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Radiator Advice Please

Yahoo Message Number: 35243
We get to be added to the list of Inspire's with bad radiators. Two months out of chassis warranty with little comment from CC, except, your out of warranty. After checking back messages, it sounds like everyone involved on the forum, except one, has had to pay for their new units plus installation. Two years is a real short life for a radiator!!!! Bad design or a manufacturing problem. Could even be the mounting design. CC is not going to step up like Fantastic Fan.

Do we know there are changes in the new unit or just wait for two more years ?? We are in the first stages of working with this issue. Can anyone give us a heads up on what direction to go. Also, does model number RS 5431 and part number 500305 sound familiar to anyone. Of course this may change with production numbers but......... I have looked everywhere for a tag to confirm the current info.

Thanks for any help.
Ned Hermann

06 Inspire 51677

Re: Radiator Advice Please

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 35247
Ned,

I'm pretty sure the RS designation means yours was built by J & B Radiator Specialties in Sacramanto, Ca. You might give them a call and see if they'll do anything for you. Their number is 916-383-0922.

Dan

06 Intrigue 11936

Quote from: Ned Herrmann
> > We get to be added to the list of Inspire's with bad radiators. Two
months out of chassis

Quote
warranty with little comment from CC, except, your out of warranty.
After checking back

Quote
messages, it sounds like everyone involved on the forum, except
one, has had to pay for their

Quote
new units plus installation. Two years is a real short life for a
radiator!!!! Bad design or a

Quote
manufacturing problem. Could even be the mounting design. CC is not
going to step up like

Quote
Fantastic Fan.

Do we know there are changes in the new unit or just wait for two
more years ?? We are in the

Quote
first stages of working with this issue. Can anyone give us a heads
up on what direction to

Quote
go. Also, does model number RS 5431 and part number 500305 sound
familiar to anyone. Of

Quote
course this may change with production numbers but......... I have
looked everywhere for a

Re: Radiator Advice Please

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 35252
I noticed that my radiator in my 2006 Inspire was leaking about 6 months ago. During the first 10,000 miles on my coach the coolant probably went down about 2 gallons but it took a while for me to determine where that coolant was going. In hind-sight, I'll bet it was leaking a bit from day 1.

Fortuantly mine was within the 2 year chassis warranty. I had to take it to an approved shop to get it diagnosed and then wait three months for a radiator. Colton Truck Terminal in Colton, CA did the replacement and did an excellent job.
I'll bet most of the 2006 Inspires have had the radiator replaced by now since I think they are a defective product. I don't know where you are located but if you are close to southern California, I would suggest calling Colton Truck Terminal and see what they might recommend. I believe my replacement came from Sacramento.

Orlan Larson

2006 Inspire 51701

Quote from: Ned Herrmann
> > We get to be added to the list of Inspire's with bad radiators. Two
months out of chassis

Quote
warranty with little comment from CC, except, your out of warranty.
After checking back

Quote
messages, it sounds like everyone involved on the forum, except
one, has had to pay for their

Quote
new units plus installation. Two years is a real short life for a
radiator!!!! Bad design or a

Quote
manufacturing problem. Could even be the mounting design. CC is not
going to step up like

Quote
Fantastic Fan.

Do we know there are changes in the new unit or just wait for two
more years ?? We are in the

Quote
first stages of working with this issue. Can anyone give us a heads
up on what direction to

Quote
go. Also, does model number RS 5431 and part number 500305 sound
familiar to anyone. Of

Quote
course this may change with production numbers but......... I have
looked everywhere for a

Re: Radiator Advice Please

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 35255
Orlan and Ned,

Add us to the list as well - a new radiator was ordered for us as well as a new fan controller. We noticed that the fan hadn't come on when we went to get gas a few weeks ago and saw the temps on the trans climb. I turned on the dash air and this forced the fan on to medium which took care of the problem. We had a family emergency so waited a few weeks to call CC. We set up our yearly service with Colton Truck and had them check everything out. We needed a new fan controller but they also said they saw the radiator was leaking a bit. Ours hadn't even shown a major drop in the coolant yet but would have shortly. They will be installing the new parts in a few weeks. Colton Truck said they check all the radiators since so many of the manufacturers are having the same problem - Monaco, etc. Luckily for us we had no problem on our 4 week trip this sumer in Oregon with the radiator or the fan.
We find they do great work and would highly recommend them for service for coaches as well as trucks.

