Leaking radiator, hoses, and heater core
Symptoms
Coolant drips or puddles under the car, sweet smell, overheating, steam from under the bonnet. Heater core leaks soak the passenger footwell.
Cause
Original brass/copper radiators corrode from the inside out, especially if the coolant's been neglected. Plastic end tanks crack. Rubber hoses perish. Heater cores rot from acidic coolant or road salt (they're buried in the heater box).
Fix
Replace the radiator with an aluminium aftermarket unit (cheaper and more effective than OEM).
Replace all coolant hoses, top, bottom, heater feed, heater return, and any small bypass hoses.
Use proper hose clamps (worm-drive, not spring).
Heater core replacement is a dashboard-out job; budget 6-8 hours.
Some people bypass it if they don't need heat, but that's a bodge.
Flush the system and refill with 50/50 ethylene glycol (blue or green universal coolant).
Change it every 3-5 years.
Neglected coolant turns acidic and eats everything.
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