How hard is it to change a radiator in a 95 lude?
I plan to change it on saturday so I need to know if its too hard and if you guys got any tips or hidden screws that are hard to see to help me out -=x

Thanks guys

 

it depends on how hard those hoses are on there, mine were a bitch! getting the radiator unbolted was cake, but you have to use a flat head screw driver to work around the inside of tho hose to get it to seperate from the radiator. just becareful if you are re using those hoses.

 

How many hoses are on there...
It'll be cool if you know the size n diameter.
May be I could get some new ones to make sure everything runs good.

Thanks for the info (prelittlelude)

 

only 2 hoses , top and bottom, if your gonna get new hoses you want to get OEM or equivalent of OEM form, becasue if you try to twist and bend a collant link that is not ment to twist and bend it just kinks, you don't want you main lines kined. if you are carefull li think the hoses should be fine as long as the y aren't cracking or getting squishy

 

They arent cracking but you can squeeze them pretty good...
Where would they sell me the hoses Napa, Kragen?

 

how many miles are on your car? when i say squishy i mean like you can practically rip them the rubber is so borken down. i did mine at 120k and they still seamed fine i just got them cuz i know someone at honda and i was placing a large (discounted) order. but i think the hoses should be ok. also whatkind of cliamte do you live in?

 

My car has 113k and I live in North California Valley hot as hell in the summer n it gets kinda cold in the winter...

 

just wiggle it around, it's not that hard to change by yourself, but do ask a friend to give you a hand doesnt hurt...
i changed mine just about the same mileage you have... yea... flush it while you're at it too

 

yeah well i did mine at alittle over 120k and i think the hoses were the originals, mine had been on so long they "fused" with the plastic on the radiator , so it took running a flat head all the way around to get them off. maybe youll e lucky like milehigh said and just wiggle them off. but yeah a friend can help. i think your hoses are ok , as long as you don't see cracks or hear them "riping" when you take them off. i heard mine kind of ripping, the thread inside the rubber was breaking.

 

its not a bad job, i did mine in a few hours, change the hoses they are cheap maitnence, i got mine from napa, then you can just cut the old ones to get it out. Oh and if its an automatic (i hope not) you will have two metal lines for the tranny cooler

 

Thanks for the help guys.
What do you mean by flushing it (MileHigh)?

 

Go to a local auto parts store. Tell them you want both hoses. Costs like $15 for both. Make sure you put the bottom one on before you drop the new one in. Much easier than doing it when it's in. Not too much room. Ask them at the parts store for some flush. Directions are right on the bottle. I would flush it out with just water before you connect the new radiator so any crap in the system doesn't go into the new one.

 

Thanks alot

 

Ya it's an easy job - I knew crap about my car and did it pretty quick. Do you have a helm's book or something because when you flush out the old coolant you might as well flush it out of the block as well - there's a bolt on the rear of the block - up and to the left of the oil filter. I never did get mine off though - broke my 12mm wrench :*( If you can't get to it, just run some distilled water through the system (with the radiator plug open and car running) to try to flush all the coolant out.
Also make sure you have some good needle nose pliers or something because the hose clamps are a bitch to open :\

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by VTECRaZeR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Thanks for the help guys.
What do you mean by flushing it (MileHigh)?
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when u replace your radiator... you should drain all the coolant out from the old radiator... replace coolant with all fresh water while the engine is running until normal temp or when the thermostat kicks on... then let it cool, then replace your radiator - put the new one in, flush it again with water just to make sure it's clean in the inside, then after that you just fill in with like 50/50 coolant...

umm... go to auto zone and buy the "radiator flush" stuff, read the instruction ... and follow that, i think i might left out something...
good luck