Quality construction - Guess the make

'63Deluxe · 25-01-2006, 04:39 PM

Look what just happened to my radiator! It just fell apart, lucky I wasn't driving or out in the sticks. It's boody made of plastic, are all new cars like this?

The car only just clicked over 40,000km- ИИИ peice of rubbish. AAAARRRH

The tilt tray is on the way

NZ · 25-01-2006, 04:54 PM

cars have had plastic side tanks for years now.

toby123 · 25-01-2006, 05:07 PM

hmmm... late model commy?

EL_futuraistic · 25-01-2006, 05:17 PM

looks like a late model commodore... vx/vy. I have broken a radiator tank in the same way removing the radiator hose as it was on FT.

Is that covered under warranty??

'63Deluxe · 25-01-2006, 05:47 PM

VY II ute.

and I have told them it's under warranty

things fixed so far
Paint work covered in dull spots within 2 weeks
Holden hard lid needed adjustment so it would actually lock
New Diff - at 11000 km, clunky coasting along
drive axel fell out whilst driving - nice and noisy also made the ABS go beserkried to stop
and now the radiator

16wantsI6 · 25-01-2006, 09:40 PM

Lemon!!

gmhdriver · 25-01-2006, 10:30 PM

Pretty much all new cars these days have radiators with plastic tanks, and have had since about the late 80's. I don't see any real benefit in it, apart from lighter weight and possible cheaper production costs.

While the car manufacturers can be blamed to a certain extent, what it all comes down to is the production quality of the third party suppliers.
Both Holden and Ford source many compontents from the same suppliers and correct me if I'm wrong, I think radiators is one of them (from Calsonic?), meaning that Falcons aren't exempt from these sorts of problems either.

Same with the noisy diff - It is common knowledge that both Falcons and Commodores have dodgy diffs (moreso in the Falcons for some reason) as they sourced from the same supplier (Dana). I suspect this is the main reason for Holden dumping Dana as their diff supplier and contracting ZF to supply units for the VE.

apolloxbgt · 25-01-2006, 11:29 PM

Ea's where the first ford with a plastic radiator,and mabey vr on commies?It is fairly common,I cracked a tank n my eb xr8 when it was 8yo,wasn't even trying,and I live in the sticks!

:

gmhdriver · 26-01-2006, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apolloxbgt

Ea's where the first ford with a plastic radiator,and mabey vr on commies?

VN V6's were the first with plastic radiators I believe, while the VT V8 was the first V8 model to have a plastic radiator.

ltd · 26-01-2006, 03:05 PM

That radiator hose clamp looks like it is overtightened. Thing with plastic tanks is if you overtighten the hose clamp, you can actually crack the outlet flange which will allow vibration and normal use to accentuate the damage. Had the same thing on a DA. Radiator guy showed me the broken off part had been cracked for a while, and was cause by overtightening. Good news is though, they are not that expensive to fix.

svo347 · 26-01-2006, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 16wantsI6

Lemon!!

Maybe so mate but fords do it also.

gmhdriver · 26-01-2006, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ltd

That radiator hose clamp looks like it is overtightened. Thing with plastic tanks is if you overtighten the hose clamp

I have to agree with you there, I didn't really take notice the first time, but looking at the pic again I can tell the clamp is severely overtightened just by looking at it.

ltd · 26-01-2006, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmhdriver

Pretty much all new cars these days have radiators with plastic tanks, and have had since about the late 80's. I don't see any real benefit in it, apart from lighter weight and possible cheaper production costs.

While the car manufacturers can be blamed to a certain extent, what it all comes down to is the production quality of the third party suppliers.
Both Holden and Ford source many compontents from the same suppliers and correct me if I'm wrong, I think radiators is one of them (from Calsonic?), meaning that Falcons aren't exempt from these sorts of problems either.

Same with the noisy diff - It is common knowledge that both Falcons and Commodores have dodgy diffs (moreso in the Falcons for some reason) as they sourced from the same supplier (Dana). I suspect this is the main reason for Holden dumping Dana as their diff supplier and contracting ZF to supply units for the VE.

You're right there too. I have had some radiator issues with a couple of our cars but luckily Ford fixed them before I even knew or there was a problem. Also, with the Diffs, I was speaking to a service manager who said that they tend to have alot of problems with them on the V8's due to the overwhelming amount of torque. This wasn't a problem on AU's but is becoming quite a problem on BA's. Who knows, even Ford might do what Holden are doing and get them from somebody else.

ltd · 26-01-2006, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmhdriver

I have to agree with you there, I didn't really take notice the first time, but looking at the pic again I can tell the clamp is severely overtightened just by looking at it.

Maybe an apprehensive apprentice not willing to get into trouble for overtightening, or amoulding fault. Either way, Ford have had their fair share of problems with suppliers' quality too; so Holden don't own the license to inconsistent parts suppliers.