Fitting new radiator - Help!

I've got my shiny new radiator but the bottom hose is connected by a plastic extension tube that connects to the radiator by a metal clip. Has anyone found a way of connecting this up? Do I just need a new hose with another bend in it at the Radiator end?
Mike

Someone will know for sure I bet. But at a guess, looks as if that is a 'push snap fit' elbow with possibly an 'O' ring, or other rubber type seal? Never having done one,- perhaps try and prise the elbow off, carefully? :

The problem is the metal band securing the plastic elbow. It's crimped in place and it looks like a factory fitting. I've tried a couple of dealers and they aren't familiar with the part - they thinl is shoudl come with the rad.

Cut the band off carefully, I normally use a good strong pair of side cutters, avoiding damage to the plastic. If it's a pessure type clip/band, try to improvise a good quality stainless replacement of some description? Need to examine the one removed for any relative design 'quirks' though.:

Looking at the workshop drawings, I think the dealer is right, it should come with the rad.

Which illustration is that on then Mitch? Eper, or a CD mate?:

CD Zulu, it's not very clear to be honest but it looks like it IMO.

The Eper one,(which I am not a privileged owner of: ) probably shows whether or not, it is a separate component, which comes only pre-assembled to the rad. Still reckon it's worth trying to remove the elbow off the old rad, then see if a permanent re-fit, banded/clamped job, is feasible?:

Yep me too, thats got to be the way to go!

Originally Posted by mikealdren

The problem is the metal band securing the plastic elbow. It's crimped in place and it looks like a factory fitting. I've tried a couple of dealers and they aren't familiar with the part - they thinl is shoudl come with the rad.

NO MIKE DONT PULL IT OR PRISE IT AND DEFINATELY NOT CUT IT>

Took me a few minutes to work it out..
You press or squeeze gently on the metal clip and simultaneously pull it out of the readiator....This is what I did and it worked fine....The radiator specailist told me not to touch it at all and but a new one...NO NEED....Try as above...Good luck.Just be gentle with it when you have got the knack its dead easy.

Pomeo

AAARGH EXCRETIA>>>>JUST LOOKED AT YOUR PICTURE>>>>TOO LATE>

Its a sneacky wee mechanism try to patch up and try as suggeested above,

Pomeo

its almost as if its designed to be a quick release mechanism to pull the bottom hose off to drain the rad. Trouble is in practice you cannot get your hand underneath to do so unless there is some special tool.

forgot to say, you should be able to get it back together from there, I prized mine off altogether before I figured it out but was able to get back from much worse and no leak so you should be OK.

HTH

Thanks one and all. Pomeo, you're right, press the clip top and bottom and it comes off. However, I'd damaged the clip a bit before I worked it out! I just hope it won't leak. As usual, there are a few bolts that were b****s to get out and even harder to replace but I got them all in the end. Local dealers were not able to help but Alfa Workshop put me on the right track and said they have used tie wraps in the past when clip have broken.

There are also a few places where there's more rust than I would have expected - I think Alfa only galvanise the shells and not all the brackets. The cross member under the radiator wasn't great. Lots of Dinitrol on it all now.

Also the top bracket connecting the rad to the cross member was broken so the rad (and aircon rad) were moving too much. Probably some hamfisted mechanic in days gone by, I've glued the bracket until I can get a replacement.

I can thoroughly Applied Radiators - very quick, good value and they treid to help with the bracket.

Mike

Mike, how much did the rad cost from Applied? Anyone know the normal, Alfa price?

Pomeo's hit the nail on the head, I reckon: Seem to remember a previous post on this I believe? Aren't there special pliers or something like available for the removal/replacement of same clip? Good Luck, fortunately Pomeo was around:

Originally Posted by zulu ferret

Pomeo's hit the nail on the head, I reckon: Seem to remember a previous post on this I believe? Aren't there special pliers or something like available for the removal/replacement of same clip? Good Luck, fortunately Pomeo was around:

No Zulu the special pliers are for the hose clips...I now replace with Jubileees.....This is the plastic elbow which links hose to radiator....If you look closely at Mikes Pictures above you can see the difference with and without.....It is a real sneaky quick release mecahnism.Once you sus how it works it is Oh SO Simple....As Mike says push the metal at top and bottom and off the elbow slips.Just push fit on new radiator..

Mike....It shouldn't leak ...I did the same with my first one...Clip like yours in first picture.Just clipped it back as best I could and it fitted fine

Tony Alfa price is quite dear....The first one I bought thro a local motor shop...Around £150.all in....the second from about £120 all in delivered too from Buypartsby...Both original Valeo as youd get from Alfa Dealer.

Pomeo