun was out temp was 50 + , I left the hood open , and woke up to my kids asking if they could build a snow man , ha ha. I went out and tryed to give the top hose a squeaze but it was petrifried. I hit the starter and only got the click click. Opened the rad and it was and still is very soild ice with green highlights. I'll wait for it to thaw and tell myself lies about how it's going to fire right up LOL.

Corbit · 12-09-2006, 08:17 PM

Can not believe it !!!!!!! I went out to check on it , turned the key on and first click it fired up. Runs great , the leak turned out to be the coolant hose under the T-Stat. The freeze made the hose tear open a little more to reveal the mystery leak. The freeze plugs didn't blow , But that thing was froze solid. The Rover gods are smiling down on me.LOL.

OkieRover · 12-10-2006, 06:15 PM

What a break!!!
Heater supply hose replacement. I have a page about that.
Good for you.

11-28-2006, 03:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
Corbit Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 11 Gallery: 0	frozen radiator, Umm Ya. ( GOOD ENDING ) Oh how I love my rover. So it's been losing coolant , so I put some block seal in to no luck. I've been topping it off every time I use it. Head gasket is probaly gone . So I'm just trying to milk it out a little longer. I topped it off last night , and then it snowed. I went out to start it today and it wont turn over ,click click . I hit it with the charger , just hopeing . Nope, no go. I painfully open the rad to find it is frozen. So anyone ever have this happen. I know we've all heard the nightmare story of how it will crack the block or the freeze plugs will blow out. Any idea's aside of rebuild at this point would be great . Thanks Corbit. Last edited by Corbit : 12-09-2006 at 08:18 PM. Reason: new news

11-28-2006, 09:00 PM	#2 (permalink)
RageRover Crazy about Rovers and more... Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Westland, MI Posts: 2,888 Gallery: 0	Well, the stuff you probably threw into the cooling system probably destroyed the coolant's ability to anti-freeze the system. OR The anti-freeze you're using is probably no good at preventing itself from freezing, and if this stuff is also in your engine block, might as well fear the worst, not to be the bearer of bad news, but it could've cracked the block, probably even worse at where it was leaking from, so when everything thaws out, the leak will probably be constant. So, I would recommend letting the truck thaw and do a thorough visual of the cooling system and see what can be done, and yeah, check the head gaskets. Good Luck!! __________________ Pat Albaugh, Midwest Moderator "Diffage" -the point at which the truck's differential makes contact with the ground. http://www.cardomain.com/id/RageRover42Visit my RRC and others here!(updated as of September 15, 2006) 1995 RRC LWB -LT265/75R16 Pathfinder All Terrains -RTE 2" Lift Springs -Pro Comp ES9000 Shocks (from DAP Enterprises) -KMC Front Diff Guard -4 Desert Fox 55 watt Lighting -Radio Shack CB Radio (never know when signal fails on a cell phone) -2 Halogen Super Sport 100 watt forward lights -Custom slim style front bumper w/ integrated bull bar -Lowe's Special "Homemade" Snorkel -T-Case out of an 92' RRC

11-29-2006, 12:39 AM	#4 (permalink)
RageRover Crazy about Rovers and more... Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Westland, MI Posts: 2,888 Gallery: 0	Yeah....but hell when one is in real need of something to drive, that one would go a cheap route to afford an OK repair....I know, I have done so before, and sometimes still will. So what are your plans? Gonna do the work yourself? From what I see if you are located in the northern states look forward to a cold winter starting soon, but hell time will tell. Best of luck man! __________________ Pat Albaugh, Midwest Moderator "Diffage" -the point at which the truck's differential makes contact with the ground. http://www.cardomain.com/id/RageRover42Visit my RRC and others here!(updated as of September 15, 2006) 1995 RRC LWB -LT265/75R16 Pathfinder All Terrains -RTE 2" Lift Springs -Pro Comp ES9000 Shocks (from DAP Enterprises) -KMC Front Diff Guard -4 Desert Fox 55 watt Lighting -Radio Shack CB Radio (never know when signal fails on a cell phone) -2 Halogen Super Sport 100 watt forward lights -Custom slim style front bumper w/ integrated bull bar -Lowe's Special "Homemade" Snorkel -T-Case out of an 92' RRC

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11-28-2006, 09:35 PM	#3 (permalink)
Corbit Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 11 Gallery: 0	More than likely . But it take's a real grease monkey to do this one. I can't tell you how many times my pops would tell me this would happen , espeically with an alloy block . I told him today the goods and he said " poetic justice for half assing ."

