# Car wont start after radiator replacement **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** subaru\ **Created:** [August 14, 2024, 2:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-start-after-radiator-replacement/195729 "2024-08-14T14:09:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![quindt0215](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/d07c76/32.png) [@quindt0215](https://community.cartalk.com/u/quindt0215)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2024, 2:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-start-after-radiator-replacement/195729/1 "2024-08-14T14:09:37Z")
A week back my radiator was cracked in my 2012 outback and was billowing white smoke from the cap, but it still turned on and ran. I have since replaced the radiator and thermostat and after putting everything back together the car will not start. It will crank but it wont fire. It will sometimes stutter as if its about to start but wont catch. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2024, 2:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-start-after-radiator-replacement/195729/2 "2024-08-14T14:46:58Z")
Basically you messed something up, you are just going to have to retrace all your steps until you find what you did wrong, didn’t plug back in correctly or installed wrong… Worst case take some under hood pictures and post them to see if someone on here can see something wrong… Maybe someone will chime in with a better idea… ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2024, 3:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-start-after-radiator-replacement/195729/3 "2024-08-14T15:08:38Z")
How long did you run the engine with the leaking radiator? It might have over heated, damaging the engine. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2024, 3:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-start-after-radiator-replacement/195729/4 "2024-08-14T15:29:36Z")
> [@quindt0215](#): > > my radiator was cracked in my 2012 outback and was billowing white smoke from the cap That is when engine damage begins. > [@quindt0215](#): > > but it still turned on and ran. If the engine overheats for more than a few minutes, engine damage can occur causing loss of compression. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2024, 3:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-start-after-radiator-replacement/195729/5 "2024-08-14T15:32:54Z")
Compression checking time… ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2024, 9:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-start-after-radiator-replacement/195729/6 "2024-08-14T21:32:56Z")
Check all the fuses especially engine fuses, but yeah you maybe fried the rings. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2024, 9:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-start-after-radiator-replacement/195729/7 "2024-08-14T21:41:31Z")
> [@quindt0215](#): > > A week back my radiator was cracked in my 2012 outback and was billowing white smoke from the cap Where was the crack? White smoke from the cap sounds like it overheated. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2024, 9:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-start-after-radiator-replacement/195729/8 "2024-08-14T21:47:43Z")
Another idea, the Subaru’s head gasket failed and that is what caused the overheating radiator symptom. Compression check seems like the next step. Removing the spark plugs might provide a clue as well.