2003 Eurovan: Replaced cooling fans, then radiator blew/cracked

[JH5000]

Hello all, I recently purchased a 2003 Eurovan Weekender. 6 days after purchase I overheated while driving up a steep gravel road (slow speed, little to no natural air flow to aid cooling).

A nice welcome to the V-dub Club. I am now swimming in the deep end of cooling system issues, information, and part shortages, etc.

After pulling the engine cover I discovered both cooling fans were broken and had lost all of their blades.

I have now read numerous accounts of these cooling fan breaks, it's a known but mysterious issue.

I sourced and swapped two replacement fans. Test drive went well, thought I had solved my cooling system issue and just needed the fans.

A few hours later, I drove the van 1.5 miles from my house, heard something break under the hood, started to overheat, thought it was one or both of the fans breaking apart again...I shut the engine off immediately and jumped out to find all of the coolant was draining out of the bottom of the radiator. Both fans were still intact. Something caused the radiator to blow/crack.

I have now pulled the radiator, confirmed it is a break in the radiator and not a blown or damaged hose. I have ordered a (used) replacement radiator, but I don't know enough about the cooling system to know what caused the radiator to blow after simply installing the new cooling fans.

Any thoughts?

My best guess is that while disturbing the positioning of the radiator while installing the cooling fans, I caused an air bubble to get into the system and that caused a blockage and/or increased internal pressure enough to crack the radiator.

I did not flush the system after replacing the cooling fans, I only topped up the coolant to the correct level in the expansion tank and then test drove.

Thanks in advance for any insight or theories!

[Abscate]

Unrelated probably. You are renovating a 22 years old car with deferred maintentance, there will be lots of parts reaching EOL
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[EuroTec]

You disturbed a part that has been in the same position for years with weak spots that were near failure. That bit of disturbance was enough to push it over the edge. I've seen it many time in my years of being a mechanic. No magic, just old parts failing.

eEuroparts has new Nissens radiators:
https://eeuroparts.com/product/nissens/65238A?gad_...d_source_1
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If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

[67rustavenger]

JH5000, Welcome to the late model EV club.

My 03 lost both it's cooling fans in Missoula MT. last August.
The ironic part is, the van made it all the way from Missoula to Hood River where the transmission died. The PO of my van had it towed home to Portland and he put it up for sale.

These things are kinda quirky, but folks here can and do help with their experiences keeping the EV's on the road.

A couple things that can help you keep tabs on what your engine and trans are doing.
Buy and install a "Scan Gauge II" or III if you have deep pockets.
Also, install an aftermarket trans cooler. These things are prone to over heating the trans fluid and then the trans dies an untimely death.
Especially if you have steep hills to climb.
I saw 240°F trans fluid temps on my Scan Gauge during a winter campout driving logging roads at a slow pace.
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I have learned over the years.
Cheap parts are gonna disappoint you.
Buy Once, Cry Once!

There's never enough time to do it right the first time. But there's always enough time to do it thrice.
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo!
2003 Astrovan? GFYS again, Xevin!
Don't let your bad ideas remain, ideas!

[Endopotential]

And while you're at it, there are things that look like green coiled cylinders under the front bumper in the center. These are resistors that control the fan operation, and often get corroded.

These are cheap to replace

[JH5000]

Thanks for weighing in, guys. I appreciate the insight and the links.

Excited to get this thing running, see ya out there