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failed rad cap!! - strange

Old Apr 12, 2009 | 08:41 AM
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failed rad cap!! - strange

Just took the rx7 out for a little run and when I stopped, I popped the bonnet and found coolant somehow coming out of the top of the rad cap!?!

I don't mean where it joins the AST etc, I mean out of the actual top?! The label on top was all wet, pealing off etc.

New rad cap required!!

Anyone heard of this before?
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Old Apr 12, 2009 | 08:51 AM
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You had a thread back in October (2008) were you mentioned replacing the cap. Did you replace it at that point?
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Old Apr 12, 2009 | 08:59 AM
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I actually rebuilt the engine since then. Also bought a new cap.

Is it common if the fail to fail in this way?
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Old Apr 12, 2009 | 09:08 AM
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Yes, they do fail. Many people have bought new ones that didn't seal properly in the past. Where did you purchase yours from?
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Old Apr 12, 2009 | 09:35 AM
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from my local car parts store.
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Old Apr 12, 2009 | 10:21 AM
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If it's not OEM that may be the problem. My AST cap failed a couple times since I didn't go with the specified manufacturer and simply replaced it. Might want to look into that.
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Old Apr 12, 2009 | 12:13 PM
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Funnily you said that, I went back to the shop to see about getting another and they don't even have one listed for a Rx7!? They had previously given me a rad cap for some random mazda car. Possibly the same, but hey - I didn't take a replacement.
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Old Apr 12, 2009 | 12:59 PM
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def had problems with radiator caps. Autozone caps are the biggest pieces of junk , DONT EVER buy one for the FD. Guaranteed to leak in like 30 miles. I have bought at least 2 over the years from the and they always immediately fail.

My cap from advanced auto parts lasted at least 1- 2 years before the rubber seal started to just leak slightly....but works a lot better.
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Old Apr 12, 2009 | 08:22 PM
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Wait what cap are you guys talking about? The filler neck cap or the AST cap?
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Old Apr 12, 2009 | 08:27 PM
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Ast
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Old Apr 12, 2009 | 11:38 PM
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I was talking about the filler cap
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Old Apr 13, 2009 | 12:02 AM
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I bought a new one and it failed the first time i put it on.... thank god i was watching the temp gge.
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Old Apr 13, 2009 | 03:46 PM
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I had a failed AST cap happen to me before. I noticed coolant flowing out from the AST either during drives or after shutdown. After i replaced the cap with a stant 13psi, that cured the problem.

I havent heard of a faulty filler cap though, but hey you never know these days.
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