I just drove home and smelled anti freeze. Popped the hood and there is a small leak at the top of the radiator along the seam. What is the best way to repair this or should I replace it. How hard is it to replace? Looks kind of simple...

 

It is a common problem with OEM plastic tanked radiators. The only way to fix it is to replace it. Replace it with a full metal one to prevent it from happening again.

Pulling it out is as simple as unplugging the fans, draining the coolant, removing the hoses, and unbolting it from the radiator support.

 

It is an automatic, isn't there a transmission line in there somewhere or am I mistaken. Checked with a local garage that I trust and they quoted $170 or the radiator and $130 for labor (2 hours). I have never replaced a radiator before but it does not look that tough. Are there any DIY on the website, I could not find any.

 

It's fairly simple and straight forwards:

DIY auto tranny: http://www.team-integra.net/sections...?ArticleID=763

All Metal Radiator $160 shipped: http://www.radiatorbarn.com/s7.asp?a...size=L4%2C1.8L

 

yep, it's not difficult. replacing the t-stat is probably the most annoying part, and that's just because it's in an awkward location.

i can't speak for an auto, but that extra step shouldn't be too much trouble.

just make sure you contain all of the coolant and dispose of it properly.

oh, also, you'll want to check your hoses in advance to determine whether they'll need replacing as well.

 

Actually the auto transmission part is the most difficult part according to the instruction.

 

Thanks, you helped me a lot.

 

Radiator changed. could not find all metal locally, so had to go
with one with plastic parts. Oh well. I did have a problem though.
I went to hose it off and I guess I got a little carried away and got some water on top spark plug wires. The next day, the check engine light came on and it was missing bad. I changed the wires and everything is fine. My wife gave me some grief, "I told you to take it to the mechanic". Even with the plug wires and new hoses, I still saved over a $100 doing it myself.

 

Radiator: $120
Wires: $40
Time: 2hrs
Drinking a cold beer after a job well done?
PRICELESS!

Good job.

 

check it out, about 4 months ago i found it was time to replace my inner tie-rods, tie-rod ends, and new boots. just for fun i had a local shop quote me to replace one inner tie-rod replacement and it came to the cost of 340 bones.
now with that price quote i went to atozone and bought 2 inner tie-rods, 2 tie- rod ends, energy suspension tie-rod end boots, and 2 inner tie-rod boots. all those parts caosted me 276 bones and i took it to the auto hobby shop on base and it costed me 8 dollars for 4 hours using a lift, hunter alignment machine, and all the necessary tools for the installation. the only pain in the rear part was that the inner tie-rod boots didn't want to slide into place at first so i played wih them for about 20 minutes each before i installed both of them in.

now tell me this, you know your happy to have new plugs, wires, and a radiator w/ accessories for less than what the shop quoted you for...right???