So, my GF's dad has this Accord LX. four cylinder and 5 speed manual, basically stock, but it's pretty gutsy for what it is in my opinion, especially considering it has well over 200k on it, I think about 220k... regardless I've taken a liking to it.

Anyway, it sprung a leak a couple weeks back, and after some stop-leek stuff it worked fine, but this week it'll shoot coolant from the front (radiator I'm sure) and other times it won't. I'm not sure what's causing this, but I think a new radiator, hoses and clamps will fix it.

He'd like to take it to a shop, but I think it'd be pretty simple (I just did a radiator+water pump+tstat on my Jeep, and have done a radiator on a Grand Am I used to have) but he's intimidated by the AC lines and such. Besides, it'd save him a lot of $$$ as shops will happily rape a wallet to their heart's extent.

I figure if he's not going to have them pump it full of R12 to have the refridgerant evacuated and then remove any lines in the way... but chances are good the reefer lines will only be an inconvenience that won't need such drastic actions! I'd rather not hack up something for the heck of it, either. I don't care much for that type of repair.

Well, to keep this from becoming a novel, if you have any advice or pics of anything helpful, feel free to post.
Thanks,
Matt

 

Are you talking about the radiator, or condenser? The radiator does not have a/c lines running into it. But either way, a radiator swap can be done on a saturday. Pretty simple and straight forward. I am not sure about the water pump, have not done it on that car, but the rad, rad hoses, t-stat, and rad. cap would be a good call, I mean it is not going to hurt considering its leaking haha.

 

R12 is the refrigerant for AC .... not coolant in the radiator.

So is it R12 Freon or actual coolant from the radiator? If you're talking about the freon then it's possible it could be the pressure relief valve on the front of the AC compressor, which would leak fluid down the front onto the front cross beam and onto the ground. That's like a $12 part and is easily fixed. Just unscrew it and screw in a replacement - done. Refill the lines and you're good.

 

Yeah, and if it is a refrigerant leak, you might as well just do a retro fit, and go ahead and put R-134a in there with a retrofit kit.

 

it's the radiator that needs replaced... sorry for the confusion.

the AC lines running near/around the radiator intimidate him and he thinks they'll make it difficult. Hence why I mentioned it. Are the AC lines really that in the way? I say if it's really that bad, yank the lines, but I doubt it'd come to that. The way this summer has been going (nice and cool), I doubt a 134a retrofit is in the plans. Maybe next year, but I think it leaked down just over time.

I'm not sure if his Accord needs a water pump, but I think the rad-hoses-tstat would be good. Even now, if the gauge reads accurate, it's not overheating, it's just somewhere in the middle of the 'ok' range, whatever temperature that is, I'm assuming around 180*F.

 

No, there is no reason to be taking off a/c lines. Just one big hassle to deal with. And cause it is not an auto trans, there is even less to do- lack there of for a trans cooler. I mean you could easily knock this out in a a few hours.

 

I just replaced the rad in a 1992 accord. I got mine at orilley(109),dealer wanted (314). Where did you get yours and what did it cost?

 

correct me if im wrong but even auto trannys on the accord dont have a trans cooler, theres tranny lines that run to the radiator though.

 

No, you're right, I meant it as the radiator has the auto trans cooler built in, and you have to disconnect those lines to replace the radiator.

Good call though! Haha.