Radiator Replacement on 2003 Vue?

[grwilli2]

Good evening folks,

It looks like I am going end up replacing the radiator in my wife's 2003 VUE. I searched the forums for a while, and did not see anything on the topic that jumped out at me. Any procedures, tips, or tricks from those who have done this before me would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
-Gregg
:us:

[grwilli2]

I was in a hurry for this, so I just start tearing into it. I am posting it here for documentation purposes, so that someone else may benefit later.

DISCLAIMER : I am typing these instructions several hours after doing the actual work. The instructions are as detailed as I can remember, but may not be 100% accurate.

Tools required

1 Phillips head screw driver to get at the battery
1-2 small regular head screw drivers for prying pins out of plastic clips
7mm socket wrench to undo lower valence screws
8mm socket wrench to undo FAN and shroud assembly
13mm socket wrench to undo Radiator mounts
All sockets that I used were 1/4" drive, because nothing large was required, and the small ratchet fits in the darndest of places.
8mm open end wrench for battery terminal
1 large Vice-Grip for those annoying factory host clamps....


0.) Safety First... Open battery compartment, and Disconnect negative battery terminal.

1.) Remove wheelwell splash guards from driver and passenger side. The required tool is a small regular head screwdriver to pull the pins out of all of what I refer to as plastic clips... Because the whole front of the car is assembled with them...

2.) Remove front bumper cover.
a) one bolt with a 10mm head secures the bumper cover to the fender on each side.
b) 2 screws with 7mm heads secure the lower valence to the bumper cover on each side, as well as 2 screws on the front bottom. At this point, 3 plastic clips hold the front valence to the frame across the front, and you can take it off and set it aside. I did not actually remove it, but it would have been slightly easier later on if I would have.
c) 2 IKEA clips secure the bumper cover to the car on the bottom side.
d) 2 blatently obvious plastic clips secure the bumper cover on the top side in the center.
e) remove side marker lights that are each fastened by 1 plastic clip. Bulb assembly twists out, and you can set the lenses aside.
f) one bolt with a 10mm head secures the bumper cover at the top corners near the lights that you just removed.
g) The bumper cover rests on a small notch at each top corner where you removed the lights from. Pull up to free the bumper cover from its supporting notch.
h) At this point, I stuck my hands in the wheelwells and made sure that the plastic tabs on the end up the bumper cover would come out easily. You will want to proceed with caution, and look for any possible attachment points that slipped my mind, then pull the bumper cover forward, and set it aside.

3.) Remove each headlight assembly by taking out the two obvious bolts up top, which I think had 10mm heads. The headlight assembly rests in a spring like clip at the bottom, and can be released by pushing straigt back in the center section of the clip with a screwdriver. Undo wires (you may want to mark their positions, but I was just winging it) and set headlight assemblies aside.

4.) At this point, you should remove the Electric FAN and shroud assembly. There is a single bolt near the top of each side with an 8mm head on it, and then it simply lifts out of hooks on the radiator at the bottom. I did not actually remove it from the vehicle, but just left it sitting back there, pulled back from the radiator.

5.) Drain radiator, and disconnect hoses. Mine was a manual transmission, so there was no cooling line that would be typical of cars with automatic transmissions. Drain plug is near the bottom of the passenger side of the radiator. I did not bother to drain the engine block, but if someone reading this post knows exactly where there is a drain for that, it would be cool if you chime in...

6.) At this point, there are several platic parts still in front of the radiator for air flow and battery compartment vent. They all connet with IKEA clips, or push clips. You can remove all of them. The battery box vent pipe can be pulled directly out of the front of the battery box.

7.) A/C condender sits on the front of the Radiator. You need only unclip it from the top, and lift it out of the hooks that the bottom sits in on the radiator. I also just sort of left it dangling out of the way, because taking it off would required unneccessary work to the A/C.

8) Obvious radiator mounts are at the 2 top corners of the radiator, and each is secured to the radiator support with a single bolt with a 13mm head. These can be removed, and set aside.

9.) Carefully pull radiator out from between fan shroud, and A/C condenser, trying not to mess up all of the little fins on the condenser. Take bottom rubber mounts off of old radiator, and sit them back in the holes on lower radiator support.

10.) And now for the less verbose part that you have all been waiting for... I

Installation is the reverse of removal... Don't forget to add Antifreeze.


-Gregg

[CrewCab]

If it matters. Instead of using the radiator petcock to drain the coolant, I just remove the lower radiator hose. I loosen the clamp for the lower hose, from underneath. Then reach from the top and remove the lower hose into a drain pan. It removes the coolant pretty quick and easy. Just a personal preference for me.


I did not bother to drain the engine block, but if someone reading this post knows exactly where there is a drain for that, it would be cool if you chime in...

A drain for the block is located in the water pump housing.