5point9Limited

Coolant was being spewed all over my motor. I drove it for 800 miles like this because it wasn't too bad.



Bought a new one on Ebay $108 shipped.


Here is the crack...common place on these cars.




I put my car up on jack stands for more room to work.

Remove the plastic cover under the car with a 10mm socket.

Start by removing the petcock (be sure you have a catch pan)
and let her drain (removing the cap helps it drain faster).

You can also start removing the bottom fan shroud bolts (rusty in this picture four on the bottom and four up top) 10mm.




MAKE SURE your old radiator cap is the same as the new radiator. Mine wasn't it was the same as a 2001 Accord coupe V6. I had to buy a new one at Schlepp Boys.

Remove all hoses underneath and disconnect the one electrical clip.


Be ready with your catch pad because the transmission lines will leak!


Remove the top brackets, top rad hose, and the 4 10mm bolts. Get a friend to lift the radiator out while you are underneath finagling the radiator up and out.



Transfer any fittings such as the temp sensor.
OLD

NEW


Install is reverse of removal.

Make sure you bleed the system by opening up the bleeder valve on top of the Thermostat housing. Fill the radiator until the coolant comes out of the top and out of the bleeder.



If you have air in the system, the car will overheat and you will have no heat.

Good luck!

meazz1

Very informative DIY.
Great job.

There are two bleed valves, did you have to loosen both?
You need to wash the engine and wax it afterward.

5point9Limited

Why thank you!

I only did the bleeder valve shown, I did not know there were 2! The motor got a wash when I finished. I may go wax it now. She is still in nice shape!
This is how I like her:

meazz1

Man, that's a very clean engine bay.

How do you make it shine? Have you waxed it? How did you do it? I can never get mine looking so shiney!!!

5point9Limited

Ha, thanks. I used wheel acid, its purple and you must be very careful with it. I used it on the intake runners and the valve cover only. I washed the rest with purple power/super clean. Then hit it with a Son of a Gun type product and let it bake in the sun.

vas25tl

Damn, that's clean. Nice work

andrew070489

nice write up! my radiator is new, but im sure ill need this down the road. nice car

bigwerm187

dam dude very clean as motor how the hell you get it that clean..lol... ive being trying to get my motor htat clean..lol... very good job keep it up dude.lol

TLin401

Does the transmission leak all the time when you replace the transmission?

u2vex

1. Is this the same procedure for the 3.2?

2. Does the tranny fluid leak out constant or just a little and stop?

3. Is it better to just unbolt the fans and leave em put, or take em out together with the rad?

TLin401

1. Yes

2. Just a little by little and then it stops.

3. They are attached to the radiator and will come out with the radiator.

Mandy

Nice clean engine bay!!!! Like it a lot!

5point9Limited

Thanks! Doused it with WD40 for the salty winter months.

tmnhs81

I need a new radiator asap. Just found a hairline crack in it and coolant is leaking. Any recommended brand or website. I need to order it as soon as I can.

desired_speeds

its about time. ha. radiatorbarn.com It should come out to be just under $140 shipped. Art and I are both running radiators from there.

tmnhs81

Thanks for the link. it says $103.13 shipped..

TLin401

I wish I knew about that site last year when I needed a radiator.

I paid $250 for mine installed.

desired_speeds

damn even better...

tmnhs81

Do I also need a new cap?

desired_speeds

no, but mine happened to fall apart when I did the radiator so I had to replace it anyways. ohh yea, DO NOT buy a Murrays radiator cap if you decide to buy a new one. NEVER buy a Murrays anything

Go90go

^ He knows, haha. I've already ingrained that into his brain.

~Cheers~

johnnyboy25

Can you list the tools used? I may be doing this tomorrow.

tmnhs81

You are gonna need a 10mm socket/rachet, a set of pliers, screw driver(philips and flat head), few rags, catch pan to collect old coolant. I forgot the size of wrench you need to take off the coolant temp sensor... Thats what I can think of now....

johnnyboy25

Replacement radiator in with no problems...thanks for the help and informative posts! Oh and to add to the list of tools above you will need a 12mm wrench for the bleed nut.

tmnhs81

yea, I forgot that one... Good to hear it worked out for you...

desired_speeds

YOU ingrained that into my brain? HA! you say that but you still run a murrays thermostat. I've never used murrays anything.

TL-Ridaz96

Awesome write up. I wish I had this when I was replacing mine.

vip TL

that is one clean engine bay, what is the son of a gun product you dress it with.

TLin401

He stated above that he "doused it in WD40."

DAiNiUS

Slightly related - did anyone have their upper radiator hose (the one that goes from the radiator to the engine) rip open on them?

Go90go

Not rip, but I had a small hole appear that vented coolant pretty badly. Made it to a Kragen and replaced it immediately, though.

~Cheers~

DAiNiUS

My shit ripped wide open; like a good 3-4 inches... Got it fixed though, and I hope that it didn't mess anything else up.

Mandy

2.5 same procedure as 3.2, just confirming. I hope I do not need to do mine yet.

deej0121

I noticed that a couple of folks said they bought radiators from radiator barn. Just wanted to see what your experience was? They are a LOT cheaper than other parts stores & ACURA, at least by a factor of 2!! Have you gotten good service out of your radiators? Thanks much in advance!!

DIY-ish

Just wanted to say a great big THANK YOU to this forum. I've been here countless times to find solutions to the problems that have arisen w/ my wife's 98' 2.5 TL. I always find useful information and I know I should have registered long ago to say THANKS ... YOU GUYS ARE GR8!!

Muchos Gracias as well for the 'radiator barn' link. Got mine ordered and shipped for less than a hundred bucks.

Extra-special BIG THANKS and Muchos Gracias specifically for 5point9Limited for such a great post. You've inspired me to save some $$ and do it myself (ish ;o).

I'm planning in tackling this next Saturday... 10-6-12. I'll let you know how it goes.

Oh yeah... did I say "Thanks"?

DIY-ish

"Radiator Barn" rocks! Ordered Sunday night and UPS is delivering today (tuesday). Now I get to look at it for 4 days until making my DIY-ish attempt. Wish me luck, say a prayer, keep your fingers crossed for me. I'm gonna need all the help I can get.

Thanks again for this mucho helpful thread!

Mandy

Post your pics, good luck.

DIY-ish

Thanks Mandy. Got-er-done with just a lil' blood shed for the cause... tight tolerances for big hammy hands like mine ;o). No pics but thanks again to all who contributed to this thread.

btw... the temp sensor is 15/16.

Mandy

Nothing is worth without blood. I just did an Ipod input in my other car, scrapes and bruises and of course blood...

po_bo

This is great wright up! my 96 3.2TL just started to over heat and loose heat at idle too! got a Koyorad radiator for $120 at 1800-Radiator, is Koyorad a good brand? I'm thinking about flushing the whole cooling system, does any one know where is the engine coolant drain valve is? Thanks!