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Gold Hills Posse 4×4 Club · Folsom, CA

Griffin radiator cracked :(

  1. Fred Subscriber
    #19 Jan 2010, 9:22 PM

    While working on my brakes recently I noticed a crack in one of the welds on my Griffin aluminum radiator (fon a TJ for those who don't know). One of the welds that attaches the driver's side mounting bracket to the upper tank was cracked about 2/3's of the way across. 😢 It looks like it should be repairable, but I swapped in a new replacement radiator from Napa for now.



    I got the new radiator from Napa on Zinfadel. I was really surprised when I asked for the 7% AAA discount and the salesman said "wait a minute, let me make a call". He called 1800radiator for a price match which was $40 less than Napa's price. 😀

  2. JohnDF Member Joined: July 2003
    #210 Jan 2010, 8:45 AM

    Stop wheeling on Strawberry...you know that trail thrashes our Jeeps.

    I used to wheel a lot. . .
  3. Fred started this Subscriber
    #310 Jan 2010, 9:22 AM
    "JohnDF" wrote: Stop wheeling on Strawberry...you know that trail thrashes our Jeeps.



    I know! This is now my 4th radiator with only 60k miles on the Jeep.

  4. Guest former user
    #410 Jan 2010, 9:52 AM

    Do they have any sort of warranty or are you stuck paying for the repair/replacement?

  5. Fred started this Subscriber
    #510 Jan 2010, 6:30 PM
    "Bender" wrote: Do they have any sort of warranty or are you stuck paying for the repair/replacement?



    I'm not sure about the others, but this one I just got from Napa has a lifetime warranty.

  6. Fred started this Subscriber
    #610 Jan 2010, 8:49 PM

    From what I found on Griffin's website my radiator probably had a 2 year warranty. I bought it a little over three years ago though.

  7. BKGM Jeepers President Joined: June 2003
    #711 Jan 2010, 7:44 AM

    The Modine I purchased carried a life time warranty. The factory jeep radiator was 12 months. They were the same price.

    Kathleen and Brad
  8. Fred started this Subscriber
    #811 Jan 2010, 10:32 AM

    How much was the Modine?



    The Napa radiator I got, with the price match, was $138 with a lifetime warranty. When I got home I read the box a little closer and found that even though it's from Napa, it's still made in China. It's much better quality than the others I've gotten from some of the online discount radiator places though and seems comparable to the factory radiator.



    It seems to be working well for now. Engine temps are staying at 210 or slightly below. I've seen the transmission temp get up to 180 while sitting and idling in neutral for about 30 minutes. While on the road the transmission is barely above 100.



    Another thing I did was remove the large transmission cooler I had installed. I've been wondering if the trans cooler was blocking too much airflow to the radiator. At this point my cooling system is basically back to stock, with the exception of the 7 blade fan and heavier duty fan clutch Jeep put out for the TJ's. I'll see what happens when summer rolls around.

  9. JohnDF Member Joined: July 2003
    #911 Jan 2010, 11:48 AM

    I'm still running the stock/original radiator in my Jeep.

    I used to wheel a lot. . .
  10. Fred started this Subscriber
    #1011 Jan 2010, 12:18 PM

    My factory radiator cracked years ago. I replaced it with a "good" 🙄 all brass radiator from one of the online discount places. IIRC, it only lasted about a year before it failed. With my running hot problems I decided to splurge for the all aluminum name-brand radiator which lasted for 3 years. Now I'm on the fourth and back to a factory style aluminum & plastic radiator.

  11. BKGM Jeepers President Joined: June 2003
    #1111 Jan 2010, 1:50 PM
    "FAM" wrote: My factory radiator cracked years ago. I replaced it with a "good" 🙄 all brass radiator from one of the online discount places. IIRC, it only lasted about a year before it failed. With my running hot problems I decided to splurge for the all aluminum name-brand radiator which lasted for 3 years. Now I'm on the fourth and back to a factory style aluminum & plastic radiator.



    Is the Napa radiator the same as the stock aluminum and plastic one?

    Kathleen and Brad
  12. Fred started this Subscriber
    #1211 Jan 2010, 2:27 PM
    "BKGM Jeepers" wrote: Is the Napa radiator the same as the stock aluminum and plastic one?



    yes

  13. Guest former user
    #1312 Jan 2010, 7:14 AM
    "JohnDF" wrote: I'm still running the stock/original radiator in my Jeep.

    We're so cool we can keep it stock. If these guys just quit running their A/C all day they'd be fine. 😂

  14. JohnDF Member Joined: July 2003
    #1412 Jan 2010, 7:31 AM
    "Bender" wrote: [quote="JohnDF"]I'm still running the stock/original radiator in my Jeep.

    We're so cool we can keep it stock. If these guys just quit running their A/C all day they'd be fine. 😂

    😳 My A/C is a different story...mine's broke twice 😳

    I used to wheel a lot. . .
  15. Guest former user
    #1512 Jan 2010, 8:11 AM
    "JohnDF" wrote: [quote="Bender"][quote="JohnDF"]I'm still running the stock/original radiator in my Jeep.

    We're so cool we can keep it stock. If these guys just quit running their A/C all day they'd be fine. 😂

    😳 My A/C is a different story...mine's broke twice 😳



    I took mine off. 😂 When I finally get it together, my A/C button will stand for "Air Compressor". Which reminds me...anyone have some scrap steel they want to get rid of? I'm looking for some 1/4" or 3/8" plate. I can bring some cash to the meeting.

  16. k-jeep Member Joined: May 2009
    #1612 Jan 2010, 8:23 AM
    "JohnDF" wrote: I'm still running the stock/original radiator in my Jeep.



    "Bender" wrote: I took mine off. 😂 When I finally get it together, my A/C button will stand for "Air Compressor". Which reminds me...anyone have some scrap steel they want to get rid of? I'm looking for some 1/4" or 3/8" plate. I can bring some cash to the meeting.



    I've been running my stock radiator for almost 18 years now! 😀



    I only have Poor Man's A/C though (top off), never had real A/C. 😁

  17. Guest former user
    #1712 Jan 2010, 9:19 AM

    we also need a "F/L" and a "R/L" button for our front and rear air or electric lockers. 😎

  18. Fred started this Subscriber
    #1812 Jan 2010, 11:16 AM
    "lowrider" wrote: we also need a "F/L" and a "R/L" button for our front and rear air or electric lockers. 😎



    Why would you just want to lock the front left and rear left?

  19. JohnDF Member Joined: July 2003
    #1912 Jan 2010, 11:26 AM
    "FAM" wrote:
    Why would you just want to lock the front left and rear left?

    He doesn't want to rip off his curb-feelers from the passenger side 😁

    I used to wheel a lot. . .
  20. Guest former user
    #2012 Jan 2010, 12:55 PM
    "JohnDF" wrote: [quote="FAM"]
    Why would you just want to lock the front left and rear left?

    He doesn't want to rip off his curb-feelers from the passenger side 😁

    You wouldn't either if you were only running 31s. 😂 🙁

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