Free Automotive Repair Advice by Certified ASE Technicians
How To Repair / Radiator-1 / Radiator-2 / Radiator-3 / Radiator-4
How to Change a Radiator (continued)
Step 10 of 11. Installing Cooling Fans
Remove the cooling fans from the old
radiator and install onto the new radiator.
Make sure the cooling fan motor turns freely
after the cooling fans have been installed.
Clean electrical connector and make sure it
is free from debris.
Step 11 of 11. Installing Radiator
After the radiator is ready for installation,
inspect the vehicle cavity that the radiator resides
in to make sure all dirt and
leaves have been removed. Reinstall
radiator and reconnect all hoses, clamps and
mounting bolts. After reinstallation is
complete, refill the radiator with engine
coolant. With the radiator cap off, let
the engine
warm up completely adding coolant until
full. Reinstall the radiator cap and
recheck the system for leaks. (Note: make sure
the coolant reservoir is about half full
with engine coolant.)
Radiator Cooling System Replacement Parts
Before starting determine which cooling
system parts are needed. Inspect your
cooling system radiator, hoses, thermostat,
radiator cap and water pump then purchase
the appropriate parts to complete the job.
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Purchase
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Radiator - A Radiator will
last between about 70,000 and
130,000 miles depending on how many
times the coolant has been changed.
If you do not change your coolant
regularly, between 30,000 and 40,000
miles the coolant chemical base
changes from a cooling system
protector to a acidic chemical that
will corrode your radiator and cause
a radiator to fail prematurely.
Service your radiator and cooling
system regularly for a long trouble
free life for your vehicle.
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Purchase
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Radiator Cap - A Radiator
Cap is used to do two operations,
first it is were the cooling system
is refilled with engine coolant. The
second is the pressure that is
retained by the cap when the vehicle
is operating. For ever two pounds of
pressure a cooling system can hold
it gains one degree of boiling
point. The hotter a engine can run
and not boil over the more efficient
it becomes. A typical system will
hold between 15 and 18 P.S.I. if a
radiator cap can not hold this
pressure a vehicle will over heat.
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Purchase
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Radiator Hose - A
radiator hose is used to transfer
coolant from the engine to the
radiator and back again. Radiator
hoses are made of rubber and are a
regular maintenance item. Most
radiator hoses will last between
60,000 and 100,000 miles depending
on cooling system service. Don't
wait until the hose is ready to fail
before replacing it. |
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Purchase
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Thermostat - A cooling system
thermostat is used to control the
operating temperature of the
vehicles engine. Most thermostats
open and let the engine coolant flow
to the radiator about 195 degrees F.
Replace your thermostat every time
you service the cooling system to
avoid a thermostat failure. A stuck
thermostat a very common problem for
over heating vehicles. |
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Purchase
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Water Pump - A water pump is
used a circulate engine coolant
inside the engine and out to the
radiator and back again. When a
water pump fails it can make a
groaning or squeaking noise. A water
pump also has a shaft seal that can
fail allowing coolant to leak
externally. |
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Purchase
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Radiator Cooling Fan Motor -
A radiator cooling fan motor is used
to pull or push air through the
radiator to help cool the vehicles
engine. Mounted on the radiator fan
housing it is very easy to replace. |
Also see:Additional "How to" Car Repair or Services
1.How to Replace Air Filter
2.How to Change a Cabin filter
3.How to Change Oil and Filter
4.How to Tune Up with Throttle Bore Service
5.How to Replace a Radiator
6.How to Replace Fuel Filter
7.How to Read Trouble Codes
8.How Filters Work
9.How to Replace Front Brake Pads
10.How to Replace Rear Brake Pads
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