I want to remove the radiator from my car this weekend to clean it. It's a '96. Any hints? Is this a big job? Should a person with two left feet, no patients, and has a habit of breaking things do this job?

Thanks gang.

 

There is an excellent reference for this in the Tech Tips section of the forum. Took me a couple of hours, but it was pretty straight forward. Any novice wrench-head with the proper tools should be able to perform this in an afternoon, and the results are fantastic.

 

Removal of the radiator is easy and straightforward. The tech tips section gives excellent direction and should take 3-4 hours depending on how much needs cleaning. If you have an automatic transmission remember the transmission lines (take your time loosening them) and don't forget to add tranny fluid when you are finished.
It is my philosophy to do it once the first time. You might want to consider replacing the hoses. This is the easiest, quickest time to do it.
Remember to pack the system when you add coolant. 1-Add coolant to the radiator and start the car. 2- Get it up to operating temperature (what ever temp your thermostat is) for a few minutes and put the heat on full. 3- When the thermost opens you will see movement of the coolant. 4- add coolant. 5-Rev the engine to approx 2000-2500 rpm and hold it there. you should see the coolant level drop. 6- Keeping the engine revving, add coolant, and put the cap on. 7- You have now packed the system.
You may have to do the above steps again in a day or two due to air being trapped in the system making its way out. If you decide to change the thermostat a good trick is to dril a 1/8" hole on the base. It doesn't interfere with the operation of the thermostat, but does aid in removing trapped air in the system.

 

There's some 7mm screws (6 of them) on each side of the fan shroud that are tough to get to, a couple can be reached from underneath, if you take out the black plastic trim pieces around the air dam, and a couple from the overflow tank area (if you take it out for cleaning first), but two or three you just have to go a 1/4 turn at a time with an open ended wrench.

 

Thank you gang. I looked at the tech section but it only gives removal directions for a '88. Is the removal of the radiator the same for a '88 as it is for a '96?

 

The later C4's are more involved-significantly more from what I have read. I will find out this winter...:)

 

Its not too bad of a job.

 

The tech piece to look for is Lars Grimsrud's. It covers the '90 and up. The only thing that I would recommend is to switch the six speed nuts on the lower plenum from one half of the plenum to the other. You can then access the little 7mm bolts from the outside of the car with a nut driver. After you get started, my suggestion will become very obvious. It's not too bad of a job.


[Modified by h rocks, 7:38 PM 12/2/2001]