How To - Change a radiator

[Marc_EE9]

- Jack or ramps
- 10mm spanner/socket
- Large shallow-ish bucket
- Large pliers

This is the first thing I did myself on my VT, and it's easy.
I advise laying down some sheets inside the front so you don't scratch the paintwork. You could also remove the bumper and t-bar for easier access.

1. Jack the front of the car up, or put on ramps.
2. Take off the rad cap and expansion tube, and then undo the drain bolt .
3. While its draining undo fan plug and two bolts holding it to the radiator at the top and pull it out. Also take off the brackets at each end holding the radiator down.
4. Tilt the radiator to get all the juice out, and take off top hose.
5. When all the coolant is out, put the drain plug back in, and pull out the radiator, you should then be able to take off the lower hose, as they are tricky getting off when still in the car, I find this easier than trying to get it off while still in the car. Careful not to scratch your paintwork!
6. Get your new radiator, make sure it has the drain plug in! Install it by putting the bottom hose on first, drop the rad in, then fix the fan back on and plug it in.
7. You can then put the top hose on and the expansion tube, and fill it up with coolant until it's sitting at the top of the gulley in the gutter.
8. Start the car with the cap OFF, heaters on full HOT. Keep an eye on coolant - it will bubble up and out - so have a rag handy. While that's doing it's thing you can put the brackets back on..
9. When the car has warmed up and the fan has kicked in (or after 20minutes), there should be no air in the system. Top up if necessary.
10. Rad cap back on, make sure expansion tank is filled up too.

To bleed the system again, follow steps 8-10.
Also if you can, to flush the whole system, there is a large plug nut in the front of the block to the left hand side, but if you change your coolant regulary, you shouldn't need to do this.

[EllisG93]

Just what I needed dude, It's the only thing I really NEED now apart from alloys!

[cozzacivic]

I'm giving this a go later today, so a lil quickie

It's on a gl auto, so I fill up the radiator till its nearly at the cap, and do I fill the white bottle that a pipe joins to, and then run, cap off let air bubble stop then turn off and re fill ?

Just need to make sure doing correctly as got work in after noon

[cozzacivic]

All done,

Many thanks for this handy how to

[mylo]

do i have to leave the radiator cap off fill it up with water and star engine with the cap off then when all the bubbles have come out then do i put the cap back on? once iv done this do i fill up the expansion tank??

[Marc_EE9]

yes, ideally you need to wait for the fan to kick in, but it takes a lot of heat for it to do this, but put the heaters on hot while your waiting for the bubbles to come out

[mylo]

so all i do is connect the rad upand fill it up leave the cap off and start the engine wait for it to heat right up and havee the fan on full hot! once the fan kicks in and the bubbles stop coming out i can put the rad cap back on and then fil up the expansion tank? sorry for being pedantic but wana make sure i get it right the first time becaue iv got a 170mile drive to do once iv got it on. im using a crx rad so hopefully it will fit. if it doesnt im screwed and going to have to wait until i can find a civic one!

[Marc_EE9]

yes thats correct. just dont fill up the rad with water

[mylo]

iv got 3 bottles of coolent , but was going to flush the system through first with water, if i can find the drain plug! sweet cheers 4 the advice man

[Marc_EE9]

drain plug is on the front of the block to the left. 17mm bolt if i remember correctly.

[mylo]

nice1 mate, ill let ya know how i get on with fitting the crx rad.

[kopite2505]

changed mine but the fan did not come on!

[Marc_EE9]

Make sure you've actually plugged it in. Also check to make sure no air in the system. It might not come on the first time.