I'll try and keep this brief and I don't want to annoy any of you as I know there are plenty of these topics - I have read many but still I'd rather hear directly from you.

My radiator blew its contents right out the back after a drive last week. I went out today to try starting it and maybe remove the rad to measure for a replacement. I started the engine and noticed a slow drip from the lower large hose going from rad to engine (water pump?), I got under the car to feel further up the hose to see if water was running down or indeed dripping right out the bottom and I can't tell as it's covered in road gunk.

I have had concerns about my fans not working properly as occasionally I get after-boil and the second fan never seems to come on when it gets really hot (220F - 240F). Now the first fan doesn't even come on when I start is that right? I thought it was always on. My Service Engine Soon light was coming on, me and my mate tested for a code and only got 12 repeating over and over. Battery has not been disconnected so I'm at a loss to that one. However when the test was active, BOTH fans were on and running fine. Maybe bad relays or something?

I'm really not good with this stuff, so might just take it into a garage.

 

2 fans - primary and secondary.

Primary fan comes on at about 218F - it is controlled by the ECM (computer), and the ECM gets it's temp info from the Coolant Temp Sensor in the intake - it's 2 wires - yellow and black.

The secondary fan is controlled by one of two things - fan switch or A/C. Fan switch is located in pass side head, between #6 & #8 spark plug - has a single wire with a weird mushroom connector on it. That switch is set to turn secondary fan on at about 238F.

The A/C will also run the secondary fan as long as the A/C is turned on - this is actuated by the high pressure A/C switch on the A/C cooling line between compressor and evaporator.

Both fans will have their own relays as well.

Your radiator might be fine - might just need new lower hose - sometimes they crack/break where the clamp squishes the rubber too hard. Fill radiator and check it for leaks more, and check that lower hose.