Broken AST at 98,000 Miles
#1
Recovering Miataholic
Thread Starter
Broken AST at 98,000 Miles
The OEM AST on our '94 broke off a hose nipple (left pic below) yesterday. The failure was identical to one whose picture I had downloaded from this forum about a year ago (right pic below). Ours went 98K miles, so I ordered another OEM part rather than an all-aluminum one from the aftermarket. Price was $124, or $133+ with tax. If the new one goes even half that mileage, I'll be satisfied with my choice. The original part no. was N3A1-15-35XA; the new one will be a -35XB. Either it's an upgrade or a different vendor... the part will be in Saturday. Fortunately the "Low Coolant Level" buzzer and light came on, alerting my wife, who stopped immediately and had the car flat-bedded to our house. I had originally guessed at a radiator hose or the radiator itself, considering the mileage on the car, but I guess we will get off easily this time.
#2
needs more track time
iTrader: (16)
FYI Ray at Malloy Mazda sells a factory coolant hose kit w/ all hoses for ~165 or so. If your hoses are original, you may want to consider this a warning to start giving your coolant system the attention it deserves. Also get the factory clamps as they have the correct torque and install much easier in those hard to reach places.
Its cheaper than the flatbed.
Its cheaper than the flatbed.
#3
Recovering Miataholic
Thread Starter
Thanks, gracer,
The hoses are original, but outside of that I drain and flush coolant regularly, and the hoses are in good shape. When one goes I will replace all, but that hasn't happened yet.
The flatbed was only $27... we are AAA members, and that was the "more than 7 miles" fee.
The hoses are original, but outside of that I drain and flush coolant regularly, and the hoses are in good shape. When one goes I will replace all, but that hasn't happened yet.
The flatbed was only $27... we are AAA members, and that was the "more than 7 miles" fee.
#6
Racecar - Formula 2000
I took the time in 2005 to replace all of my coolant hoses at only 55K miles, because, IMO, it was not smart to ignore potential trouble (your hoses are now 15 years old) when it has occurred many times and can be prevented.
Trending Topics
#9
Senior Member
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: tenn
Posts: 685
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yeah bud, I would send that back and go after market. You would be more satisfied to know that you will probably not have to think about it again. for anouther $20 you could pick up a new aluminum one from pettitracing or the likes.
#10
Rotary Enthusiast
aftermarket alum ast isn't always the answer...
3 yrs ago I got this mysterious loss of coolant that took 4 wks to resolved.
The problem was a tiny cracked Pettit alum ast (at the neck)
Zero problem with stock 54K miles ast...in Texas summer heat.
Free AST for any1 that willing to pay shipping. Paid 85 bucks for it LOL!
3 yrs ago I got this mysterious loss of coolant that took 4 wks to resolved.
The problem was a tiny cracked Pettit alum ast (at the neck)
Zero problem with stock 54K miles ast...in Texas summer heat.
Free AST for any1 that willing to pay shipping. Paid 85 bucks for it LOL!
#11
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary
iTrader: (14)
aftermarket alum ast isn't always the answer...
3 yrs ago I got this mysterious loss of coolant that took 4 wks to resolved.
The problem was a tiny cracked Pettit alum ast (at the neck)
Zero problem with stock 54K miles ast...in Texas summer heat.
Free AST for any1 that willing to pay shipping. Paid 85 bucks for it LOL!
3 yrs ago I got this mysterious loss of coolant that took 4 wks to resolved.
The problem was a tiny cracked Pettit alum ast (at the neck)
Zero problem with stock 54K miles ast...in Texas summer heat.
Free AST for any1 that willing to pay shipping. Paid 85 bucks for it LOL!
You sleep through statistics class?
#12
Rotary Enthusiast
Well my FD average 750 miles a year...it's always well maintain so the ast may last 100K miles...46K away LOL! or approx 46 years...LMAO!
To me crack stock ast are due to lack of regular maintenance and inspection.
To me crack stock ast are due to lack of regular maintenance and inspection.
#13
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary
iTrader: (14)
Plastic ASTs fail because a large number of heat cycles causes them to crack. Maintenance has nothing to do with it. 3 and 5 series BMWs have the same problems with plastic end tanks and overflow tanks - they die at 50k or so miles no matter how well the car is maintained.
Inspections do not always reveal cracks because they often occur along seams.
Inspections do not always reveal cracks because they often occur along seams.
#14
Rotary Enthusiast
I have to disagree...
Plastic ast break because of extreme heat cycle...that is true. Heat kill stock ast.
But what are the main cause of extreme heat? Low coolant, wrong coolant/water ratio, clog radiator, malfunction fan, crack hoses, etc...are these not part of regular maintenance and inspection?
Plastic ast break because of extreme heat cycle...that is true. Heat kill stock ast.
But what are the main cause of extreme heat? Low coolant, wrong coolant/water ratio, clog radiator, malfunction fan, crack hoses, etc...are these not part of regular maintenance and inspection?
#16
Rotary Enthusiast
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: California
Posts: 1,114
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
On my car when I bought it, I found in the paperwork that the factory ast was replaced at about 60,000 miles cause it ruptured. My car now has 90,000 miles and the new ast already had cracking on it and it was falling apart!!!
Thats why I replaced it with the Fighters Aluminum AST, it has a billet filler neck and tig welds all around. When I had my coolant leak from the turbo coolant hoses, it leaked VERY slowly and intermitently for about 2 months, but I didnt know anything was wrong, because it didnt leak all the time, till one day when I actually smelled coolant in the interior vents, then I knew something was wrong. By now I replaced all my coolant hoses in the entire car and it was a pain but its worth it especially if you drive it a lot
Thats why I replaced it with the Fighters Aluminum AST, it has a billet filler neck and tig welds all around. When I had my coolant leak from the turbo coolant hoses, it leaked VERY slowly and intermitently for about 2 months, but I didnt know anything was wrong, because it didnt leak all the time, till one day when I actually smelled coolant in the interior vents, then I knew something was wrong. By now I replaced all my coolant hoses in the entire car and it was a pain but its worth it especially if you drive it a lot
#17
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 705
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You sleep through statistics class?
#20
Original Gangster/Rotary!
iTrader: (213)
In the near future I can see you pulled over on the side of the highway with tons of white smoke coming from under your hood and a cooked motor. Not trying to be harsh, but why haven't you gotten rid of it?
Guys, I've seen numerous stock plastic ASTs rupture and ruin perfectly good motors. If it's a cost issue, then just delete it altogether with an FC filler neck, which you can get from Ray for about 35 bucks.
Last edited by GoodfellaFD3S; 01-29-09 at 10:44 PM.