broken radiator-hose connection fixable?

the upper radiator-hose connection snapped-off, hose intact, and the
connection appears to be plastic. on a volvo? does a radiator have
replaceable parts or do you have to replace the whole thing in this
situation? it appears that both sides of the radiator have plastic
components top to bottom. thanks any info. art, '97 960 wagon

 

This happened on my 91 740 wagon. It needed a new radiator (this occured in
2000). The new radiator had a metal insert inside the plastic effectively
beefing it up. I was very much surprised at the all-plastic construction
but I believe the reinforcement takes care of the problem.

JJ

 

No, don't even try. Replace the awful plastic tank radiator with a new
aftermarket metal tank rad, that's something that should NEVER have been
made of plastic, they *always* fail catastrophically and dump all the
coolant almost instantly, makes me wonder how many engines have been ruined
by that.

 

my radiator on my 91 740 broke the same way. the guy who said let use
plastic must have been the guy who said let sell volvo to Ford. I mean
fuckin plastic on a volvo radiator

 

It's nearly universal now. There must be a reason, but I don't think I know
what it is.

Mike

 

Volvo and the other car makers are lilely saving a little weight and
some cost.

 

Cheaper. The end tanks aren't a significant part of the heat transfer
function anyway, so for the short term, it's better from a manufacturing
point of view and from a beancounter point of view. The engineers never
have final say...


Gary

 

grim. surprising. not acceptable from volvo. what next, one hates to
think. replacement runs about 300 beans plus labor, it appears.
otherwise...thanks guys.

 

A caveat, though: even the aftermarket metal ones have weak points.
While installing the reservoir hose on the nipple of an aftermarket
radiator, the metal nipple pulled partially out of the radiator - it was
crimped in, not soldered. Last time I used one of the 'grippy' type hoses...

 

Is that online? The Nissens 3 row radiators for 200 and 700 series are
around $200, I'm not sure if the one for a 960 is different.

 

as a followup, the otherwise excellent radiator was -- and is --
unfixable and had to be replaced. total cost $320 including labor. i
hope the guy who made v.p. for suggesting plastic radiator components
gags on his foie gras. art

 

Uh, yes. Also be on the lookout for plastic heater and bypass hose
connectors which can after several years just break into two pieces at
the most inopportune time. Usually on a sunday when the parts
department is closed.