Radiator
Radiator refers to the front-mounted heat exchanger used by the Pontiac Fiero Cooling system.
The radiator removes heat from the engine coolant. Because the Fiero has a rear-mounted engine and a front-mounted radiator, the radiator is connected to the engine by long Coolant pipes running underneath the car.
Overview
The Fiero radiator is mounted at the front of the vehicle, while the engine is mounted behind the passenger compartment.
Coolant travels from the engine to the radiator through long coolant pipes. Airflow through the radiator removes heat from the coolant before it returns to the engine.
A clogged, leaking, damaged, or incorrectly capped radiator can cause overheating, coolant loss, trapped air, or poor cooling-system performance.
Location
Image wanted: Photo or diagram showing the Fiero radiator location at the front of the car, including the radiator fan and front coolant hose connections.
The radiator is located at the front of the car, behind the front fascia area.
The Radiator fan is mounted at the radiator to provide airflow when the car is stopped or moving slowly.
The radiator connects to the rear engine cooling system through the long coolant pipes under the car.
Function
The radiator transfers heat from engine coolant to outside air.
Cooling depends on:
- Coolant flow through the radiator
- Airflow through the radiator
- Proper coolant level
- Proper system pressure
- Correct caps
- Correct thermostat operation
- Working radiator fan at low speed or idle
- Unrestricted coolant pipes and hoses
Relationship to the Fiero layout
The Fiero cooling system is longer and more sensitive to filling procedure than many front-engine cars.
Because the radiator is at the front and the engine is at the rear, trapped air, crushed coolant pipes, incorrect caps, or poor filling procedure can cause symptoms that may look like radiator failure.
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Common problems
Common radiator-related problems include:
- External coolant leak
- Internal restriction
- Clogged radiator core
- Damaged fins
- Corrosion
- Debris blocking airflow
- Incorrect radiator cap
- Poor hose connection
- Air trapped in the radiator
- Fan or shroud problem
- Previous improper repair
Symptoms
Possible radiator-related symptoms include:
- Overheating
- Coolant leak at the front of the car
- Coolant smell
- Temperature rises at idle or in traffic
- Temperature rises under load
- Poor cooling at road speed if the radiator is restricted
- Coolant pushed into overflow bottle
- Repeated air in the cooling system
- Radiator does not heat evenly
Radiator cap
The radiator cap must be the correct type and must seal correctly.
An incorrect or faulty radiator cap can cause coolant loss, pressure problems, air entering the system, or difficulty burping the cooling system.
On the Fiero, the radiator cap and thermostat housing cap both matter. Problems with either cap can affect cooling-system behavior.
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Radiator fan
The radiator fan provides airflow through the radiator when vehicle speed is not enough.
A radiator fan problem can cause overheating at idle, in traffic, or during low-speed driving.
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Airflow problems
The radiator must have good airflow to remove heat.
Airflow problems may be caused by:
- Blocked radiator fins
- Dirt or debris
- Damaged fins
- Missing or damaged fan shroud
- Front fascia or ducting problems
- Fan not operating correctly
Coolant flow problems
The radiator also depends on proper coolant flow.
Coolant-flow problems may be caused by:
- Low coolant
- Trapped air
- Crushed Coolant pipes
- Restricted radiator
- Stuck Thermostat
- Failed Water pump
- Collapsed hose
- Internal blockage
Diagnosis
Basic diagnostic checks include:
- Confirm whether the engine is actually overheating.
- Check coolant level when safe.
- Inspect for coolant leaks at the radiator.
- Inspect radiator fins for blockage or damage.
- Check whether the radiator fan operates.
- Check the radiator cap.
- Check the thermostat housing cap.
- Check for trapped air in the cooling system.
- Inspect coolant pipes and hoses.
- Check for even radiator heating if overheating remains unexplained.
- Consider radiator restriction if coolant flow appears poor.
Relationship to overheating
A radiator problem can cause overheating, but it is only one possible cause.
Other common Fiero overheating causes include:
- Trapped air
- Incorrect filling procedure
- Low coolant
- Incorrect caps
- Stuck thermostat
- Water pump problem
- Crushed coolant pipes
- Fan control problem
- Engine mechanical problem
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Replacement notes
When replacing the radiator:
- Use the correct radiator for the car.
- Inspect hoses and clamps.
- Check the radiator fan and shroud.
- Use the correct radiator cap.
- Refill and burp the cooling system correctly.
- Recheck for leaks after warm-up and cool-down.
Because the Fiero cooling system is sensitive to trapped air, proper filling after radiator replacement is especially important.
Notes
Do not assume every overheating problem is caused by the radiator.
On the Fiero, trapped air, incorrect caps, crushed coolant pipes, and improper filling procedure are common causes of cooling-system problems.