What a bitch.. Changing Radiator..

[Gearheaad43]

Well the radiator on the 97 STS finally cracked..... (Passenger side up high on the side of the POS...... So got a new radiator off eBay for 98 bucks...

BUT.. Getting the dammed fans out is a BITCH **&&^^%@@@#%!!!!!

Disconnected the Top mounts, and took out the Air cleaner assy. But I could not get the dammed drviers side fan out with either hitting the : valve cover, or the trans cooler line. Grrrr. Finally I disconnected the top trans cooler line, and it came out.. .. So I've got everything ready to go.. Just waiting on the radaitor to arrive at the house. Also gonna replace the T-Stat while I'm at it...

Hell I might even change the Alternator since right now I've got a clear path from the top to access some of the bolts.......

BTW.. I preveiously thought the STS had Green coolant... WRONG.... It was RED.. so I know what that means.. Funny thing was that you could see a green ring around the coolant recovery tank when the cap was off.

I've suspected another coolant leak since a week after I had the heater hose tigtened. I could still smell a very faint odor of coolant inside the car after a long drive... Funny cause the coolant temp gauge never went past the middle mark, and there was NO indication of LOW COOLANT on the DIC.... I caught the radiator leak as I was trying to change the T-Stat and flush/replace the DEXCOOL coolant.......

[mikeay]

yea...I had to do the same thing by disconnecting trans cooler line. You might want to keep an eye open for other leaks now....When I changed my rad, I had other leaks popup, I'm thinking because the system was now pressurized properly, any weak points start to break.

[tstach]

Originally Posted by mikeay

yea...I had to do the same thing by disconnecting trans cooler line. You might want to keep an eye open for other leaks now....When I changed my rad, I had other leaks popup, I'm thinking because the system was now pressurized properly, any weak points start to break.

I think this is the same problem I'm having right now. Just replaced water pump, housing and t-stat, including all gaskets. Now I have a leak at either the crossover or one of those 2 heater pipes coming out of the back of the crossover.

Did put coolant tabs in about 3 weeks ago. However, I just got back from a 2000 mile trip to and from South Dakota. All that highway time did not appear to allow the coolant tab material to seal up anything.

Other than this and my 70-80MPH shimmy, the car is perfect.

[1999STSCresskill]

I had my radiator replaced 3 weeks ago (1999 STS). My local mechanic quoted me $550 for the job since the books says 3 hours labor ($325 for Radiator). I had considered doing it myself but thought better of it. He told me it took him 5 hours total and that he had to disconnect the AC as well. Then he tried to bang me an AC service too. I know the AC needed a charge anyway so I ended up splitting the difference with him. It doesn't seem like there are too many things that are easy to do on these cars!

[mikeay]

the two rubber hoses behind the crossover are also a pain....actually the four gaskets on the crossover are too...

[mikeay]

Originally Posted by 1999STSCresskill

It doesn't seem like there are too many things that are easy to do on these cars!

I don't think it's just these cars....any of the newer cars are like that...compact in the engine bay.

[dp102288]

Dave, good luck on the re-assembly!!

[Krashed989]

Hate to break it to you after all that but, the drivers side fan doesn't really need to come out. You can just move it so you can get the radiator out...

[mikeay]

I tried that....didn't quite work out for me....

[codewize]

LOL I did the radiator in the 93 Brougham last year.

Yeah, I removed the fans by comfortably standing between the engine and the radiator. Once the fans were out of the way I remained standing there to remove all the lines.

[iametarq]

I had to take nearly the whole damn front and apart on my Chrysler to replace the fan assembly! The caddy seems easier than that one from your description, still a pain though!

[Fredsts]

My freakin radiator cracked the other day 2 on the passenger side, I tried using that crappy permatex radiator and fuel tank repair kit but it seems to be leaking all down the seam. I see when buying a new radiator you need to specify if it has an engine coolant lines along with transmission lines. Well towards the bottom of the passenger side I have a coolant line going to my Power steering resivoir. Does the radiators without an engine cooler have a p.s. cooler?

[dp102288]

^^ Welcome new guy!

For a 98 STS I presume?

[Gearheaad43]

Originally Posted by Fredsts

Does the radiators without an engine cooler have a p.s. cooler?

Yea.. I think All the STS have the PS Cooler, I think mines got the oil cooler too... ..

Did someone mention a mechanic saying he would have to remove the A/C LINES?

NO.... I don't think it's neccessary.. the Condensor/Evap core is in front of the radiator.. you shouldn't have to touch the A/C lines... The lines you will have to disconnect from the radiator are the trans cooler lines and the Power Steering cooler lines.. That's it... I used flare nut wrenches on those fittings and they loosened without a fit.

[1999STSCresskill]

My local mechanic said he had to remove the A/C lines to get the radiator out. I think he just didn't really know what he was doing. I don't think he was trying to screw me but I also realized that he's probably not the guy who I want working on my STS.