I have a 95 honda civic, its overheated twice in the last week (first time this has ever happened, was in the middle of a 45 minute drive). I checked and it appeared to be low on coolant/water so I filled it up. After the first time it ran great for a few days, no problems, then bam, overheated again. This time when I went to fill it up with more coolant it looked like it had been leaking out of the top of the radiator, near where the mesh part meets the metal at the top (i dont know shit about cars, these might have names).

Think I will need a new radiator, or is there an easy fix? And any idea on a price?

10/27/2007 12:04:07 PM

have you ever changed your water pump? you probably have cracked plastic end tanks. I would change the water pump and hoses at the same time. a new radiator should be between 75-150 depending on where you get it. you could probly jbweld it if you wanted to go the cheap route though

10/27/2007 12:52:51 PM

you need to pressure test the system to find the leak. dont replace parts for shits and giggles.

10/27/2007 1:05:36 PM

115 for a radiator from performance radiator in garner, with a two year warranty.

[Edited on October 27, 2007 at 1:36 PM. Reason : price]

10/27/2007 1:27:03 PM

Or add an egg in it...

10/27/2007 1:40:24 PM

you need to pressure test the system to find the leak. dont replace parts for shits and giggles.

10/27/2007 2:14:50 PM

looks like its clear whats wrong. from the description

10/27/2007 2:54:16 PM

Quote :

"you need to pressure test the system to find the leak. dont replace parts for shits and giggles."

Quote :

"it looked like it had been leaking out of the top of the radiator, near where the mesh part meets the metal at the top"

no need to test that, common failure, cheap and easy replacement

10/28/2007 5:05:34 PM

^Wait, so what should be replaced 69?

10/28/2007 9:43:35 PM

Replace the whole goddamn radiator. At that age, it's a common failure to have a fractured plastic end tank. I've replaced an assload of radiators like this.

BTW, that radiator is one of the easiest to replace I've ever done. And everybody and his brother's cousin's dog has that one in stock. Advance usually sells it for around 100 dolla. And I'll bet Modine or Lake Shore will have it for a correspondingly good price. Performance also has it according to slowblack96, and their price is fairly well in line, and they are off Hwy 401 in Garner.

Unless you've suffered some obvious damage from severe overheating (such as blown head gasket), the symptoms pretty clearly spell out "radiator has shit the bed."

10/28/2007 10:05:48 PM

How hard is it to replace a radiator? I'm assuming its not just pop it out and in. I have never welded or anything before and know jack shit about cars.

10/28/2007 10:47:24 PM

easy

they just float in place on rubber bushings

disconnect the hoses, take off the top nuts and lift out

installation is the reverse of removal

10/28/2007 10:50:42 PM

refer to post #4

10/28/2007 10:58:28 PM

Okay I've been reading about how to install one and it seems like something that I would probably fuck up. Whats the best way I should go about doing this, should I buy a radiator then bring it somewhere to have it installed, or should I have a place buy and install it?

^Is that price for purchase and install?

Tao Auto told me 380$, i'm not looking to pay that much, my car is a piece, I just need it to run.

10/29/2007 12:02:14 PM

a lot of places wont install parts a customer brings.

10/29/2007 12:28:38 PM

Thats what I figured. Ideally I'm looking to take care of the whole thing under 200$. Anyone know somewhere where thats possible?

10/29/2007 12:30:57 PM

My dad had thought that it could be something as simple as the radiator cap being messed up - I went and looked at it today and realized that it had popped off and was at an angle. Could this be causing it to leak badly enough to overheat this fast? Would be great if the solution was just a new radiator cap.

10/29/2007 12:46:28 PM

if its an auto, you might have a harder time because of the transmission lines.

if its 5spd. its easy. just swap it out.

dont forget to unplug the fan

10/29/2007 12:54:33 PM

It is an auto

10/29/2007 1:09:34 PM

well if you have no experience. then yeah, honestly you will have a hard time because the ring clips on the trans hose will kick your butt and you will give up and pay some one to do it.

if you are going to do it. try and get those lines disconnected first, but be careful the fluid will pour out.

you can connect them to each other, kinda confusing to explain, but it will stop the draining.

10/29/2007 1:32:33 PM

1. Drain the coolant from the petcock on the bottom of the radiator, should be a recessed phillps head plug on the passenger side.

2. Remove the two top brackets that hold the radiator in.

3. Remove the top hose.

3. Unplug the cooling fan, take out the top two bolts on it, and it should slide up out of the bottom, there may be one bolt down there, and take it all the way out.

4. Remove the bottom hose and transmission cooler lines.

5. Pull out the radiator.

6. Lay the new one next to the old one and make sure all the fittings and drain plus are tight and all the clips and whatnot are on the new on in the right places.

7. Reverse steps 5-2. Use new worm style hose clamps if they arent already on there, the spring ones dont reseal well.

8. Fill it very slowly with the engine off, gurgling is bad, it means you're going too fast. Then start the engine with the cap off, let it run until it warms up, top it off, close the cap and top off the resevoir bottle. It may push some coolant out of the filler neck when you are warming it up, thats normal as air comes out. If it starts to overheat while filling it, cut it off, let it cool and do it again, its important to get all the air pockets out or it will get too hot and do some damage.

10/29/2007 1:45:04 PM

ask ur dad to take a closer look at it instead of him just telling u what he thinks it may be. im sure he replaced a radiator or 2 in his day.

radiator replacement is very easy. just see what goes where and ull be good to go.

10/29/2007 1:47:39 PM

So turns out my radiator is shot. I don't think I would feel comfortable installing it myself if I have a better option... anyone on here know someone who can install it for cheap if i order the radiator?

11/1/2007 11:06:32 AM

You can buy it as cheaply or cheaper locally. Most places have it in stock.

11/1/2007 11:11:45 AM

Yeah I should be fine to get the radiator, I'm just worried about the install.

11/1/2007 11:15:37 AM