1992 Dakota 3.9 auto
Radiator is shot so I ordered a new one, will pick it up tomorrow morning. Went ahead and started removing the old radiator. All was fine until I had to disconnect the oil cooler lines from the bottom of the radiator, they will not budge. According to the manual, the hose clamp should be loosened and hose should come off....not happening. Any suggestions, am I doing something wrong? I don't think they were ever removed at all.

 

Get out your box cutter and slice the ends lengthwise where it covers the metal tube...
Old hoses tend to stick tight after 15 years or so....

 

BTW, if you have an external tranny cooler, it will likely be between the AC condensor and the radiator, so while you have the radiator out, replace the rubber hoses going to the external cooler at the same time....
Likewise any other rubber hoses/parts that look old...

 

Thanks bill55az. I just cut the hoses at the end of the fitting going into the bottom of the radiator. The return line had enough slack that I could still connect to the new radiator. The other line I had to cut midway, insert a hose connector and a new piece of hose. My local NAPA store suggested that btw, worked like a charm. So I replaced the radiator, installed new hoses, thermostat and finally filled it with antifreeze. Didn't see one leak anywhere...I shall keep a close eye on it.