Has anyone replaced a radiator in a 2nd gen neon? Is there an easy way to do it without removing the A/C condensor? I am trying to replace it now, but the condensor is really tight to the rad and I don't want to damage the new one when it goes back in. I got the old one out, But it hit on the brackets for the condensor, and put a pinhole in it. Any tips would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

ive done it....i never want to again.... its a pain in the a$$ w/o taking out the ac. i bent the out of the way... very carefully. there also 2 more bolts on the bottom of the rad. you get to them through the lower grille in the front. i took out the fans, airbox, throttle body, everything i could to give me more room.

 

brackets* sorry

 

Yes, thats exactly my story, just wondering if there were any tricks to it.

 

Sorry I can't help you with this. Can I ask what went wrong with you rad.? Only reason I ask is because there might be something else that will go wrong in the near future.

 

such as a transmission... like mine...

 

essayist way I found is to take all nuts, screws, hoses and electrical connections off, disconnect the motor mounts on passengers side (two bolts) and then pull the electric fan out, it takes some convincing, and then the radiator. It makes it easier if you pull the whole intake off too, if you really want to make it easy take the intake manifold off. Leave the AC condenser in. Then do the reverse. Took me about 2 hours too pull 2 radiators and install the "new" one (less cracked)........ Got to do it again in a few days with a new one though.


Just be nice with the radiator, its 1/2 plastic.

 

Like yours, mine and pretty much all of them.

 

Only thing wrong is either I nicked the rad when I put it in, or it was junk from the supplier. I needed a new one because the original was wrecked when the car was totaled.

 

ohhh man. thats horrible. its bad enough doing it once but twice? ouch sorry pal