Hello,

Does anyone have any tips/experiences changing out a radiator on a '95
Accord auto 4cyl EX? I was wondering if it's a job I should leave to the
professionals or do myself. Thanks for any info!!!

"PJ" <pj (AT) bigfoot (DOT) com> wrote

take the hoses off, disconnect the fan wires, pull the top brackets
and pull the assembly out. leave the fans attached to the radiator,
it's the easiest way. the lower hose can be a pain, so pull it off at
the engine. swap everything over out of the car and re-assemble.
Chip

I just had done this on my father's 95 Accord. Here's a little
advice..... You can take off the A/C fan but the other fan will need
to stay on otherwise there won't be enough clearance between the fan
and the A/C line (which I think is a design flaw). This makes taking
the bottom hose and the 2 transmission lines a real pain as you can't
get to them from over the hood of the car, and on the bottom, there is
the stabilizer bar which you only have about 2 inches between the bar
and the radiator. Expect to work on it for about 3-4 hrs depending on
how long it will take you to get the transmission clamps off (my
opinion the hardest part of the job).

Hope this helps.
Nick


On Wed, 05 May 2004 13:11:51 GMT, "PJ" <pj (AT) bigfoot (DOT) com> wrote:

It's tough on the back. I've done a radiator twice, once on a 94 Civic,
once on an 87 Accord. I spent hours leaning over the car, and using some
serious muscle to get things in and out.
Both times the thing I had the hardest time with was installing the hoses.
They just wouldn't go on! I found out on the first one that you NEED to wet
the hoses. Just a little water is enough lubrication to get them onto the
fittings.
Although on my Accord, getting my hands into a position to apply enough
force to attach the lower hose to the block still took a LONG time.
Oh yeah, and the block drain bolt on my Accord was a bitch to get at.
Fortunately there wasn't a drain bolt on the block of my Civic...at least
not one where the manual said it was, or anywhere I looked! :-)

As for if you should do it yourself, or let the pros do it, that totally
depends on how skilled you are. I mean seriously, we don't even know if you
can change your oil.
I'd rate a radiator swap as fairly simple, although pretty time consuming.
it's also worth noting that I sheered the head of the bolt for the
thermostat housing on my Accord and I had to drill out the bolt. That was
also a pain in the ass.


"PJ" <pj (AT) bigfoot (DOT) com> wrote

On Wed, 05 May 2004 13:11:51 GMT, "PJ" <pj (AT) bigfoot (DOT) com> wrote:

I see you've got some good suggestions - the thing you have to figure is
how much the A/C lines and other clutter impede removal and replacement of
the radiator and hose and whether you can get the radiator out with the fan
shrouds and bottom hose attached.

I'd suggest you replace both the top and bottom hose at the same time -
when I took my old radiator out ('92 Integra) with the bottom hose
attached, I had to bend the hose around obstructions and I could feel the
internal webbing ripping as I bent it.

Tip: jam some sheets of cardboard, cut appropriately, against the fins when
installing the new radiator to avoid gouging the nice new fins.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??

Also get 2 Sharpie markers to plug both transmission lines to avoid a
big loss of tranny fluid.

Nick

On Wed, 05 May 2004 13:11:51 GMT, "PJ" <pj (AT) bigfoot (DOT) com> wrote:

I've done a radiator replacement on a '92 EX A/T. It is pretty simple. If you
have an AT, you'll lose a little AT fluid, be sure to use the right type.

The biggest problem, on the '92 at least, is making sure that they lower
radiator house, which is very long and curved does not rub against the battery
bracket. I had to remove the radiator three months after replacing it in order
to replace the lower hose after it ruptured from rubbing against the battery
bracket.

I got my radiator at Advance Auto Parts. It cost, for the AT, last summer US
$93. I printed out their web special and they honored it at a local store here
in Northern VA.
JIMBO