Oh the dredded Green puddle! (Radiator)

Well here we go...

saw some steam in the headlight beam after parking a day or two ago. Had a quick look saw some weeping coolant on the drivers side of the radiator and thought here we go time for a new radiator, today i got a replacement for $120 so here are a few pictures...

The culprit Guvnor!



The new rad....



I started to strip the dead radiator out but its too cold tonight to drain so will continue tomorrow morning.

Are there any particular photos any one wants me to take while im replacing the rad?

will look tomorrow morn for requests

Nigel

sorry to hear my man...it sux when its green. did mine last summer.

Good luck with lining the lower transmission line up for reinstallation, it's a bitch

Thanks for the heads up Matt...

and dont crack the coolant level sensor clip. i have to re-epoxy it every 2 years it b/c i dont want to break down and buy a new one

I'd rather change a radiator than a water pump!

Let us know/take pictures if you find any tricks for dealing with the tight space for the radiator and tranny lines.

Mr.Riviera wrote:

and dont crack the coolant level sensor clip. i have to re-epoxy it every 2 years it b/c i dont want to break down and buy a new one

Got mine at a junk yard for free

Well the jobs a goodun....

All fitted but still have to do the bleed air out of the system.

One little trick you may find helpful. The passengers side radiator hose had two clips, one each end. After struggling for a while and my hands started to loose strength i was unable to squeeze the clip far enough to place in its correct position. Answer, compress the clip with it away from the car and off the hose and fit 2 tye wrap's to hold it compressed. This allows you to place it on the hose, fit hose and position clip correctly then cut tye wrap and allow clip to fasten the hose in position. Here is a photo of clip (under the ignition coils)and tye wrap's in position ready to be cut.



as for space with the fans removed plenty of access was gained...



I couldn't see how the electrical clips on the fans were positioned so here's what they look like and were quite easy to disconnect with the aid of a small screw driver gently slid in the gap. The clip is at the bottom and can be felt by finger.



both fans are the same fitting.

A word of warning... as stupid as it sounds the two metal pipes as some one suggested earlier are from the tranny

THEY CARRY TRANSMITtION FLUID !!!!

When the lower one is disconnected it will leak! find something to plug the pipe!!! i can tell you it gets messy if you do not.

Any way had loads of fun in the sun even though it was only 34 degrees.

Nigel

Neat trick with the hose clamp, especially when your fingers are frozen and great photo's for the next poor bastard that has to go through this.
Glad you got it done without much hassle.

I agree, great tie wrap trick on the hose clamp.

For the tranny lines, I always keep an assortment of vacuum caps (remember those?) around, they are great for blocking tranny or brake lines mid-job.

nigelf wrote:

All fitted but still have to do the bleed air out of the system.

One little trick you may find helpful. The passenger side radiator hose had two clamps, one each end... Answer, compress the hose clamp with it away from the car and off the hose and fit 2 zip-ties to hold it compressed. This allows you to place it on the hose, fit hose and position clip correctly then cut the tie and allow the clamp to fasten the hose in position.

as for space with the fans removed plenty of access was gained...

Nigel

Brilliant improvisation with the zip-ties, Nigel! That little trick makes the stock-style clamps easier to use than worm-drive clamps.
(One minor suggestion: You'll notice a couple of edits that I put into your quote above. Your left side was actually the car's right side... That's why we all use 'driver side' and 'passenger side' for such references.)

Thanks for the other photos also - I will definitely remove the fans when I get around to plumbing an auxiliary transmission cooler into those lines...

Finally, you probably know already that there is a bleeder screw on top of the thermostat housing, but some of us have found more is required... The heater core is actually the highest point of the system, and air likes to get trapped there. When you bleed the system, I suggest you park the car with as much uphill slope as possible, and then run the engine until the thermostat opens (upper hose gets nice & hot.) Rev it up to 1500 for a minute or two, top off the radiator and cap it off, then park the car flat again and crack the bleed screw on the stat housing to get any air out of there.

deekster_caddy wrote:

For the tranny lines, I always keep an assortment of vacuum caps (remember those?) around, they are great for blocking tranny or brake lines mid-job.

Probably still available in variety packs in the Dorman/Help! section of the parts stores.

Or in a plastic organizer cabinet in my garage.
Hung on the wall near the bead blast cabinet, just in case you need some. Now you know where to find some. Oh, that's right your 3,000 miles away.

nigelf wrote:

some weeping coolant on the drivers side of the radiator

Same thing here, but there is a small pond under the car. I haven't checked that yet and I secretly hoped that there would only be some clamp loose, but...
The plastic cover under radiator blocks my view, so I have to drive to some DIY garage to check that.

have a look at removing the top bar it gives you access to view the radiator. the plastic panel under only grants you access to the drain plug.

Picture of bar removed.



Nigel

make sure the drain plug is good and tight...