catastrophic radiator failure

[GCHDEALER]

I loaned my car to my mother for the day to take my little sister through a parade and when she pulled back into my office parking lot my car smelled like anti-freeze coolant. I popped the hood to find a very small stream of coolant spraying out of the back side of the radiator. The coolant was not even hot or boiling as if the car was overheating and the temp gauge read normal. I pulled the car into one of the shop bays for further inspection, when I shut my car off I heard the fan making a loud noise as if it were hitting something. There are two metal bands, straps of some sort that had pulled loose from the radiator and was hitting the fan and this is what put the hole in the radiator. My question is what caused this and will Dodge pay for the towing from my dealership to the nearest Viper Tech which is about 60 miles away?
My car is an 01 and has only 8k on it so it is still covered under the 3year 36k factory warranty. Any advise would be great.
Chad

 

[Larry Macedo]

Hello Chad,

I've witnessed this problem in the past, seems the bands rot and rub the core. In your case, the fan slapped them against the core. I would imagine Dodge will take care of the towing since one of their covered components failed. Your best bet is to call the dealer Monday morning and see what they will do. If you have a problem with them, feel free to give me a call.

 

[GCHDEALER]

Thank you Larry, Do you happen to know what the bands are for and why they would "rot" to the point of breaking on such a new low mileage car.
Chad

 

[Mark Red GTS Cooper]

Got a used radiator for sale,, great price,, only 3ooo miles on it,.

Mark

If interested,, pm me,

 

[GCHDEALER]

Got a used radiator for sale,, great price,, only 3ooo miles on it,.

If it is just a stock one I will have mine replaced under warranty for free, but thanks.
C