Josh Posted May 29, 2011 Author Share Posted May 29, 2011 Taking that rad out is prob one of the easiest jobs on the car, refilling with coolant however can be quite good fun!! get the front of the car in the air and you can use a plastic drinks bottle to get a 'head' of water and force air out. Oh cool thanks. Hopefully going to get a runaround in the next day or so so I may have a look at removing the radiator today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dude Posted May 29, 2011 Share Posted May 29, 2011 As its manual you could almost have the rad out in the time it takes to make a cup of tea, get the bottom cowl off (2 clips) and bottom hose (1 clip), unplug fans and top hose and take the 2 clamps off, it pulls straight up and out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Posted May 29, 2011 Author Share Posted May 29, 2011 As its manual you could almost have the rad out in the time it takes to make a cup of tea, get the bottom cowl off (2 clips) and bottom hose (1 clip), unplug fans and top hose and take the 2 clamps off, it pulls straight up and out. Got to pop out and look at a runaround now then when I get back I may drain the coolant out of it (well, what's left) then have a go at removing it. Cheers Dude Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morpheus Posted May 29, 2011 Share Posted May 29, 2011 Oh cool thanks. Hopefully going to get a runaround in the next day or so so I may have a look at removing the radiator today. Deffo best get it fixed ASAP as you're at the stage where the system won't hold enough pressure to stop the coolant boiling if you use it much longer. If you need to use the car again for more than ten minute journeys, take a good 20 litres of water with you just incase it goes proper and overheats. Took me 3 hours to get 40 miles home from work one Sunday, stopping at every filling station for water and waiting for the 7MGTE to cool down enough to not blow it straight back out the filling neck. Very unfun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Posted May 29, 2011 Author Share Posted May 29, 2011 Deffo best get it fixed ASAP as you're at the stage where the system won't hold enough pressure to stop the coolant boiling if you use it much longer. If you need to use the car again for more than ten minute journeys, take a good 20 litres of water with you just incase it goes proper and overheats. Took me 3 hours to get 40 miles home from work one Sunday, stopping at every filling station for water and waiting for the 7MGTE to cool down enough to not blow it straight back out the filling neck. Very unfun. Cheers for the advice but she's staying put on the drive until she's fixed. The missus can do all the driving until I get a runaround Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imi Posted May 29, 2011 Share Posted May 29, 2011 If it is the radiator that needs to be replaced then best to get a new alloy one (Koyo, Fluidlyne or SRD). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morpheus Posted May 29, 2011 Share Posted May 29, 2011 (edited) If it is the radiator that needs to be replaced then best to get a new alloy one (Koyo, Fluidlyne or SRD). Agreed. I linked to Paul Whiffin's Koyo's earlier. Are they worth £370 compared to say, a similar alloy Japspeed for £140 though? Both quote about a 30% improvement in cooling over OE. Edited May 29, 2011 by Morpheus (see edit history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morpheus Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 So how is it going Josh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Posted May 31, 2011 Author Share Posted May 31, 2011 So how is it going Josh? I've not done anything yet. I bought a Fiesta as a daily car today so I'm going to drain the radiator probably tomorrow then remove it at the weekend. I need to sort out a replacement before then so I'm seeing what Si says then if not, I'll buy a new one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morpheus Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 Cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TubbyTwo Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 Let us know how you get on bud, just be mothodical and it will go fine. When i got my 1st MR2 turbo at 22 it was the same situation, never had a turbo car. By the time i sold it 2 years later I had pulled the engine, had the gearbox off, replace the fuel pump and had the tank off and re done all to coolant pipes, changed the rad, changed the alternator...... etc. Its really not that bad. good luck chap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 Let us know how you get on bud, just be mothodical and it will go fine. When i got my 1st MR2 turbo at 22 it was the same situation, never had a turbo car. By the time i sold it 2 years later I had pulled the engine, had the gearbox off, replace the fuel pump and had the tank off and re done all to coolant pipes, changed the rad, changed the alternator...... etc. Its really not that bad. good luck chap. Those coolant pipes are a right PITB eh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TubbyTwo Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 yep they are, i have the scared knuckles to prove it. Looked like an impossible job at the time for someone with limited knowlege but with a