In addition we have a cylinder fault error for the second time that we will post about separately.

We'll keep all up to date on our status.
Kathy

2006 CC Inspire #51782

Email and AIM finally together. You've gotta check out free AOL Mail! - http://mail.aol.com

Re: Radiator Advice Please

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 35257
Ned

Ours is very close to yours,

Radiator installed yesterday, made it inside warranty by two months, But I was watching it like a hawk. With a flash light, I was looking up from under neath the radiator thru the fan shrowd and could just see crusty things growing up in each corner also as I was losing coolant from the tank very slowly. HMC Kenworth in Denver is finishing A/C inspection the morning.

Good Luck
Darold

Inspire 51682

Quote from: Ned Herrmann
>

We get to be added to the list of Inspire's with bad radiators.
Two months out of chassis

Quote
warranty with little comment from CC, except, your out of
warranty. After checking back

Quote
messages, it sounds like everyone involved on the forum, except
one, has had to pay for their

Quote
new units plus installation. Two years is a real short life for a
radiator!!!! Bad design or a

Quote
manufacturing problem. Could even be the mounting design. CC is
not going to step up like

Quote
Fantastic Fan.

Do we know there are changes in the new unit or just wait for two
more years ?? We are in the

Quote
first stages of working with this issue. Can anyone give us a
heads up on what direction to

Quote
go. Also, does model number RS 5431 and part number 500305 sound
familiar to anyone. Of

Quote
course this may change with production numbers but......... I have
looked everywhere for a

Re: Radiator Advice Please

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 35266
Help me on this please, what to look for and is it with both CAT and Cumins powered Inspries? Coming up on two years and CAT powered.

Lon

Inspire 51800

Re: Radiator Advice Please

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 35267
Lon

Not sure about the Cummins powered coaches, They may have a different radiator. If your radiator fluid needs to be replenished, then there might be an issue. If the level goes down, over a period of time, start looking under your radiator. Also, you can pick up the anti freeze smell when securing your coach or doing a walk around ( hot shows up easier ).
It will appear wet and if you find a drop it will feel slimy and green colored. Easily done from either the side or back of the coach. It also could be loose hose clamps etc. If you find a wet spot, futher inspection is necessary. If you find something or are loosing fluid, be sure to let CC know so as if a major problem comes up, you may be covered under warranty.

Ned Herrmann

2006 Inspire 51677

Re: Radiator Advice Please

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 35274
I have an 06 Inspire with a cat engine and also have bad radiator. I had Colton Truck inspect the radiator, it is still under warranty, they contacted CC to order a new one, unknown time it will be delivered and installed. I would suggest that if anyone has lost radiator fluid they should have the radiator inspected.

Lou

06 Inspire 51839

Re: Radiator Advice Please

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 35278
Lon,

We took our Inspire in and had no coolant on the floor yet. Colton said when they inspected the radiator they found some coolant collecting around the fan. There was a little pool of it there so they knew it had started leaking. We have almost 10,000 miles on ours and it was during our yearly maintenance review. We had told them about a loose hose clamp so it dribbled when it was cold. I could track that drip from the hose and down to the ground. Remember that coolant doesn't evaporate and is very toxic to animals if they find it. They will lick it all up since it is sweet tasting. Good luck inspecting the radiator area.

Don't get too dirty.
Kathy

2006 CC Inspire #51782

Email and AIM finally together. You've gotta check out free AOL Mail! - http://mail.aol.com

Re: Radiator Advice Please

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 35561
Quote from: Louis Buffone
>

I have an 06 Inspire with a cat engine and also have bad radiator.

I had

Quote
Colton Truck inspect the radiator, it is still under warranty, they > contacted CC to order a new one, unknown time it will be delivered

and

Quote
installed. I would suggest that if anyone has lost radiator fluid

they

Quote
should have the radiator inspected.

