Replacing the cooling system radiator

The radiator must be replaced if a coolant leak is detected from it.

In a workshop equipped with special equipment, the radiator can be checked and repaired.

WARNING: Remove the radiator only when the engine is cold.

NOTE: For clarity, work is shown on a vehicle with the front bumper removed.

You will need: socket head «on 10», pliers, flat blade screwdriver.

1. Disconnect the wire from the terminal «minus» battery.

2. Drain the coolant (cm. «Coolant replacement»).



3. Remove the engine mudguard (cm. «Removal and installation of a mudguard of the engine»).



4. Loosen the hose clamp to the expansion tank, squeezing its bent ears with pliers, slide the clamp along the hose..




5.... and remove the hose from the radiator pipe.



6. Using a screwdriver, remove the harness holder from the hole in the electric fan casing and move the harness to the side.



7. Squeeze the clamps of the wiring harness block of the additional resistance of the electric fan..




8.... and disconnect the block from the resistance.



9. Loosen the clamp securing the radiator outlet hose by squeezing its bent ears with pliers..



10.... slide the clamp along the hose..



11.... and remove the hose from the radiator pipe.




12. Similarly, disconnect the inlet hose from the radiator branch pipe.



13. Supporting radiator (it's better if an assistant does it), turn out on both sides of the car on two bolts of fastening to a body of a framework of a radiator.



14. Slightly lowering the radiator of the cooling system..

NOTE: When lowering the cooling system radiator, the pins on its tanks will come out of the two rubber pads installed in the holes in the frame of the engine compartment.

15.... remove the air conditioning radiator brackets from the holders on its tanks..

NOTE: The A/C radiator is attached to the cooling system radiator with four brackets (two brackets left and right), inserted into the holders on the radiator tanks of the cooling system.

WARNING: After disconnecting the air conditioning radiator from the cooling system radiator, attach the air conditioning radiator to the body (e.g. tying with wire), avoiding bending of its tubes in order to avoid their damage.

16.... and remove the radiator of the cooling system assembly with the electric fan from the car.



17. Use a screwdriver to pry off the two cushions of the radiator to its frame..



18.... and disconnect the frame from the radiator, removing the pillows from its holes.



19. If necessary, disconnect the electric fan assembly with the casing from the radiator (cm. «Removal and installation of the electric fan of the radiator of the engine cooling system, complete with casing»).



20. Pry off the lower radiator mounting cushions with a screwdriver..



21.... and remove them from the pins of the radiator tanks.



22. Inspect the lower radiator mounting pads, replace badly deformed or hardened pads.

23. Similarly, remove and inspect the two upper radiator mounting cushions (see note above in this subsection).

24. Rinse the outside of the radiator with a jet of water and dry. If cracks appear on the plastic tanks of the radiator, replace the radiator.

25. Check the tightness of the radiator, for which plug its pipes, supply air to the radiator at a pressure of 0.1 MPa (1 kgf/cm²) and immerse in a container of water for at least 30 seconds. Leakage of the radiator is determined by the outgoing air bubbles. If the radiator does not fit into the container as a whole, check it sequentially from all sides.

26. Install the radiator and all removed parts in the reverse order of removal.

USEFUL ADVICE: In order to further eliminate the possibility of coolant leakage, before installing the hoses, lubricate the radiator pipes with a thin layer of silicone sealant.

27. Fill in coolant and remove air plugs from the cooling system (cm. «Coolant replacement»).