bit of reading and just getting stuck in I did the whole lot in a weekend. Plus it feels great to have done the work yourself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Posted June 1, 2011 Author Share Posted June 1, 2011 Let us know how you get on bud, just be mothodical and it will go fine. When i got my 1st MR2 turbo at 22 it was the same situation, never had a turbo car. By the time i sold it 2 years later I had pulled the engine, had the gearbox off, replace the fuel pump and had the tank off and re done all to coolant pipes, changed the rad, changed the alternator...... etc. Its really not that bad. good luck chap. Thanks for the encouragement. I'm determined to do any and all jobs myself on this car, mainly to learn and for the satisfaction (as you said) of doing it myself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swampy442 Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 Shame youre not closer, Id have done it for you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Posted June 1, 2011 Author Share Posted June 1, 2011 Shame youre not closer, Id have done it for you Very kind gesture but I'll give it a blast at the weekend. Now I've got a runaround it doesn't matter if it takes all weekend to do (I hope not!) so it's all good. I'm missing driving her all ready and it's only been 4 days! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TubbyTwo Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 might be worth considering refreshing the rad hoses as well while your taking it out for piece of mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marc_p Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 Don't forget I'm only 22 and this is the first car I've really done stuff to so I need to learn stuff first. Terrible excuse:d, I'm 23 and now have my entire car in pieces over the garage floor despite never touching an engine before, I teach myself as I go along. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parry_10 Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 Terrible excuse:d, I'm 23 and now have my entire car in pieces over the garage floor despite never touching an engine before, I teach myself as I go along. agreed, im 20 and I dont work in a garage- I completed my na-tt conversion with the car on axle stands outside my house and did an engine rebuild and conversion on my r33 skyline when I was 19, all I would say is do the research then get stuck in! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mplavery Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 Hi mate, i have my old OEM rad but its a TT6 import so im not 100% sure if there the same, Easy job to do mate, Just dont start cleaning stuff on your engine otherwise you wont be able to stop lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morpheus Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 (edited) Pah! That's nothing Parry! I assembled my first complete car when I was 14. Tamiya Superchamp! Still runs to this day! Edited June 1, 2011 by Morpheus (see edit history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Posted June 1, 2011 Author Share Posted June 1, 2011 Coolant has drained. How long should I leave it? It's been about an hour since I first started. Going to get the radiator out at the weekend but in the meantime, I'll look for a replacement. Cheers for the encouragement guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 Coolant has drained. How long should I leave it? It's been about an hour since I first started. Going to get the radiator out at the weekend but in the meantime, I'll look for a replacement. Cheers for the encouragement guys Doesn't need to be THAT drained, as long as you aren't worried about a little coolant on the ground or on your clothes. Should only take 10-15 mins or so to drain out. Easiest way to judge it is to stick your head under the car, if it's pouring then leave it and if it isn't then it's time to get cracking. I take it while it's draining you removed all the fixings etc ready to lift out as soon as it's empty? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Posted June 1, 2011 Author Share Posted June 1, 2011 Doesn't need to be THAT drained, as long as you aren't worried about a little coolant on the ground or on your clothes. Should only take 10-15 mins or so to drain out. Easiest way to judge it is to stick your head under the car, if it's pouring then leave it and if it isn't then it's time to get cracking. I take it while it's draining you removed all the fixings etc ready to lift out as soon as it's empty? Nope, just let it drain. I'm going to get it out at the weekend. I've not got a replacement yet so if I did it now, I'd probably rush it (and I'm off to the pub at 8!) and I'm in no rush Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Posted June 2, 2011 Author Share Posted June 2, 2011 I just removed the fan shroud and had a look at the radiator. The back of the radiator is wet in a line all the way from top to bottom about 6 inches from the drivers side of it. Going to get the radiator out on Saturday and have a look. I think I may buy a new one in case a used one splits as well 'cause I'd be in trouble if it happened away from home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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