[HOW TO] Remove/replace water radiator

aidu88 · 8th February 2012, 15:32

Hi there,

This is a detailed description of have to replace a water radiator. I have done this myself however i will not take responsibility for any actions or faults with your own car !!!!

First the front bumper and front grill need to come off:
[HOW TO] Remove front grill
[HOW TO] Remove front bumper

Once the front bumper and grill have been removed then there aint actually that much to removing/changing the radiator.

TOOLS:
2X flatheaded screwdriver
long nose pliers
10mm spanner/socket
driptray/bucket

This can be done with the car on the ground but i jacked it up to help with access.

Drop down the splash panel that covers the whole bottom of the car by removing a singe plastic clip at the front, previously covered by the bumper, and 2X clips both sides in the wheel arches and 2X 10mm bolts half way down the car just after the metal access panel as seen in picture.

285.jpg

Locate the white drain plug for the radiator on the bottom towards the passanger side, open this and let the coolant drain into a driptray or suitible container. Opening the radiator cap at the top may speeden up this proccess.

271.jpg

Once fully drained close the drain plug and disconnect the thermistat electrical connector and clip holding the conduit to the radiator.

277.jpg

Move to the top of the radiator and disconnect BOTH fan connectors and conduit clips holding then to the radiator again.

Get your long nose pliers and clamp the pipe connectors clips together and slide then down the pipe to allow the pipe to come off. There is one pipe at the top next to the radiator cap and again one directly below that at the bottom next to the drain plug.

The bottom pipe i couldnt get access to so i followed the pipe up to where it feeds to the engine and did the same there. Pull these pipes off the radiator and were nearly there........

Remove the 4 bolts, 2 on either supprot bracket on the top corners, where the bolts for the grill sit. Then remove the brackets themself.

263.jpg

The radiator is ready to come out but still requires some work..........

The bonnet catch release needss to come away so the radiator can pull up and out, remove the 3 10mm bolts from the catch release bracket and disconnect the electrical connector to the drivers side behind it. lift it out the way and secure with tape.

266.jpg

267.jpg

245.jpg

Also the headlights need to move ever so slightly, so remove the bolt and plastic clip which is under the cover to the side which can be lifted slightly to allow access. and there is another bolt on the bottom of the headlight attachting to a black beam. repeat on both sides and they should give small amounts of movement but enough to allow the radiator to be removed.

261.jpg

260.jpg

262.jpg

249.jpg

Moment of truth, slowly lift out the tight space watching for anything getting stuck or see if you forgot something

Once removed, you can either change over the two fans and expansion bottle or replace what you needed to and refit in reverse of removal.

After completly reconnecting everything on the radiator, fill the radiator to the bottom or the neck with honda type 2 coolant and expansion bottle to max line and put on the radiator cap.

Turn the car over and allow to run for a minuite or so and switch off again, open the radiator cap and check your levels and top up as required. Than put the grill and bumper back on and your done

including the bumper and grill remove/refit this job only took about 4 hours and that was without knowing what to do so aim for abound 5/6 hours or maybe more if you don't have much engineering experience.

All you need is confidence !!!!!!!!! ANY QUESTIONS JUST ASK !!

gja_gun · 12th February 2012, 17:44

Great HOW TO... Is it necessary to change the water? is there any gauge to see the level hi or low? I don´t check mine

..... I only check the oil (engine), break fluid, clutch,...

I think they do all change when its time to service (every year).

Cheers

aidu88 · 12th February 2012, 22:34

on the rear of the bottle there is a max and min lines and the words on the back of it. just look from the top with a good torch, you should be able to see it. and just make sure that the radiator itself is full to the neck of the cap. (cold engine obviously

)

with regards to the new fluid. it's just really good practice I guess to change it, I believe it isn't NECESSARY to put new in but highly recommended. stops contamination an so on.

