Radiator top mount is loose

[edwardh1]

about a year ago I had a new radiator put in. 99 maxima
the top mount on both sides seems loose- that is the pin sticking up from the radiator itself is small in the hole from the "mount" that lays over the top of the radiator. you can move the radiator top maybe 3/16 of an inch. is this good or bad?
mechanic uses napa and their stuff is mostly chinese so maybe the rubber part is wrong size or the mechanic left out a piece, should I put a rubber piece like from a rubber hose around it? of leave it as it is?
I can see reasons for having it loose and for having it tight
HAve a pix but cant post it

 

[jrustles]

That's good. As long as the leg is inside a rubber grommet than a little movement is fine. Your engine moves around a lot and moving in the grommets takes strain off of the rad hose and the plastic inlet nipple

 

[antiqueshell]

Normal. It is designed to relieve stress on plastic parts and hose due to engine movement.

 

[Tegger]

Originally Posted By: edwardh1
you can move the radiator top maybe 3/16 of an inch. is this good or bad?

This is GOOD. The rad changes dimension as it heats and cools. If it were tight, it would crack. It needs room to "breathe", as it were.

You should not only be able to wiggle the rad front-to-back, but also up-and-down. Grab it at the top and attempt to lift it up. It ought to have some free movement in that direction.

Note to antiqueshell: Compensation for engine movement is why the hoses are made of rubber. It doesn't have anything to do with the float that edwardh1 has discovered in the rad mounting.

 

[Sawdusted]

If your Altima is like my Sentra, the upper radiator mount is separate from the radiator. Unless you told your mechanic to replace the rubber grommets in the upper mount, he probably didn't do it. 3/16" movement is probably fine but I would keep en eye on it.

My 2001 Sentra had 98K when I bought it. The upper radiator rubber grommets were shot. I could rock the whole radiator forward or back almost 1/2". The rubber holes were enlarged, dry and starting to crack. I bought replacements from local nissan dealer for a few bucks and replaced them in a few minutes.

 

[Chris142]

Its gotta move or it will break.