Inspection
Check cooling-system condition with a cold engine
Spot visible hose and coolant concerns before ordering parts or booking a repair.
Start cold and parked
Let the engine cool fully, park level, apply the handbrake and remove the key. Keep hands away from fans and belts; electric fans can operate unexpectedly. Never open a hot radiator or pressure cap. If the car is overheating or steaming, stop safely and seek assistance rather than opening it.
Inspect from above
From a safe accessible position, look for wet patches, crusted deposits, visibly cracked hoses, damaged mounts or a loose-looking connection. Use a torch rather than putting hands near moving parts. Do not crawl beneath a car supported only by a jack and do not squeeze hot or pressurised hoses.
Record the installed parts
Photograph the radiator, hose routing and part markings without disturbing them. For ordering, ask the seller to confirm the inlet/outlet positions, mounting dimensions and hose diameter for your actual engine setup. Similar-looking radiators and hoses may differ between engines or conversions.
Plan the repair
Use only the vehicle-specific coolant specification and checking procedure. Do not mix unknown coolant types or add sealant as a substitute for diagnosis. Repeated coolant loss, contamination, overheating or a pressure leak needs a workshop pressure test and the correct repair. Cap removal, draining and hose changes are outside this inspection guide.