Vehicles are a pain is the ***. Sometimes ignorance is bliss. When you have some mechanical knowledge as we do, every thing that is wrong bothers us and needs to be taken care of. Most people drive until the vehicle fails. We repair until the vehicle fails, we have a nervous breakdown and are broke while the other blissful car owners' have money to get another car.
Actually I am kidding.$100 in maintenance is $1000 in repair.
Hang in there, it is frustrating and maybe you need to take a break and get away from it for a bit. It helps me to do that sometimes.
Okay, as far as the, "caked" stuff on the radiator lines, I am assuming the upper radiator hose has a whitish substance caked up around the connections.
This is indicative of cooling system issues. There is a quick test you can do. After the next time you drive it, grad the upper radiator hose and squeeze it. You should feel some resistance that makes it hard to squeeze it till its' pinched off.
As far as the lines going into the radiator form the transmission, they are coolant lines for the tranny fluid. You know that. The transmission depends on pressure to perform correctly. Also, check the fluid level. With the engine running and at operating temperature, put the transmission in reverse and drive a few times and then in park. Then check the level, leave the engine running while you do so. Let me know if the fluid is brown or smells burnt.
You might be able to get around a new radiator.
If you could, It would be easier for me to reply to your reply to this message if you e-mail me.
My e-mail is beck. Bradley333@hotmail. Com.
I will reply ASAP.
Thursday, February 24th, 2011 AT 2:08 PM