hope this helps gja_gun

8th February 2012, 15:32	#1 (permalink)
aidu88 Car: 07 plate Milano red Type R Join Date: 9th June 2011 Location: Elgin, uk Posts: 308 Thanks given: 14 Thanked 17 Times in 14 Posts iTrader: (0)	[HOW TO] Remove/replace water radiator Hi there, This is a detailed description of have to replace a water radiator. I have done this myself however i will not take responsibility for any actions or faults with your own car !!!! First the front bumper and front grill need to come off: [HOW TO] Remove front grill [HOW TO] Remove front bumper Once the front bumper and grill have been removed then there aint actually that much to removing/changing the radiator. TOOLS: 2X flatheaded screwdriver long nose pliers 10mm spanner/socket driptray/bucket This can be done with the car on the ground but i jacked it up to help with access. Drop down the splash panel that covers the whole bottom of the car by removing a singe plastic clip at the front, previously covered by the bumper, and 2X clips both sides in the wheel arches and 2X 10mm bolts half way down the car just after the metal access panel as seen in picture. 285.jpg Locate the white drain plug for the radiator on the bottom towards the passanger side, open this and let the coolant drain into a driptray or suitible container. Opening the radiator cap at the top may speeden up this proccess. 271.jpg Once fully drained close the drain plug and disconnect the thermistat electrical connector and clip holding the conduit to the radiator. 277.jpg Move to the top of the radiator and disconnect BOTH fan connectors and conduit clips holding then to the radiator again. Get your long nose pliers and clamp the pipe connectors clips together and slide then down the pipe to allow the pipe to come off. There is one pipe at the top next to the radiator cap and again one directly below that at the bottom next to the drain plug. The bottom pipe i couldnt get access to so i followed the pipe up to where it feeds to the engine and did the same there. Pull these pipes off the radiator and were nearly there........ Remove the 4 bolts, 2 on either supprot bracket on the top corners, where the bolts for the grill sit. Then remove the brackets themself. 263.jpg The radiator is ready to come out but still requires some work.......... The bonnet catch release needss to come away so the radiator can pull up and out, remove the 3 10mm bolts from the catch release bracket and disconnect the electrical connector to the drivers side behind it. lift it out the way and secure with tape. 266.jpg 267.jpg 245.jpg Also the headlights need to move ever so slightly, so remove the bolt and plastic clip which is under the cover to the side which can be lifted slightly to allow access. and there is another bolt on the bottom of the headlight attachting to a black beam. repeat on both sides and they should give small amounts of movement but enough to allow the radiator to be removed. 261.jpg 260.jpg 262.jpg 249.jpg Moment of truth, slowly lift out the tight space watching for anything getting stuck or see if you forgot something Once removed, you can either change over the two fans and expansion bottle or replace what you needed to and refit in reverse of removal. After completly reconnecting everything on the radiator, fill the radiator to the bottom or the neck with honda type 2 coolant and expansion bottle to max line and put on the radiator cap. Turn the car over and allow to run for a minuite or so and switch off again, open the radiator cap and check your levels and top up as required. Than put the grill and bumper back on and your done including the bumper and grill remove/refit this job only took about 4 hours and that was without knowing what to do so aim for abound 5/6 hours or maybe more if you don't have much engineering experience. All you need is confidence !!!!!!!!! ANY QUESTIONS JUST ASK !! Last edited by aidu88; 9th February 2012 at 01:50.

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12th February 2012, 17:44	#2 (permalink)
gja_gun Street Cowboy Car: 2008 Type S 1.8 Heritage Join Date: 3rd May 2009 Location: madrid, Spain Posts: 321 Thanks given: 33 Thanked 24 Times in 22 Posts iTrader: (0)	Great HOW TO... Is it necessary to change the water? is there any gauge to see the level hi or low? I don´t check mine ..... I only check the oil (engine), break fluid, clutch,... I think they do all change when its time to service (every year). Cheers

12th February 2012, 22:34	#3 (permalink)
aidu88 Thread starter Car: 07 plate Milano red Type R Join Date: 9th June 2011 Location: Elgin, uk Posts: 308 Thanks given: 14 Thanked 17 Times in 14 Posts iTrader: (0)	on the rear of the bottle there is a max and min lines and the words on the back of it. just look from the top with a good torch, you should be able to see it. and just make sure that the radiator itself is full to the neck of the cap. (cold engine obviously ) with regards to the new fluid. it's just really good practice I guess to change it, I believe it isn't NECESSARY to put new in but highly recommended. stops contamination an so on. hope this helps gja_gun