Just spotted wisps of steam & a few drops of coolant, and when I looked closer I discovered a pinhole in the plastic tank down the driver's side of the radiator. (The car didn't overheat or anything - it's a very small leak and I discovered it about 1km from home.)

Is that a replaceable part, or will I need a whole new radiator including the tank?

I have 5L of subaru coolant and new top and bottom silicone hoses, and was intending to swap them over so digging the radiator out for repairs is something I can manage. I don't even need to use the car - we have three of the things hanging around.

Just wondering whether it's better to try and find a new replacement for the whole thing, a (hopefully) working 2nd hand one, or just the part of the tank which has the tiny hole in it.

It's an MY99 WRX.

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Classic WRX all the way ...

Even entire brand new radiators aren't that expensive.

Are the ebay-spec aluminium radiators any good? ASI performance has one for about $200 plus delivery, and their silicone gear looks all right.

E.g. something like this: http://cgi.ebay.com.au/2-ROW-45MM-SU...ts_Accessories

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Classic WRX all the way ...

apparently a few gc8 rads have done the same recently,reaching the end of their life i guess, mine got an end tank split about 3 weeks after i got my new engine, one heart attack i didn't need, and i replaced it with an ebay alu one.All good so far, six month, mms did say it look very average/crap and didn't fit too well, but it in and works i will just keep my eye on it.

Id buy a genuine subaru one. The plastic tanks have a service life, and they are all proberly near the end of it. They are about $650, so not too expensive. Seccond hand on some parts is a bad idea.

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Version 6 STI

There's a guy on here that sells aluminium radiators, can't remember the name though.

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[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

Bought a radiator off TACKTICS I went with the alloy core and plastic end tanks again. So far so good. Bought brand new for $220~

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....slow and steady wins the race....fark that!!

Very common problem in all WRXs, I have replaced a GC and a GD one myself...

Afaik Taktics radiators are round the $330 mark.

I bought ebay aluminium ones for $200, and fitted them with virtually no issues. Have been great.

Jezza he must be getting rid of them cheaper now mate. Maybe $330 for full alloy??

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....slow and steady wins the race....fark that!!

Yeh Daz, sorry it was 330 full alloy.