Simple Steps for Replacing the Radiator

1. Wait until your engine has cooled off and then unscrew the radiator cap. This prevents the pressure build and the vacuum from locking during the draining process.

2. Feel the radiator hose by squeezing it. If it feels crunchy, that means that your cooling system has probably rusted and needs to be replaced. Be sure to flush any remaining coolant out before pouring fresh coolant in. Many auto stores have kits available for this but if you know how to do it on your own, great!

3. While draining your coolant, be sure to place a large dip pan under your vehicle’s petcock. Letting dirty coolant go all over the place is very harmful to the environment and also to your health. Children and animals have also been known to mistake its sweet scent for food and known to sustain serious poisoning or even be killed by it.

4. Now you can open your petcock either with your hands or a pair of pliers to drain the coolant into the pan.

5. Flush the radiator if the coolant was particularly dirty or if you felt the crunching sound in your radiator.

6. Always recycle your flushed liquids, never pour them. Again, this is because radiation liquid contains coolant, which is very harmful to the environment and to people’s health. If you don’t know where your waste management facilities are located, you can simply Google for local recycling and waste management facility locations.

7. Now you’re safe to remove the upper, lower and connecting hoses to the reservoir. To do so, simply loosen the hose clamps. This can be easily done with a clamp remover or channel type. Keep in mind that some older cars have screw types, and for this, you’ll need something like a screwdriver. Counterclockwise usually loosens and clockwise usually tightens.

8. Now you’re ready to disconnect the two transmission lines. Metal lines need to be disconnected by a wrench. Be careful to catch any fluid that may leak out. Be careful not to bend or kink the lines and to properly dispose of any waste that you catch.

9. In order to prevent any sparks and to prevent your vehicle from blowing up, disconnect any electric wiring. In most vehicles, the only one is usually the fan motor electric connector.

10. Since the air conditioner condenser is connected to the radiator, it, too needs to be disconnected. In most vehicles, you can simply remove the connecting mounting bolts with a wrench. This helps to keep the refrigeration system cooled.

11. Remove the mounting bracket bolts.

12. Now you’re ready to remove the radiator. Ensure that nothing, such as any hoses, are still connected to it. In some vehicles, other components, such as the mounting tray, may need to be loosened.

13. Disassemble any other parts that need to be replaced with the radiator. These usually include the brackets, the fan shroud assembly.

14. First, replace the parts that needed to be removed with the old radiator.

15. Now you’re ready to insert your new radiator. This is fairly easy as it should fit into the same space as the old one. Just be careful not to bend the fins or you will have to straighten them out in order for the air to flow properly.

16. Tighten the mounting brackets.

17. Secure the condenser.

18. Plug the electric harness back in.

19. Reconnect the transmission lines.

20. Reconnect the hoses.

21. Fill with fresh, diluted coolant to the fill line.

22. Bleed out any air pockets.

23. Reinstall the cap.