11-29-2006, 09:50 AM	#6 (permalink)
Corbit Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 11 Gallery: 0	I love this rig. It is 87 2" lift 32 m/t white and sweet to drive I went threw a splurge on rover this year and bought my first ( 91 ) for $900 . The guy I bought it from SAID it had a bad tranny and that I could pick up his good tranny for $100. So I towed it home pulled the tranny ( got to love the 9 bell houseing bolts )and after wrestling with it for along while got it in. I bolted every thing back in and fired it up. NO GO , yes I put fluid in and I hooked up all the elecrtical crap. I 'm thinking now that the transfer case is shot , SWEET !! So like any grease monkey I start looking for a good used tranny ( OXYMOREON) and I find this 87 with 300k on it for $800 with the lift and some really nice weld rims and bull bumper. It had a intermitten ( I love that word ) electrical gremlin as well as a leakey valley pan seal , exhaust leak and a hand full of other crap. Turns out I put another valley pan seal on and it to leaked , I think the breather on the valve cover was very clogged I couldn't blow threw it at all. So now this is my daily driver , it rides great and wheels like no other. I've had all makes of 4x4. So now I'm back to thinking about the other rover I bought first , my 91. I found a kid out here that cut the top in half of his 88 and was looking for $500 on it , so I picked it up. It is a great runner , it burned off in the street , I didn't think the rover was capable. It was so haggered from this kids evil molestation I designated it the trail beater. I robbed all the goodies off for my 87. Now last week I found a 92 on craigslist for $1000 ( with a 2" OME lift ) , I drove across state to check it and it has a valley pan leak ,and a ABS gremlin , but hey I just drove like 200 + miles, I want this. After I pointed out the problems to this youngster he and I settled for $500, and I drove it home. So now I have 3 and a half RRC's . In less than 6 months I got the Rover Bug. I really do enjoy how well they drive , I do not like working on them , but looks like I found a new obsession . So my Plans , I dont know. I like the idea of a a daily driver and off road stomper . I'd like to build a 4.6 or better for one of these and down size to just 2 rovers. I'll wait for the snow to melt and hope that the block didn't crack , if it did I'll be putting the 91's 3.9 in . As of now the latest purchase is running real nice , except for the valley leak and the abs issue . But hey if I didn't have a Rover I'd wouldn't have grease on me , and I love the grease. Thanks David.

11-29-2006, 02:00 PM	#8 (permalink)
Corbit Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 11 Gallery: 0	The learning curve has been a little rough , but I'm very thankfull to have a site such as this one with a wealth of resorcefull write up's and problem solveing. I found a online manual ( life saver ). Then I read a post by you Okie about the stepper motor , and removed the assembly to find there was a spring missing on the plunger and it was carboned up. I replaced it with a new used one and WOW it made a huge improvement it the power. I also replaced the cap and rotor with a after market unit , very bad deal . It didn't have any bridges on the pick ups and burnt out in less than a week , so the Rover is a little bit picky and loves the lucas. Thanks for all the people who finish there posts after finding the solution , always a huge plus to have hindsite. David.

11-29-2006, 05:30 PM	#10 (permalink)
Corbit Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 11 Gallery: 0	Both , I had put antifreeze in a day before and some Bars block seal , but I dont think the two go very well together. Ya it was very bad timing. The sun was out temp was 50 + , I left the hood open , and woke up to my kids asking if they could build a snow man , ha ha. I went out and tryed to give the top hose a squeaze but it was petrifried. I hit the starter and only got the click click. Opened the rad and it was and still is very soild ice with green highlights. I'll wait for it to thaw and tell myself lies about how it's going to fire right up LOL.

12-09-2006, 08:17 PM	#11 (permalink)
Corbit Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 11 Gallery: 0	Can not believe it !!!!!!! I went out to check on it , turned the key on and first click it fired up. Runs great , the leak turned out to be the coolant hose under the T-Stat. The freeze made the hose tear open a little more to reveal the mystery leak. The freeze plugs didn't blow , But that thing was froze solid. The Rover gods are smiling down on me.LOL.

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