Could i borrow a brain from someone for a few minutes? Im installing a radiator in an 1987 Honda Accord...sounds simple enough, ive just never installed one before(im not a "car guy") Could some one give me a brief(or extensive) STEP-BY-STEP instruction? Precautions? Tools needed?(especially) etc... I would be grateful..C.r.i.b

 

your gonna just take a step back.....look at where everything goes and connects too take a deep breath....your gonna need a 10mm, and probably 12mm socket and some plyers(for hose clamps) or a screw driver.....um.....basically you don't need any fancy tools....just get a cheap metric set about $5 bucks.....hey your best bet is to go to autozone and get a repair manual....or go to your public libary and get the manual(its free) oh yeah replace the hoses and grab some coolant while your at autozone have fun....it should take you about 15-20mins to do this job but hey take your time

 

It is probably a similar procedure for your car as it is for mine:

Drain coolant.
Remove all hoses connected to radiator.
Remove all fan harnesses.
Remove radiator mounts.
Remove radiator with fans attached.
Remove fans from radiator and install on new radiator.
Install in reverse order.

I find it easier to just pull the fans out with the radiator. Makes it much easier IMO, but whatever tickles your fancy. It is a simple job and shouldn't take more than 30 minutes.

 

Mhm, don;t let all the wires and hoses inside the engine bay scare you. I used to look at my engine and be like uh.....damn. But with some research you'll know the ins and outs. But yea I'm pretty sure the radiator change is the same for most cars, not just hondas. Take your time though.

 

I too will soon be experiencing replacing my radiator for the first time, oh the joy. Anyway, i feel i am more than capable to do such a project espeacially with some help offered above. Just wondering how to drain the coolant? NOt that there's much left in there anyway since i have a crack bigger than the grand canyon in it. I was also told to MAKE SURE there was no air in it before puting the cap on...how much time does it have to run open and idle before this is acomplished? And, although this may sound dumb, i do put the coolant in and then run it idle to get the air our right? Please someone help soon as I am trying to replace it before work ends so i can get home

 

To drain the coolant:

1. Drain cock (bottom side of the radiator).
2. Upper/lower radtiator hoses.
3. There's a drain bolt (at least on b-series engines) located to right of the header. This bolt drains the coolant still in the block.

*edit* someone already answered.

 

After you have filled up the coolant, turn on the car with the radiator cap off. Leave the radiator cap off while the car is idleing. You have to wait untill the radiator fan comes on, radiator fluid will drop, add fluid, and watch for air bubbles coming up from the radiator opening at the top. You got to make sure all the air comes out (no more air bubbles) or hot spots will develope in the radiator.