could someone give some advice on how easy it is to remove the radiator from a 1998 MK1 Skoda Octavia without aircon...

I have a leak in my radiator and for a temp fix was going to use wynns Stop leak until i can get round to fitting the radiator.

I have heard a lot of things about this, one of those being that it can block other things up in the cooling system like the heater matrix and other channels in the block.

Just wanted some advice before i actually go ahead and tip it in.

Also could someone advise as to removing the scuttle pannel thats underneath the radiator as its stopping me from removing the bottom hose and can this radiator be lifted out or does it need to be dropped from underneath.

Thanks for the help

Scuttle panel - do you mean the plastic under-tray or the part of the plastic bumper that returns under the front?

I believe to take the radiator out, you will need to remove the under-tray AND the front bumper, disconnect the battery and the wiring to fans and thermo switches, remove the cooling fan and shroud, having first drained the rad.

thanks for this, yeah its the under tray that i am finding hard to get round just cant work out how its fixed.

The engine is a 1.6 8 Valve, is the front bumper easy to remove it sounds a nightmare of a job to do.

As for the Wynns stop leak is this a good move to tip some in for now as a temp fix or not?

Thanks again for the help.

...

As for the Wynns stop leak is this a good move to tip some in for now as a temp fix or not?

...

Personally I wouldn't let that stuff within a mile of my car. How about just topping up with some of the Halfrods pre-diluted blue anti-freeze until you can get your rad replaced?

The under-tray is held on by 13 or 15 torx head screws into the bumper, the wheel arch-lners, and I think a front cross-member. Its a bitch to get off unless you can lift the car.

The front bumper is fairly easy, but you'll probably need two pairs of hands to ease it off.

Its a bitch to get off unless you can lift the car.

Cheers Mathepac for the advice on the wynns stop leak. The under tray is the only thing thats going to be difficult for me i think, are these under trays fitted to stop stone damage to the radiator if i manage to get it off i might just be tempted to leave it off.

It looks like i will have to get someone to do this as i cant get access to a lift.

Thanks again:thumbup:

IIRC they are fitted to stop stones and water damaging wiring etc under there and to improve aerodynamics so reducing fuel consumption.

They stop young children getting seriously hurt when they get run over, by deflecting them away from the sharp bits under the car, as one of our customers found out.

I have given up Its booked into the garage on tuesday to get done, Suppose its better than be breaking something lol.

The garage advised me not to use any of that stop leak stuff as its designed to block holes and as such can block other things in the system. So glad i never put any in.

The garage quoted £40 + fat as i already have the rad and coolant.

... The garage quoted £40 + fat as i already have the rad and coolant.

Good deal - less than an hour's work, once you have all the right gear and plenty of practice!