Radiator Hose Leak

Hey guys,

Hoping someone could advise me, I have an A6 Avant 2.5TDI Quattro that has now decided to start leaking coolant. My viscous fan blades recently decided to explode spectacularly into my radiator, gouging a nice hole in it! So, as this needed replacing I decided to do the cambelt etc at the same time. Before all this happened the car was fine, no leaks or anything (Though I've only owned the car a few weeks). After putting everything back together, fitting the new radiator and reattaching the radiator hoses, there are now leaks from the upper and lower radiator hoses where the meet the radiator. I'm guessing this is the seals that have gone after being disturbed? I've looked around online and spoken to Audi and don't seem to have any luck regards getting replacement seals, so the only option I have at the moment is getting a new upper and lower radiator hose, which I can only seem to be able to source from Audi, at a delightful cost of £120! (Not something I can particularly afford as I've only just bought the car, and cambelt kit and radiator...) So I was wondering, is this a particularly common thing to happen, or is it worth me getting replacement hoses from the scrapyard instead of forking out for brand new ones, and just hoping these will be better, or does anybody have any other solutions?

Thanks a lot for any advise you have!!
Jon

When I did the cambelts on my 2002 Allroad and put everything back together, on the test drive the bottom radiator hose sprung off. I had not pushed the bottom hose connector in far enough for the (flimsy) locking clip to engage. After a few attempts (whereby I found I could still pull the hose off) I finaly managed to get the locking pin in place.
From memory, the top hose is easiest to access. So if this is leaking also, see if you can pull it off. I am told the problem with these radiator connections is not with the hose but with fittings on the radiators. Old hoses can be hard to pull off after the clip is disengaged and you have to be carefull not to crack or break the neck on the radiator. As you have fitted a new radiator the radiator connections should be ok. I assume when you removed the hoses you released each clip and, with rotating pressure on the connector, gradually released and pulled it off - if yes, the connectors on the hoses should be ok too.
hope the above helps.