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Radiator Replacement Question


8thTon

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It appears I'll have to replace the radiator in my 2004, and I wondered about the automatic trans cooler. Is the trans cooler normally filled when the engine is off, and will I need to drain a significant amount out of it?

Also, any tips on removing the fan?
 
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adsm08

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Fan wrench set for the fan.

The trans cooler is filled with the engine off, but you don't loose a ton, less than a quart in most cases, because some does run back to the pan. I usually set a drain pan under it, unhook one line, and let it drip out while I do the rest of my work, and then the other line is the last thing I unhook.
 
8thTon

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Thanks! Can I get away with a strap wrench to remove the fan clutch?
 
adsm08

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Probably not, but maybe if you get lucky. The only place it would be useful is to hold the water pump pulley still and that often is done well enough by the belt.

Local parts store should have a fan wrench set in the loaner tools.
 
pacodiablo

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If you're just replacing the radiator you shouldn't have to take the fan off. Just unbolt the shroud from the radiator and slide it back over the fan out of the way.

You will lose less than half a quart most likely. It's enough to make a mess on the floor, but barely enough to even need topping off.
 
8thTon

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New Spectra Premium radiator was delivered today. Plan to put it in tomorrow, and I'm going to give it a shot without removing the fan - it does not look like a big deal.

I was confused looking at the fan removal tools, as they seemed to include a large crow's foot in addition to a (cheap) long handled (7/8"?) wrench. Anyway, it appears that is for other vehicles and I'd still need a strap wrench to hold the drive pulley. So I figured I have a long enough wrench already and if I have to remove the fan I'll improvise.
 
adsm08

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The crow's foot style wrench goes down over the bolts that hold the pump pulley to the hub to hold the whole thing still.

Then the smaller one goes on the clutch nut.
 
8thTon

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adsm08 said:
The crow's foot style wrench goes down over the bolts that hold the pump pulley to the hub to hold the whole thing still.

Then the smaller one goes on the clutch nut.
Click to expand...
Ahh - OK. I didn't see those but I will look for them when I'm in there. Hopefully I won't need to remove it, but if so I can probably make a tool.
 
8thTon

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Job is done, pretty easy if a bit messy. No need to remove the fan. Now I need a new radiator cap as it's weeping ever so slightly on the new radiator (it never ends).
 
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