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My daughter is stuck in Atlanta with Radiator issue. Please identify a hole for me
My teenage daughter is visiting family in Atlanta in her 1987. She said coolant is blowing out of the hole you see in the picture below. Its on the passenger side of the radiator tank. It looks like there might be a missing sensor or plug. Can someone identify what the hole is for and if it can be plugged or does she need a radiator?
Thanks for your help. I'm trying to get her home for the weekend
I'm not 100% positive by the photo but from the size of the hole I would say it is the temperature sensor hole(I have an 88) There should be a wire some where not connected if this is the problem. If so fix is around $20 for a new sensor. These sensors did not screw in but plugged in with plastic tabs holding them into the radiator side tank. Yes, it will leak when pressured.
She said the hole is not threaded and she does not see any loose wires hanging around around. I do see where you said the sensor may clip on though. It looks like it sticks out and there is a groove behind it. I guess I could thread and plug it if need be though.
If you post a pic of your sensor Had2hav2 that would be a great help.
GM service part # 10054615 and there's always eBay and Amazon for availability. You could attempt to use that information for a possible after-market replacement but it's maybe unlikely.
Amazon has very good image but there's images everywhere you might want to look. Good luck.
not to go OT here, BUT, I need some education on this sensor. is it a feature on all early C4's, optional on some, or what? my 85 seems to have a plastic plug in that location. years ago, my son took the car into a radiator shop for a replacement, so I do know it's an aftermarket radiator. there is no loose wiring/connector in close proximity to that location, that I can see (not that I've been looking for one). do 84/85's have this sensor or feature?
Joe, Im not positive, but I don't remember seeing the sensor on my friends 85, but I do have one on my 89...I don't know on what year they made the change...The sensor turns on a light on the dash to indicate a low coolant level...WW
To the OP, it appears that the 2 clips have broken off the sensor plug allowing it to pop out of the hole..You will need either a new sensor, or a plug like Joe has in his for a fix...
Joe, Im not positive, but I don't remember seeing the sensor on my friends 85, but I do have one on my 89...I don't know on what year they made the change...The sensor turns on a light on the dash to indicate a low coolant level...WW
- doing my own on-line research, it looks like a feature added in 1986. I've never noticed an in-dash warning light, most likely because it's not there - . this whole aftermarket radiator thing doesn't give me a warm-fuzzy anyway. the bottom transmission cooling line is a major cluster-f*** - a bunch of metal tubing, sections of rubber tubing and hoses, and screw clamps all over the place. just another thing I have to sort through - anyway, thanks for the reply!
Pretty sure the picture Had2Hav2 shows is the low coolant sensor, at least it is on my 86. The sensor snaps into the fitting and a green wire plugs on the spade connector on it. When coolant does not cover the sensor the low coolant light comes on in the DIC.
Bought a replacement for mine, think I got it from Rock Auto about a year ago.
Joe, Im not positive, but I don't remember seeing the sensor on my friends 85,
Here's a pic of my 85's rad. It looks like mine has the nipple for the sensor, but not drilled out.
Could it be possible the radiator in her car isn't the stock one? Looks like the oil cooler (or tranny cooler line...can't remember right now) has been blocked off in the pic.
P.S. I haven't typed "nipple" at this time of the morning in a long time. Thought about them often, but....
To the OP, it appears that the 2 clips have broken off the sensor plug allowing it to pop out of the hole..You will need either a new sensor, or a plug like Joe has in his for a fix...
- and my additional 2-cents to the OP. with a little luck, you might find the sensor still attached to the wiring-connector. WW may be right - the 2 clips may have broken off the connector - OR NOT. worth checking into - it may be something that just popped off, and you can just snap it in place. from the OP original pic, it doesn't look like anything at the radiator is screwed up. could be you didn't have a secure sensor installation in the first place.
one final thing - if the 2 sensor clips are not broken, and just spread apart to the point where they are not grabbing the radiator sensor flange securely, you could always do a field fix and secure the 2 sensor clips with a nylon tie-wrap. wrap around a squeeze the clips to the point where they grab and secure the radiator sensor flange. it should be good enough to get you home. again, good luck!
Call a local NAPA store and see if it's in stock.
Most of the NAPA stores have a local warehouse where they get stuff not in stock.
A little pricey but if you need it
2 Minute job to install.
Thanks for everyone's help.
I had a local dealer here locate one at a dealer 50 miles from her. She'll be getting it tomorrow, NAPA said there were none available all the way up to the manufacturer.
One thing that has me confused now is the pics she sent me show where the tranny line should go into the radiator is plugged. See my original post. I've worked on this car a hundred times and never noticed that.
I guess I'll have to see if there just an auxiliary cooler on it when she gets home.
Thanks again everybody. It sucks when your little girl needs you and your not close by to help.
I had a local dealer here locate one at a dealer 50 miles from her. She'll be getting it tomorrow, NAPA said there were none available all the way up to the manufacturer.
One thing that has me confused now is the pics she sent me show where the tranny line should go into the radiator is plugged. See my original post. I've worked on this car a hundred times and never noticed that.
I guess I'll have to see if there just an auxiliary cooler on it when she gets home.
Thanks again everybody. It sucks when your little girl needs you and your not close by to help.
I see what your saying about the transmission cooler line being plugged...If it's an automatic it should definitely have a line going into that hole, and the one at the bottom...The only time they plug that and the bottom line is when it's put in a car with a manual transmission....WW
07-01-2015, 10:23 PM
My daughter is stuck in Atlanta with Radiator issue. Please identify a hole for me
- doing my own on-line research, it looks like a feature added in 1986. I've never noticed an in-dash warning light, most likely because it's not there - 
anyway, thanks for the reply!
- and my additional 2-cents to the OP. with a little luck, you might find the sensor still attached to the wiring-connector. WW may be right - the 2 clips may have broken off the connector - OR NOT. worth checking into - it may be something that just popped off, and you can just snap it in place. from the OP original pic, it doesn't look like anything at the radiator is screwed up. could be you didn't have a secure sensor installation in the first place. 
