Recommend, replace radiator my self or pay to have it done?

Question

I have a 91 integra GS. i need to replace the radiator. i know my way around cars but have never done anything this intricate. or so all the tubes look. it's 500 dollars to have it done and haolf that to do it myself. i'm just curious if anyone has done anything like tat. is it easier than it looks?

Answer 1

you sound pretty handy, i would pick up a haynes manual just to guide you thru it and to make sure it actually can come out from the top and does not need to be on a lift....

Answer 2

If you can change pads on brakes, you can do a radiator. Not hard. Just a matter of an upper and lower hose and then some bolts to hold it all in place.

Best is to hit up an auto parts store and get a Haynes manual for your year and make. It will walk you through any step of repair on the car, even rebuilding the engine. Be the best $25 you'll ever spend.

I would also look around, I am sure you can get it for lower than $250.

Figure take you no more than 2 hours max and that would be reading through the Haynes manual as you work. Scale of 1 to 10, 3 or 4.

Answer 3

I've done this myself, and it's not difficult if you're mechanically inclined. You do have to drain coolant, remove the hoses, and might have to disconnect oil cooler or transmission cooler lines (if this car has them). You'll also have to take off the upper fan shroud at the least, in order to lift the radiator out.

If it sounds too daunting, either get a friend to help you or pay to have it done.

Answer 4

It's not bad, you might have to take the shroud out around the fan, and possibly the fan too, theres just two hoses, and maybe two transmission cooler lines, if it's automatic, and 4 bolts that hold it in. Have a drain pan for the antifreeze, a few rags, and ofcourse the tools and you should be good to go.

Answer 5

Yes I have a 90 gs Its simple I got mine from www.speedycarparts.com for 120.00 free shipping comes with everything to mount very simple remove hoses, fans, if automatic remove trans coolant lines, if stick you don't have to worry about that put radiator in hook up hoses put fans back on fill with coolant let run till air bubbles are gone top off coolant till full look for leaks and your finished in lest than an hour. Give it a try and save your money for a turbo.

Answer 6

Radiators are alot easier than they look, you can replace it. Just 4-8 bolts and 2 hoses.

Answer 7

Replacing the radiator is one of the easier things you can do on a car.

Answer 8

What could you have other than upper and lower radiator hose, transmission cooler lines and an overflow tube.

You may have to unhook the fan shroud and remove the upper radiator support bracket.

Do it yourself for 250.

Answer 9

i own a repair shop and that's one of the easier jobs on a vehicle to do ,and if you have a good repair manual on it that's going to make it a lot easier to do ,this isn't a bad job to do if you,ll take your time with it and don't get in a hurry ,you can do this ,you just have to make sure you tighten everything back up real good,other than that its not a bad job at all to do on those,if you buy a repair manual make sure its a Haynes repair manual ,there the best for any mechanic to use ,they cover a lot of jobs in their manuals,and this is one of them ,but i think you could do this ,good luck with it hope this helps.

Answer 10

it is a pretty easy repair if you have any automotive knowledge just mark the hoses and where they connect to old radiator for use as reference when reattching them use either numbers or different colored markers mark mounting bolts and nuts the same way. and this should be a simple repair