Lou

06 Inspire 51839

Re: Radiator Advice Please

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 35562
Lou

Just finished the replacement of ours last week. Had a a local shop do the job and they were great, I think. Need to use the machine to see what happens. Interesting point about your delivery. CC had 6 in stock 2 and a half weeks ago and sent ours out in a day. Now, either 6 have failed in a couple weeks or they used them up in production. Total cost was between $4500 and $5000. I do have extended warranty, but feel very strongly that CC needs to be involved. Without a road hazard issue, no radiator should fail in 23,000 miles or less. The warranty company should not bear this cost. It is a manufacturing or design issue. There are too many Inspires showing up with the problem. Another question, is that the replacement unit seemed to be identical with no visual improvements or changes. Two more years and do it again??????

Ned Herrmann

2006 Inspire 51677

Quote from: John Pedersen

Re: Radiator Advice Please

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 35564
Hi guys,

We had the radiator just replaced by Colton Truck last week. It only took them 1 week to get the parts. I asked them WHY after only 9000 miles it was leaking. The response was that the aluminum welds didn't hold up. I said - Great so I'll have to pay for the next one after 9000 miles. The response was NO - we replace it with a steel one so you should be done. They also stated it isn't just CC having issues. i guess Monaco's and some others are having the same problems. Last Tuesday we took in our Inspire and they had 2 other CC's coming in for radiators as well. They said they have probably replaced 500 radiators over the last few years. Ours ran good home but we need to take it out for a good run to make sure.

I would highly recommend any and all check their radiators for leaking even if you don't see stuff on the ground. Ours had coolant accumulating in the fan area and the coolant hadn't dropped enough yet.
It's better to have it done under warranty rather than foot the bill yourselves.

Good Luck,
Kathy

2006 inspire #51782

Email and AIM finally together. You've gotta check out free AOL Mail! - http://mail.aol.com

Re: Radiator Advice Please

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 35566
Inspire owners are not the only ones having radiator problems. We just replaced the radiator on our 05 Magna. CC sold us a new steel radiator at cost which was $3200 and we had to pay for the install and freight, tax and fluids. Not fun but that's life in RVing. This radiator problem came to be because most of the coach manufacturers were trying to save weight and the radiator company told the coach companies how great the Aluminum would be. The radiator company gave CC a 2 year warranty but that did not help me, so most of us just bit the bullet and paid the price for all the fun we are having. For those that take me to serious, that last part is a joke. If you have an extended warranty check it closely, There were some extended warranties from Good Sam that went out with radiators covered by mistake.

Bill G. 2005 Magna #6425

Re: Radiator Advice Please

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 35569
dUnfortunately, this is just like those crappy SeGi windows that no one would take responsibility for. I wouldn't hold my breath on this one either.
Dan

1998 Allure #30180

Quote from: Ned Herrmann
>
Lou

Just finished the replacement of ours last week. Had a a local
shop do the job and they

Quote
were great, I think. Need to use the machine to see what happens.
Interesting point about

Quote
your delivery. CC had 6 in stock 2 and a half weeks ago and sent
ours out in a day. Now,

Quote
either 6 have failed in a couple weeks or they used them up in
production. Total cost was

Quote
between $4500 and $5000. I do have extended warranty, but feel very
strongly that CC

Quote
needs to be involved. Without a road hazard issue, no radiator
should fail in 23,000 miles

Quote
or less. The warranty company should not bear this cost. It is a
manufacturing or design

Quote
issue. There are too many Inspires showing up with the problem.
Another question, is that

Quote
the replacement unit seemed to be identical with no visual
improvements or changes. Two

Quote
more years and do it again?????? > Ned Herrmann

2006 Inspire 51677

Quote from: John Pedersen"[/quote
Quote
>]
>
>

[quote author=Louis Buffone"
>]
> >

> > I have an 06 Inspire with a cat engine and also have bad

radiator.

Quote
I had

> > Colton Truck inspect the radiator, it is still under warranty,

they

Quote
> contacted CC to order a new one, unknown time it will be

delivered

Quote
and

> > installed. I would suggest that if anyone has lost radiator

fluid

Quote
they

> > should have the radiator inspected.
> >
> > Lou

> > 06 Inspire 51839
> >
> >

> >