RE: radiator neck failure mode analysis.

["Buchholz, Steven" <Steven.Buchholz@kla-tencor.com>]

Yes, it does seem to me that the hose clamp is somehow related to the
failure.  It isn't clear whether or not it is accelerated by overtightening
... but there's no doubt that the plastic gets brittle over time and breaks.
This is true on heater valves, aux water pumps and radiators IME.

Since you have a new rad you don't need to take this advice, but when the
"new" one goes get an all metal replacement unit [I prefer Modine].  The job
of replacement is a pretty easy one ... the only things you need to remove
are the coolant reservoir and the hydraulic pump (just move it out of the
way.  Dont forget to tighten that coolant hose that attaches to the left of
the rad and is buried under the quarter panel when you put it all back
together!

HTH and IUD!
Steve Buchholz
San Jose, CA (USA)

> ----------
> So, about the failure mode...
> Is it just that the plastic gets brittle after a while and this happens
> to be the most stressed area? I noticed the crack happened right under
>