Car Radiator Repairs Near You

After you book your FREE visual inspection, we send you a confirmation email with a summary of your booking. We also inform the garage and they may also be in touch to confirm the appointment or to ask for extra details.

You can change or cancel your booking for free until the day of your appointment.

FAQs

What Does a Car Radiator Do?

A car radiator disperses heat away from the main engine block. During the combustion process, a car engine burns fuel (whether petrol or diesel), and generates a considerable amount of heat. What's more, a car engine has many moving parts; this movement creates friction, which in turn adds to the heat.

Without a radiator to regulate these extreme temperatures, your car would constantly overheat and seize. When the engine reaches a certain temperature, the thermostat opens to allow the flow of coolant and water around the engine and back to the radiator. This causes it to lose heat to the cooler surrounding air. The front grill of the car allows outside air to blow over the radiator. If the radiator gets too hot, either due to the weather or when the car is stationary, a fan behind the radiator blows air over it.

What Are the Symptoms of a Faulty Radiator?

If you notice any of the following, you may have a radiator problem:

• Your vehicle is hotter than normal
• Your car keeps overheating
• There are puddles of water or coolant under your car
• Your radiator fluid is rusty or gunky
• The top hose is hot but the bottom one is cold
• Your fan belt is very noisy or is making a whining sound

We recommend that you book a visual inspection to determine the cause of your radiator repair as soon as possible to avoid serious damage.

How Long Does a Radiator Repair Take?

On average, a car radiator repair or replacement will take 1 1/2 hours. Depending on your vehicle and the severity of the repair, it can range between 1 hour and 2 1/2 hours. The most complex jobs might even take longer.

A technician will be able to give a more accurate estimate after completing the initial visual inspection.

How Often Will I Need to Replace a Car Radiator?

While there is no set lifespan of a car radiator, they are built to last. This means that you shouldn't have to worry about booking a radiator replacement very often.

Due to the extreme heat and pressure your radiator works under, the need for a repair may be more frequent. You should book one whenever you notice any of the warning signs mentioned above.

Can I Drive a Car With a Broken Radiator?

While you may be able to drive a car with a broken radiator, you should avoid doing so. If you're worried about a radiator problem, you should stop your car as soon as it is safe to do so and call your recovery provider.

Driving with a broken radiator can lead to your engine overheating. This can cause severe damage to your car and result in very expensive repairs.

Does My Warranty Cover a Car Radiator Repair?

Yes, a car under warranty is covered for any radiator repairs that arise from a mechanical fault. We would recommend checking the terms and conditions of your warranty before making a claim to ensure you're covered.

Will a Faulty Radiator Fail My MOT?

No, a faulty radiator will not cause an MOT failure as this part isn't checked during the test. 

However, if you have kept driving with a faulty radiator, it may have already caused severe issues which could fail your car's MOT. If you have a radiator problem, we recommend booking a FREE visual inspection before your MOT to avoid any risk of failure.

What is the Most Common Car Radiator Problem?

The most common car radiator problem is a leak. There are many seals, gaskets and hoses in the cooling system that can deteriorate or get a hole in them.

Furthermore, your car can also lose coolant. That's why we recommend checking your car’s coolant level regularly. It shouldn't drop during regular use so, if the level is significantly below the maximum line, then you may have a leak in the cooling system.