Save yourself a good chunk of money. If I can do this project all by myself with absolutely no prior mechanic experience, so can you. I am on my way to becoming a bonafide Grease Monkey! 🙂
Mitsubishi Radiator cost MSRP $300. I paid $107 for an after-market radiator manufactured in Canada, not China.
Local Mitsubishi Dealer Radiator Installation labor cost $110/hour. The local dealer told me it would take them 2-3 hours to install. Total cost $330. Oh, and the dealer only installs OEM Mitsubishi radiators. Three other estimates from independent mechanics to install the radiator were $150, $160 and $180.
I saved myself a maximum of $500 doing this job myself, and the hands-on learning experience itself was priceless.
TOOLS
1. 3/8″ Ratchet with 12mm socket to remove bolts on metal plates securing radiator on top and 10mm socket to remove bolts on fans secured on radiator
2. 10mm Wrench to disconnect battery cables starting with negative (black), then positive (red) and when reconnecting positive (red), then negative (black)
3. Needle nose pliers to loosen metal clamps on hoses attached to radiator
4. Flathead screwdriver to loosen screws on clamps on hoses attached to radiator
SUPPLIES
1. Radiator: I paid $107 for an after-market radiator at Pep Boys with 30% online discount. Picked up at store with other supplies. Mitsubishi OEM radiator MSRP is $300. I called local Mitsubishi dealer and they wanted to charge me $376 for the radiator
2. Radiator funnel to pour water and coolant
3. Peak 50/50 Anti-Freeze: I checked owner’s guide and my car takes 7.4 quarts, which equals 1.8 gallons. So I rounded off and bought 2 gallons of coolant
4. Peak anti-rust sealer and protector
5. Peak Super cleaner and flush
6. 2 gallons of distilled water to flush the radiator after installation
7. 2 aluminum-baking pans 3” in height to slide under car to collect coolant and water into when I drain radiator
8. Bucket to pour coolant into from the aluminum baking pans so you can pour back into empty containers and take to local auto parts store for recycling
9. Turkey baster to suck out coolant from radiator reservoir to empty out
10. Shop rags or terry cloth towels
11. A roll of paper towels
12. WD-40 lubricant to loosen nuts and bolts on radiator and fans attached
RECOMMEND: 1) Haynes Repair Manual for your car. 2) Grease Monkey General Purpose Mechanic Gloves. 3) Lisle Spill Proof Funnel for burping the cooling system.
I would like to thank the following for their YouTube uploads:
Gilbert Arciniega (same car): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65wgH7rj9zw
Scotty Kilmer (is awesome): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dV4iNwjLav4
EricTheCarGuy (is awesome): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0myTOfrhozs
ChrisFix (is awesome): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8YZF5cW7-A
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I do 1 to 3 of these a week in the summer. 50 to 75 dollars max. Plus I vacuum bleed for air pockets then watch for both fans to cycle on and off twice. wiggle wiggle wiggle
You are awesome!
I was able to replace the radiator in a couple of hours.
Thanks,
ofcurse they pretend it is rocket science those mechanics ..so they charge us few hundred….always they say few hours labor
as a female I loved it,,,,i loved all the encouragement comments …all parts set on floor.made it clear wht to get…….and giggle giggle….I did remove once a hose it took me a bit to figure the giggle part….it was great…I loved the beer demo…also…..and ofcource the rest was good too…
http://rockauto.com/
cheap parts that are all OEM
Madam. Thank you. You just saved me so much money. Thank you. You're an angel. Thank you.
thank you for the video and the explanation as to why certain things happen, im going to replace my radiator today. and im glad i came across this video your opening is great. everyone thinks its rocket science but fear of the unknown is what stops us.
You Are Amazing.