If my car had an up pipe, and I wanted to get the car looked at to the dealer with the clutch chatter problem and a possibly leaky radiator, should I change out to the stock up pipe first? or not worry about it and just go?

and anyone know of any raidator problems with the 02's I think I am leaking at the top left of the radiator.

 

I had my rad replced on my stock 02' WRX. It also leaked on the top where the resorvoir is crimped to the core. I think this is a fairly common problem with the 2002's.
I don't know what to tell you about your up-pipe situation though. I don't think it could cause problems with the rad, but I suppose if the dealership wanted to be jerks they could refuse to fix it under warranty.

 

I had my rad replced on my stock 02' WRX. It also leaked on the top where the resorvoir is crimped to the core. I think this is a fairly common problem with the 2002's.
I don't know what to tell you about your up-pipe situation though. I don't think it could cause problems with the rad, but I suppose if the dealership wanted to be jerks they could refuse to fix it under warranty.

 

Just bring it in - both are known issues with the 02 and don't have much to do with the up-pipe. (I had my radiator replaced under warranty as well)

 

my 3/36 is already passed because of time, so the radiator is not covered, what is my other option there? anyone have any ideas?

 

Just buy another radiator - maybe an aftermarket one without plastic end tanks... or look for a used one (people seem to be totalling their cars left and right - just watch for someone parting out their car.

 

You can get a stock radiator from a late 03 or later car, which is the newer style with the cap on it. This is what you would have gotten from the dealer anyway, they only sell the updated ones as replacements. If you look around you might be able to find a good used one complete with the return lines, these are a bit different because of the cap. Otherwise if you just get the radiator alone you'll need to get the other parts or make your own.
The redesigned radiators don't seem to have the leakage problems, and the cap makes it much easier to service the cooling system.
I replaced mine a while back with the newer one, I was fortunate enough to find a lightly used one with all the lines attached so it just dropped right in.

 

what about where you put the fluid in in my 02 do you just leave that alone?

 

Replacing the radiator has no effect on the existing coolant tank and cap. The new radiator just adds a second cap for filling the system and to allow air to escape that would otherwise be trapped in the older radiator w/o the cap.

 

but I do need all the lines?? what did you pay for your 03 radiator?

 

Here's what the new radiator looks like, along with the new tubing (the new tubing is to allow you to hook up the overflow from the second radiator cap)



you don't need all of the lines - you can get by with the original line as long as you plug the tube coming from the second cap (or make your own) - when they replaced mine, they did that at first (I pointed out a TSB which said they were supposed to replace the lines and they did)

 

are there any special instructions when you burp the replaced radiator? and can I also use an STI radiator from say an 04 car?