Radiator removal

Hello,

Here is a guide and instructions with diagrams below to help you see what you are in for when doing the job on your car. Also I have included a video that can help you remove the hose clamps.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-a-car-radiator

and

https://youtu.be/S1q6HVe8Iw0

When removing the radiator or A/C condenser for any reason, note the location of all radiator-to-body and radiator-to-A/C condenser rubber air seals. These are used at the top, bottom and sides of the radiator and A/C condenser. To prevent overheating, these seals must be installed to their original positions. Disconnect the negative battery cable at battery. Drain coolant from radiator. Remove the front grill. Remove the cooling fan from the engine, if equipped. Remove the two radiator mounting bolts.

Check out the diagrams (Below). Please let us know if you need anything else to get the problem fixed.

Long story short, I tried to take a short cut (barsleak) on my weepy radiator (2003 Liberty) and now I have no cockpit heat unless I am moving...I am assuming there's some grit somewhere there shouldn't be. Replaced my radiator today and was going to go have the whole system flushed but I'm wondering if that will just move the crap into my new radiator...I replaced all the hoses, should I take off the reserve tank and rinse it out before I fill the system with coolant? Oh and...do you think this will solve the problem with my heat?

It will fix the problem if the heater core is clogged. Do a complete cooling system flush, power flush, not just a coolant swap.

Are both heater hoses getting hot? If they are, the blend doors aren't operating properly and flushing won't help the problem.

Thanks. I don't know about the hoses, given that the problem started after I put the stuff in the coolant, I didn't spend a ton of time on diagnosis...I have everything reassembled, I just need to fill it with coolant. I guess I'll fill it up with coolant and drive it to Jiffy Lube for a flush and hope for the best. Thanks for your help.

Jiffy Lube isn't a flush. They only perform a coolant swap. You want a power flush to dislodge any gunk in the core. Call some shops in the yellow pages until you find one that does a power flush. That means pressurized water or pressurized air and water.

I used to work at a Jiffy Lube.

What you want to see is both radiator hoses disconnected, the lower hose placed in a drain and a pressurized source hooked up to the upper hose.

Conversely, if you have good water pressure at home, you can disconnect the heater hoses from the engine, and connect one to the garden hose. Just be sure to collect the old coolant for proper disposal.

ok thanks

My pleasure.

What is the procedure for removing the radiator? Thanks

Hello,

Here is a guide to help walk you though the radiator replacement with diagrams below to show you how on your car.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-a-car-radiator

Check out the diagrams (Below). Please let us know if you need anything else to get the problem fixed.

Actually the first step is to find someone with SMALL hands... Those fan drive nuts are a bear to get at if you have big hands.