Radiator Replacement Woes
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Radiator Replacement Woes
I did some searching and didn't come up with anything relevant. Strangely, I figured I would because what I am about to ask is probably pretty common.
So, our 2005 Grand Caravan started behaving as though it was going to overheat. I checked it last night when all was quiet and found a small leak in the radiator (amazing what you can hear when the kids aren't screaming). Although I have never replaced a radiator, I have done quite a bit of car work and I figured that for $150 in parts, I'd give it a whirl before I paid the guy down the block $600.
First of all, I must admit that after draining the system down, I still managed to spill about another 50 gallons of coolant all over the garage floor. Guess it's true about animals being attracted to the smell. When I left to enlist the help of my wife in getting the lower radiator hose off (damn clamp was pointing against the wheel well and was conveniently shaded by the morass of refrigerant lines, alternator, belts and whatnot), there must have been a sea of 50 or so critters outside my garage asking me if they could come in a sop up the mess. After directing them to the neighbor's open garbage cans, my wonderful bride helped me get the hose free (at which point I was treated to yet another deluge of coolant). I seriously think that the concrete in the garage is spongy. Thank you kitty litter.
So I faithfully transfer all of the old rubber shielding to the new radiator, slide it in, hook up hoses, re-install fans, yah-dah-dah. I give the new radiator a drink of coolant and fire up the engine.
Now I should mention that as long as we have owned this van, the temperature gauge always hovers faithfully just below the midpoint. With the engine idling, I check for leaks and keep an eye on the temperature gauge. As it approaches the half-way mark, the fans come on and the thermostat opens (top rad hose changes from cool to hot). All is looking good until I notice that the gauge continues to move higher. Just to check, I turn on the cabin heat and notice that I don't seem to be getting the warm air that I'd expect. As the gauge continued to rise, I decided to shut off the engine.
So, my guess is that I have air in the system which is working against the natural heat transfer. Problem is, I don't know how to get it out. My friend from Pennsylvania suggested that I remove the rad cap for the night and try again tomorrow morning. I know that some autos have bleeders for the coolant system but unless my searches have all been parsed incorrectly, the 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan does not. This leads me to ask the following:
1. How do I purge the coolant system of air?
2. Although this has nothing to do with the above, I am having a lot of trouble getting the passenger side of the AC evaporator coil to lock into the mount on the front of the radiator (the driver's side has succumbed). Any ideas about this one?
3. The animals all came back, bored and somewhat put off by the neighbors garbage. Is there a trick that I can use to get them to leave? They are milling around the garage making quite a ruckus and the neighbors are starting to complain about the coarse language.
Thanks to all in advance!
Jimmy
So, our 2005 Grand Caravan started behaving as though it was going to overheat. I checked it last night when all was quiet and found a small leak in the radiator (amazing what you can hear when the kids aren't screaming). Although I have never replaced a radiator, I have done quite a bit of car work and I figured that for $150 in parts, I'd give it a whirl before I paid the guy down the block $600.
First of all, I must admit that after draining the system down, I still managed to spill about another 50 gallons of coolant all over the garage floor. Guess it's true about animals being attracted to the smell. When I left to enlist the help of my wife in getting the lower radiator hose off (damn clamp was pointing against the wheel well and was conveniently shaded by the morass of refrigerant lines, alternator, belts and whatnot), there must have been a sea of 50 or so critters outside my garage asking me if they could come in a sop up the mess. After directing them to the neighbor's open garbage cans, my wonderful bride helped me get the hose free (at which point I was treated to yet another deluge of coolant). I seriously think that the concrete in the garage is spongy. Thank you kitty litter.
So I faithfully transfer all of the old rubber shielding to the new radiator, slide it in, hook up hoses, re-install fans, yah-dah-dah. I give the new radiator a drink of coolant and fire up the engine.
Now I should mention that as long as we have owned this van, the temperature gauge always hovers faithfully just below the midpoint. With the engine idling, I check for leaks and keep an eye on the temperature gauge. As it approaches the half-way mark, the fans come on and the thermostat opens (top rad hose changes from cool to hot). All is looking good until I notice that the gauge continues to move higher. Just to check, I turn on the cabin heat and notice that I don't seem to be getting the warm air that I'd expect. As the gauge continued to rise, I decided to shut off the engine.
So, my guess is that I have air in the system which is working against the natural heat transfer. Problem is, I don't know how to get it out. My friend from Pennsylvania suggested that I remove the rad cap for the night and try again tomorrow morning. I know that some autos have bleeders for the coolant system but unless my searches have all been parsed incorrectly, the 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan does not. This leads me to ask the following:
1. How do I purge the coolant system of air?
2. Although this has nothing to do with the above, I am having a lot of trouble getting the passenger side of the AC evaporator coil to lock into the mount on the front of the radiator (the driver's side has succumbed). Any ideas about this one?
3. The animals all came back, bored and somewhat put off by the neighbors garbage. Is there a trick that I can use to get them to leave? They are milling around the garage making quite a ruckus and the neighbors are starting to complain about the coarse language.
Thanks to all in advance!
Jimmy
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Joined: Dec 2010
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Just jack the front of the car up few inch, leave the Radiator Cap open, fill it up, fire up the car, and keep filling it as the car runs until u get heat.
As for the Animal, what type of animals? you can just shoot them and put them on your dinner table.
As for the Animal, what type of animals? you can just shoot them and put them on your dinner table.
Professional
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 206
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From: NW Arkansas
I just changed my radiator and had the same problem as you. I used a large drill bit and enlarged the hole slightly in the mount on the radiator. It then went in easily.
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Steak and Papa-
Many thanks.
I left the radiator cap off all night, went back in the morning for a test drive and the bubble had "burst," so to speak. Heat was working, engine was running fine (actually a bit cooler than before). I topped off the radiator several hours after the test drive and it's been working like a champ ever since.
Papa, nice tip. I actually took my Dremel motor out to the garage with an arrow-head grinding wheel on it. Got everything to fit nicely. Of course, when I replace the radiator the next time and it's made properly, the opening in the evaporator mounting tab will be waaay too big!
Again, thanks to both of you,
Jimmy
Many thanks.
I left the radiator cap off all night, went back in the morning for a test drive and the bubble had "burst," so to speak. Heat was working, engine was running fine (actually a bit cooler than before). I topped off the radiator several hours after the test drive and it's been working like a champ ever since.
Papa, nice tip. I actually took my Dremel motor out to the garage with an arrow-head grinding wheel on it. Got everything to fit nicely. Of course, when I replace the radiator the next time and it's made properly, the opening in the evaporator mounting tab will be waaay too big!
Again, thanks to both of you,
Jimmy