Intercooler near death??

[daxyz]

Folks - 'scuse the ignorance but can I presume that this is not a healthy state for my intercooler?

What effect is this likely to be having on the car?

Presuming that I need to replace - best sources??

Cheers.

[spink]

that aint an intercooler, thats your aux rad. Sling it in the skip and bung the pipes up.
Heres a thread http://www.s2forum.com/forum/showthr...hlight=aux+rad

[daxyz]

Ah!

As I said - 'scuse the ignorance!!

Cheers.

[dan_b]

Hi Mate
You're right, that is not healthy, but there are a couple of things you need to know!
That's not your intercooler. That is the infamous "auxiliary radiator". The intercooler is actually mounted below that radiator at the bottom of the front bumper; you can't normally see it from opening the bonnet.

The S2 has two radiators in the cooling system. The main radiator is to the right of the engine block and has the main cooling fan behind it (it also has the air-conditioning rad in front of it if you have aircon?

The Aux Rad is very prone to damage due to its location - all manner of stones, wasps and other detritus penetrate the vanes of the rad when you're travelling at pace, and basically it gets abused. The vanes break and the radiator starts to leak. Left untreated, you'll lose all your coolant, which is not good.

You have a couple of options:
1. you can replace the aux rad. This is quite expensive though I'm afraid: it's about £250 for a new one
2. you can remove the aux rad and run without it. A lot of people here who live in the UK have removed theirs and are running safely and with perfectly controlled temperatures without it. Basically you take the rad out, and cut and bung the pipes that supply it.

Your choice - do a search in this forum for how to remove the aux rad if that's what you want to do! Alternatively, contact either VAG Parts, or GSF to get a replacement Aux rad. Either way it's a job you can do yourself no worries.

Hope that helps!
dan

[jubjub]

Wot he said Your intercooler is behind your bumper. What you are looking at there is your auxillary radiator. It looks messy but should be OK as long as it does not start leaking.

If you search on here you should find a thread or two on this subject.....Some people keep it for originality. Most people though, like Spink said, have just removed it and put a bung in the pipes. Some peolpe find with it removed that the car runs cooler.....gets more air in to the main rad....... Bungs cost about £10, a aux rad was well in excess of £100 when i looked. If you wat to keep it post up a wanted ad. Maybe someone has a decent spare that they have removed.......

HTH

[jubjub]

*must learn to type quicker than Dan b *

[dan_b]

I learned to touch-type at University. About the only thing I did learn, but probably the most useful!

[daxyz]

Ok - suitably embarassed but at least I've learned something.

Thanks all for the advice and help.

[martinjs]

You can do away with it completely if it is leaking, but if you want to keep it and need a replacement i have one in very good condition for sale. PM me if interested.

martin