How to Replace a Radiator in a 2000 KIA Sephia
The radiator is a vital part of your minivan cooling system. It manages the engine temperature and prevents it from overheating. A malfunctioning radiator will usually leak, causing the engine to overheat, severely damaging your engine. Damage often occurs as a result of foreign objects hitting the front side of the radiator during operation. Replacing the radiator in your 2000 KIA Sephia can be a challenging task, due to the narrow access to the radiator.
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Things You'll Need
- Anti-freeze
- Distilled water
- Safety glasses
- Socket wrench set
- 15-quart recycling container
- Floor jack
- Two jack stands
Instructions
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Removal
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1
Park the minivan on a level surface, and set the parking brake. Raise the front end of the minivan, using a floor jack, and position two jack stands, firmly, underneath the frame. Lower the minivan onto the jack stands.
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2
Put on your safety glasses. Raise the hood, and disconnect both battery cables, using the socket wrench. Remove the radiator fill cap, by hand, to relieve the pressure from the radiator and hoses.
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3
Place the recycling container directly under the drain plug, to catch the released engine coolant (anti-freeze). Reach underneath the front end, and locate the drain plug bolt. The bolt is on the bottom, right side of the radiator, if you are facing the engine.
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4
Loosen the drain plug bolt, by turning it, counterclockwise, using the socket wrench. Completely empty the radiator.
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5
Disconnect the upper radiator hoses where they attach to the radiator and anti-freeze reservoir tank, by unscrewing the screw-type hose clamps. Remove the hoses by hand (twisting as you pull).
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6
Remove the pin-type connectors and mounting bolts, holding the shroud (fan safety shield) in place. Take off the shroud, and disconnect the cooling fan connections, by hand. The cooling fan should remain attached to the radiator, during the radiator removal.
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7
Take out the upper and lower radiator mounting bolts, located on the sides, using the socket wrench. Remove the radiator support tie bar, located on top of the radiator. Lift, and remove, the radiator from the engine compartment.
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8
Detach the cooling fan unit and motor from the old radiator. Compare the new and old radiators, to be sure you have the correct replacement. Attach the cooling fan unit and motor to the new radiator, using the mounting bolts.
Installation
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9
Carefully install the replaced radiator and attached cooling fan unit into the engine compartment. Secure the radiator in place, using the mounting bolts. Reinstall the radiator support tie bar to the top of the radiator, and reconnect the cooling fan electrical connection.
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10
Reattach the upper and lower radiator hoses by hand, and secure them in place with the screw-type hose clamps. Reinstall the shroud (fan safety shield), and secure it in place. Reconnect the battery cables.
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11
Raise the front end of the minivan, using the floor jack. Remove both jack stands, and lower the minivan to the ground.
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12
Start the engine, and fill the new radiator with a 55/45 mixture of anti-freeze and distilled water. Allow the engine to run for several minutes with the radiator cap off, to bleed out any trapped air within the cooling system. Replace the radiator cap, by hand, and check for leaks at the hose connections.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Most automotive stores will dispose used anti-freeze, if it is properly delivered in an environmentally safe container.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit radiator humor image by John Sfondilias from Fotolia.com
