Radiator thumping...

[Silver 99 Camaro]

Yeah, this is weird. Lately I've been hearing a thump thump thump from inside the car when idling. It's coming from the engine compartment. I finally checked it out yesterday, but I couldn't hear it with the hood open. So I started feeling around. It wasn't the engine, or accesories, it's the radiator! When I touch the radiator I can feel the thump thump thump.

What can that be? There is nothing mechanical in there. All I can think of is that this summer I flushed my coolant. Perhaps I didn't get all the air out and that's causing it. Other than that, I have no clue.

Anybody have any ideas?

[ December 17, 2004, 08:53 AM: Message edited by: Silver 99 Camaro ]

[Turbo V6 Camaro]

that black plastic pice that over the RAD is all that hold it in the car lol..

lossen the bolts and pul the RAD to you and then tighen the bots agian and it shouldn't clunk around any more i have to do that to mine about 1 time a month lol

[camaroincal]

You have the dreaded radiator monster...DO NOT open the cap.... [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Turbo V6 Camaro]

Originally posted by camaroincal:
You have the dreaded radiator monster...DO NOT open the cap.... [img]smile.gif[/img]

[img]graemlins/rofl.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/rofl.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/rofl.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/rofl.gif[/img]

[Fredless]

Originally posted by camaroincal:
You have the dreaded radiator monster...DO NOT open the cap.... [img]smile.gif[/img]

[img]graemlins/rofl.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/bowdown.gif[/img]

[Silver 99 Camaro]

Well, I don't think it's moving around, it does it at idle. Do you really think it's moving in the plastic thing? I can try it.

It does sound like it's coming from inside the radiator. It looked great inside a few months ago...I have no clue what could have happened.

[Rob Bell]

There's probably air trapped in there. Since you have a 99, did you follow that special procedure where you bleed the air out?

[Silver 99 Camaro]

The air was the first thing I tried, bleeding it through the upper bleed screw by the thermostat housing. There was no air in there.

I did find the problem. It's the same problem I've been having, the AC compressor. I pulled the fuse so I could wait until summer to replace it because it is falling apart inside. Well, apparently the clutch is falling apart too! What a piece of $%&*!

What it's doing is clunking really bad and transmitting the vibration through the AC lines into the condenser. The condenser is attached to the radiator therefore I though the raidator was thumping. Weirdest thing I've ever seen....

[Rob Bell]

Good detective work!

[Silver 99 Camaro]

Thanks!

I have a question...if the AC compressor is thumping while off (the fuse is pulled, the clutch can't engage), then I am correct in assuming the clutch bearing is going bad, right?