How to save $400 to $600

[BBeckner]

My 03 started puking antifreeze one day. I found the leak coming from the "field" not the tanks but could not pin-point it. So after taking the radiator out (which was no simple task) I found the source. It seems the plastic shroud had rubbed a pinhole in one of the tubes. There is a chase moulded into the shroud where the wireing harness runs through to feed the fan clutch. This was where it rubbed the hole. When I put things back together I tried trimming excess off this chase but I couldn't get enough off. So I put some extra washers to space the shroud off the radiator an 1/8". You guys might take a look at your set-up and make sure you won't have problems any time soon. The money you "save" can be spent on???

 

[Prairie Dog]

Welcome to the forum, I remember reading about a number of these in the early days of third gens. I suspect many of us crawled under our trucks and checked it out at that time.

It's proably a good thing for new 03, 04 owners to check out.

 

[rbattelle]

Here's a link to the "definitive" thread on the subject.



I checked mine several times, and couldn't find where anything was rubbing. I think it was a defect on certain trucks (particularly early-builds).



I've got almost 70k now. I figure if it were going to rub through, it would have by now.



Welcome to the TDR!



Ryan

 

[BBeckner]

Thanks for the warm welcome! Mine was built in early 03 and has 80,000. My Dad has an early 03 with 188000 mi and has no sign of rubbing. Just a fluke thing I guess.