1997 Nissan Altima radiator

[cudatat]

I need to take out old radiator and put a new one in........but I have never done it. The upper hose outlet cracked and sent antifreeze shooting in the engine bayWhat do I need to do?Will this be a difficult do it yourself project?

[Serkle K]

First, Welcome...

It's actually not that hard... Disconnect the fan assembly, and disconnect the hoses (top, side? and bottom) , as well as the resevoir (sp?), lift the fan assambely out, then the same with the radiator. Then replace the clamps, hoses, and then put it in reverse!... The directions, not the car! Refill the anti-freeze and start the car... should be good to go... I'm at work, so I dont have the Hayes (sp?) Manual infront of me, but that's pretty much how I did mine when it cracked... and I didn't have any service manuals or what not on hand... Good Luck!

[Rev_D21]

There are two brackets that clamp the assembly to the core support. Once everything else is out of the way the radiator assembly should lift out with ease.

[3Q Jay]

don't forget to disco the two transmission cooler lines at the bottom (assume AT).if you had even the slightest chance of an overheat, suggest doing an oil change and AT drain/fill also.has your thermostat ever been replaced?what about hoses?

even though you live in IA and may see cold winters, suggest no more than 35% total antifreeze. 62% DISTILLED water (flugsh all out with clear water first and drain at pipe that goes into backside of waterpump (you'll see it between the exhaust heat shield and alternator). last 3% is redline water wetter.

when you fill, loosen the bleeder bolt at the water outlet near back of head, until you see coolant starting to emerge, then tighten back up. also--keeping the filler neck as the highest point in the system during fill (read sloped driveway with rear of car lower than front) will help keep from trapped air in system.

[Rev_D21]

I have seen the Water Wetter arund and have read about it...does it actually work as they say?