Hello! Today I find out my radiator have a leak, is on the top part, can't find it exactly but I see coolant coming out from the edges on the left side (close to the reserve tank) I need a temporary fix while I have the money to fix it, but don't know what to do yet, maybe something to seal it.

I assume I will need to replace my radiator but My question here is, how hard is to replace it? I hate giving my car to some careless shops if I'm able to do the job, I don't have much experience but with a good write up step by step I can do it. After all you guys helps me replace my starter, alternator, ECU and stuff like that.

Thanks for your advice.

 

Replacement of that rad is easy bro trust me you do not want to put a sealant in it that will clog up your water pump and thermostat

 

I have heard those sealants are bad, but I needed a solution right away since I need my car to go work tomorrow. I already put it in

I have found the leak, after pouring the sealant the leak seem to stop:

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/l.../radiator1.jpg

If I flush the radiator will I be able to get rid of that sealant stuff? or I'm doomed with my water pump and thermostat? I just need it to buy me some time, just for the next weekend when I get the money to buy the radiator and either do it myself or pay someone to replace it.

I have no idea how to replace the radiator, by looking at it seems easy but not sure, do I just remove the secure bolts, hoses and fan connectors and just pull it up?

 

I changed the radiator on my car over a month ago and it's not really that difficult. Undo the top two bolts for the brackets that hold the radiator and disconnect the radiator fan wires on the driver side. Remove the hoses after the coolant has been drained, and if you have an automatic trans remove the trans cooler lines (some fluid may come out) After that, you can remove the radiator and undo the four bolts holding the fan assembly to the radiator.

Installation is pretty much the reversal of it, but make sure you bleed the cooling system before driving.

As previously mentioned, it's not recommended to use the "sealers" as they do more harm than good. Just cross your fingers that it doesn't affect the important parts. In my dumber days I used half a bottle to plug up the water pump weeping hole so that I can get the money to change it.

 

Unfortunately the sealant didn't work, it's still leaking a considerable amount of coolant, I have to drive about 12 miles to work and I don't want to risk to overheat.

I need to replace my radiator, since you said is pretty easy to replace I want to try to do it myself. I'm just concerned about those AT cooler lines mentioned, I don't want to mess around with my AT. any other details on that you can provide I would really appreciate it. Anything else I should know or be careful about removing my radiator?

By the way, I was reading some threads about what radiator should be used and I'm still confused, many of you suggest OEM from JY but isn't that a risk to get something already cracked or about to fail? since i'm not expert I wouldn't know how to choose one.

My fastest option may be Autozone, maybe ebay but I will need to wait for shipping and I need this fixed ASAP.

 

best thing to do is try and find a all-metal radiator so you dont have to deal with plastic BS. but if you need the radiator ASAP that might not be an option since you would have rig a universal all-metal radiator to work, i dont think Koyo or Mishimoto make 3rd gen ones anymore

AT cooler hoses are nothing to be worried about, just use a wrench to loosen them and unscrew them. fluid will dribble out of the lines but youre probably gonna lose only about a fifth of a liter if that, no big deal

only thing you do have to watch out for is when youre screwing the lines into the new radiator, start threading the lines in by hand. if you dont, you can crossthread the lines and thats a huge headache. ive done it before

 

The cooler lines are rubber hoses clamped into the radiator, so no worry about cross threading. But as chrome mentioned, a little bit of trans fluid will come out when you undo the hoses so have a small pan ready.

I live like 40 min away from Fullerton, so if you think you may need some help, let me know.

 

Radiators are one of the easier jobs on a car. It's actually a starting point for someone to learn on considering they're very basic and follow the bouncing ball-esque!

Just pay attention to what went where and as these guys advised watch the fluids and you'll be fine.

 

try removing the rad on a 1st gen Supra

 

Tough huh? Then I stand corrected!