If a radiator leak is suspected, the described pressure test must be carried out in a workshop. With an obvious defect, you can also immediately dismantle the radiator yourself and send it in for repair. There are special workshops for the repair of radiators (industry telephone directory), who carry out such repairs or offer replacement radiators.
Dismantling the radiator
To remove the heatsink, both fixing screws must be released with a screwdriver (1) on the front of the car and remove them from the fixing holes (2).
We do not advise you to dismantle the radiator in a car with an automatic transmission. In this case, it is necessary to disconnect the oil cooler pipes from the ATF integrated in the radiator, which then entails the problematic filling of the ATF gearbox. In addition, dirt must not enter the ATF circulation system. Below you will find a description of the removal of the radiator for vehicles with a manual transmission.
1. Remove the front bumper (chapter Body parts).
2. Drain the coolant into a container.
3. Disconnect the hoses from the radiator; the thick hose at the bottom on the driver's side can be removed by depressing the metal clip in the hose connector.
4. Where necessary, remove the air duct on the right or left side of the radiator.
5. Disconnect if available (enhanced cooling, air conditioning), the wire connectors on the radiator fan thermostat switch, and the connectors on the radiator fan.
6. Use a small screwdriver to unlock the radiator mounting bolt at the top of the front of the car and remove it.
7. Pull forward the intermediate rubber support.
8. Pull the heatsink forward by the top edge and lift it off the bottom mounting pins.
Radiator cleaning
Before and after the summer period, the radiator fins must be cleaned of insect corpses adhering to it, otherwise the cooling effect deteriorates.
1. Spray dried insect remains with a protein-dissolving agent.
2. After a while, wash off the product from the back of the radiator. Let a not too strong jet through the radiator fins. A hard brush or sharp tool can damage the radiator fins.
3. Insert the water hose into the hole around the radiator fan. Where present, further raise the choke on the back of the radiator and pour water through the openings behind it.
Removing the coolant hoses
Vehicles with a six-cylinder engine have an additional screw plug (arrow) coolant drain, which is located at the bottom of the engine next to the separation seam with the crankcase.
Threaded drain plug (2) in front on the right near the radiator, unfortunately, it is only available with the bumper removed. Sometimes in vehicles with an electric radiator fan (enhanced cooling) built-in thermal switch (1) coolant.
To remove air from the cooling system, you need to move the hose after loosening the clamp (3) heating on the connecting pipe (1) so that the ventilation hole is exposed (2). This is possible when the hole in the tube matches the hole in the hose.
With a six-cylinder engine, to remove air from the cooling system, you must additionally open the bolt with an internal hexagon (arrow) bottom left on the coolant pipe.
1. Obtain original hoses of the desired curved shape and new clamps as spare parts.
2. Drain and collect coolant.
3. Loosen the screw clamps with a screwdriver.
4. Compress the hose clamps with pliers «ears» all the way.
5. On some models, the thick hose on the bottom left of the radiator is secured with a metal clip in the hose connector.
6. Wring out a metal bracket.
7. Remove hoses.
8. Loosen the firmly seated ends of the hoses with a screwdriver, inserting it between the hose and the nozzle and then carefully wringing it out.
9. Slide the new hoses far enough over the fittings so that they cannot slip off again.
10. Do not overtighten the screw clamps, otherwise the threads will break.
11. Hose secured with a metal clip: check the O-ring, slide the hose connector until it engages in the groove of the metal clip.
Tip: A water hose that is torn or bitten by rodents can rarely be replaced immediately, as often the right water hose is not in the pantry. Adhesive tape may help temporarily to repair the cooling system. It adheres well to cleaned and dry rubber hoses. With a large leak, it can help if you open the radiator cap one turn so that the pressure in the cooling system decreases, which the band cannot resist. Only now carefully go to the workshop. Don't lose sight of the temperature gauge and coolant level!
Draining the coolant
1. Let the engine cool down, there is a risk of burns when the engine is hot!
2. Open the cap on the expansion tank.
3. Remove the lower lining of the engine compartment (chapter Body parts).
4. Place a wide tray under the engine to receive the coolant.
5. Remove the bottom water hose from the radiator. Additionally:
- Four-cylinder engine: in the direction of travel on the left of the engine, remove the thick hose to the radiator and the thinner hose to the heat exchanger, as well as on the thermostat housing and drain the liquid.
- Six-cylinder engine: Drain the coolant by unscrewing the drain plug at the bottom of the engine block.
Tip: Antifreeze is poisonous, so you can't just dump it down the drain. Instead, pour it into a separate container and send it to special waste (find out where the reception point is located in the local administration).
Filling the cooling system with new coolant
Filling in new coolant: Pull back the heating hose on the connected tube until the vent hole is visible (1). Then put a piece of hose 10 cm long on the filler pipe of the expansion tank (2) in order to increase the height of its filling.
Since a certain amount of coolant remains in the engine, it may not be necessary to use all the amount of coolant indicated in the table at the beginning of the chapter.
1. Before filling, open the heating water hose clamp and slide it back so that the vent hole is exposed.
2. Six-cylinder engine: open the air screw in the coolant pipe under the expansion tank.
3. Put a piece of hose 10 cm long on the filler pipe (diameter about 42 mm) in order to increase the height of the bay.
4. First fill in antifreeze, then, if possible, distilled water so that the liquid level reaches the top edge of the expansion tank.
5. Six-cylinder engine only: Top up with fluid until it protrudes from the propeller. close screw (15 Nm).
6. Keep adding fluid until it comes out of the vent hole.
7. Move the heat exchanger hose back to its original position (close the vent) and tighten the clamp.
8. Then pour the liquid completely.
9. Screw the cap on the expansion tank.
10. Start the engine and let it run until the radiator is hot in the lower connection area.
11. If necessary, correct the fluid level. It must be between the marks «MIN» And «MAX» expansion tank; when the engine is hot, it is naturally higher.
12. Be careful when opening the cap when the coolant is hot.
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