What is this "plug" that failed in my Jeep radiator?
Hi all. I have a post in over on jeepforum but wanted to get the opinion of you guys because i really respect the mechanical expertise and experience here. I just put a brand new oem replacement radiator in my 02 Jeep grand cherokee that i purchased from the stealership, it was fine for a few days then the jeep began to overheat - i found the cause - drastic coolant loss via this big hole at the filler neck. Don't really know what to call it - it is like a plug or cap or something that looks like it was stamped in at the factory (i dont see any threads) but that is now missing. I cant remember what the cap/plug looks like because i can't find it but i think i remember that it had like a hex or square indentation in it. See the pics below it plugged the hole that my finger is in on the engine side- does anyone know what this is for/why it exists? I don't see a part for it in the mopar parts diagrams so i'm thinking the radiator is defective. I thought maybe it was blown/popped out due to overpressure (and that maybe that's what it's purpose was?) but i pressure tested my radiator cap (it passed releasing at 18psi) and the jeep ran fine before (i only replaced the old radiator because of some irritating slow leaks from the mashed/ruined transmission line compression fittings- this model radiator cools both transmission fluid and engine coolant in separate cells). Anyway, sorry for the rambling, i'll probably replace the radiator but was just curious as to the purpose of this 'plug', what it is called, or any experience anyone has had with a similar failure?
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Update- parts dept said they'd warranty it so I pulled it back out tonight to replace *sigh
Hi all. I have a post in over on jeepforum but wanted to get the opinion of you guys because i really respect the mechanical expertise and experience here. I just put a brand new oem replacement radiator in my 02 Jeep grand cherokee that i purchased from the stealership, it was fine for a few days then the jeep began to overheat - i found the cause - drastic coolant loss via this big hole at the filler neck. Don't really know what to call it - it is like a plug or cap or something that looks like it was stamped in at the factory (i dont see any threads) but that is now missing. I cant remember what the cap/plug looks like because i can't find it but i think i remember that it had like a hex or square indentation in it. See the pics below it plugged the hole that my finger is in on the engine side- does anyone know what this is for/why it exists? I don't see a part for it in the mopar parts diagrams so i'm thinking the radiator is defective. I thought maybe it was blown/popped out due to overpressure (and that maybe that's what it's purpose was?) but i pressure tested my radiator cap (it passed releasing at 18psi) and the jeep ran fine before (i only replaced the old radiator because of some irritating slow leaks from the mashed/ruined transmission line compression fittings- this model radiator cools both transmission fluid and engine coolant in separate cells). Anyway, sorry for the rambling, i'll probably replace the radiator but was just curious as to the purpose of this 'plug', what it is called, or any experience anyone has had with a similar failure?
- - - Updated - - -
Update- parts dept said they'd warranty it so I pulled it back out tonight to replace *sigh
