Removing the radiator
Remove the bottom protection of the engine compartment (chapter «Body elements»).
Drain coolant.
Remove all hoses from radiator.
The bolts and nuts indicated here by the arrows must be unscrewed in order to remove the radiator (2) with bumper and protective cover removed. It is also recommended to remove the holders (1 and 3) for trim strips under the headlights. In vehicles with air conditioning, in addition to the radiator coil for the power steering (4) in front of the radiator is the evaporator of the air conditioner; it should also be unlocked.
Left: to drain the coolant, remove the hoses (1 and 2) from the thermostat housing in a 4-cylinder engine. Additionally, open the drain hole in the radiator.
Right: The 6-cylinder engine has an additional coolant drain hole (arrow), which is located at the bottom of the engine near the gearbox housing connector.
Disconnect the wire lugs at the cooling fan thermal switch.
Disconnect the cooling fan connectors.
Unscrew the radiator at the top (left and right) from the front of the engine compartment (chapter «Body elements»).
Remove bumper from front of radiator (chapter «Body elements»).
Unscrew the radiator (right and left) from the holders for the trim strips under the headlights.
Unscrew the oil cooler coil for the power steering.
If there is an air conditioner, it is necessary to remove its evaporator, which is attached in front of the radiator.
Unscrew the lower radiator mount.
Pull the radiator up.
Radiator cleaning
Before the start of the warm season and after it, the surface of the radiator must be cleaned of insect residues that have settled there, otherwise the cooling effect deteriorates.
Open the hood, for a 5-cylinder engine, additionally remove the protective cover of the radiator from above.
Spray the dried remains of insects with a protein-dissolving agent (For example «Summer Screen» Holts)
After a certain time of action, spray the reverse side of the radiator with the same product. Rinse the radiator with a gentle stream of water. A hard brush or sharp tool may damage the surface of the radiator.
Route the water hose into the holes around the cooling fan. Raise the rubber protective plugs where fitted and direct the water jet into the openings behind them.
Removing the cooling system hoses
As spare parts, find original hoses of the desired shape and new clamps.
Drain coolant.
Loosen the loosening clamps with a screwdriver.
Compress the spring clamps on both «ears» with tongs until it stops. Remove hoses.
Loosen tight-fitting hose ends with a screwdriver, which must be inserted between the hose and the nozzle and carefully act as a lever.
Push the new hoses deep enough onto the fittings so that they cannot slip off.
Tighten the twist-on clamps without applying much force, otherwise the threads may be stripped.
Note: A torn or bitten hose can rarely be replaced immediately. You can temporarily help trouble by applying «Pannenband» Weyer or «Hoseweld Baldage» Holts firm. Both tapes adhere well to cleaned and dry rubber hoses. With a large leak, it is sometimes useful to open the expansion tank cap one turn so that pressure cannot build up in the cooling system that the band cannot resist. Now you can drive very carefully to the workshop, constantly monitoring the readings of the temperature and coolant level sensors.
Coolant drain
Allow the engine to cool down, otherwise there is a risk of burns!
Open the screw cap on the expansion tank.
Remove the bottom protection of the engine compartment (chapter «Body elements»).
Place a wide container under the engine to drain the coolant.
Under the black cover in the fluid reservoir is a vent plug in the heater hose (arrow). It must be opened before filling the cooling system (see below).
Open the drain plug at the bottom of the radiator or remove the lower radiator hose.
Optional: Models with a 4-cylinder engine: in the direction of travel on the left of the engine, remove and drain all liquid from the thick hose to the radiator and thinner to the heating system heat exchanger, respectively, on the thermostat housing.
Models with 5-cylinder engine: Remove the coolant hose leading to the heater at the rear of the cylinder block.
Next, remove the hose at the lower coolant line.
Models with 6-cylinder engine: Drain the coolant through the drain hole at the bottom of the cylinder block.
Note: Antifreeze is poisonous and should not be simply flushed down the drain. Instead, you need to collect it in a special container and hand it over as special garbage.
Filling the cooling system
Since there is always some coolant left in the engine, it may not be possible to fill with all the coolant indicated in the table at the beginning of the chapter.
Before filling, open the vent plug in the heater hose.
6-cylinder engine only: Remove the screw plug on the coolant line at the rear of the engine.
First fill with antifreeze, then, if possible, with distilled water until the level rises to the top edge of the expansion tank.
Pour liquid until it comes out of the cork. Then top up completely.
Only 4-cylinder engine: Raise the upper water hose to the radiator slightly while the coolant is being filled.
Screw on the screw cap on the expansion tank.
Start the engine and let it run until the electric cooling fan turns on.
Switch off the engine and add coolant. The fluid level must be between the marks «min» And «max» expansion tank; with the engine warmed up to operating temperature, slightly above the maximum mark.
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