Radiator / fan removal

[itiejim]

Hi folks,

can anyone help me on how to remove the cooling fans and possibly the radiator? I can see that there are a couple of bolts holding the fan shroud on the top but can't see what's holding it on at the bottom.

I'm trying to locate what is (hopefully) a small leak. As there is a little water pooling underneath the rad and I really want to examine it properly.

[SimonSparrow]

From memory the bolts are at the top, the bottom of the radiator is on little 'pegs' and lifts off (skinned knuckles notwithstanding....) relatively easily.

[itiejim]

Thanks Simon - so I'd be as well to remove the rad with the fans attached and then split them?

[Brummmie]

Yes, bolts will be rusted solid and will snap off.

[volospian]

My fan bolts undid absolutely fine... not that it's any help as the fans are attached via the same number of bolts in the bottom of the rad, which you can't access without the rad out anyway, so the only option you have is to take the whole lot off as one unit.

[trackcar]

What you need to do is be able to pull the fan shroud forwards so you can look at if it's edge has worn through the rad fins.

You only need to remove the larger nearside fan, this is held onto the shroud by 4 bolts, however the bolts are not bolted through holes in the fan itself, the fan attaches to the bolts in a bayonet fashion, what this means is that with the bolts slackened the big fan can be rotated slightly and removed from it's shroud. Unless some unhelpful soul has tightened all 4 bolts tight only the top 2 bolts should need undoing, the bottom 2 bolts will be only just tight enough to keep the fan in place but loose enough for you to be able to rotate the fan off them i.e. you shouldnt actually have to access the bottom fan bolts, which is handy because they're nigh on impossible to get to (hope this is making sense)

Once the big fan is out of the way you can undo the bolts holding the shroud to the top of the radiator and pull it forwards .. now by looking through the hole where the fan used to be, and also down from the top (if you can pull the shroud forward enough) you should be able to see if the shroud has been touching the rad fins as they will no longer be black but shiny brass colour. You can also see if the other shroud is touching the rad fins as well without actually having to remove it.

If you see any hint of shiny brass the chances are you will have a small hole there as the fins are incredibly thin metal, it doesn't take much to wear through.

If you can't see any obvious signs then try and look for traces of blue/green antifreeze staining which might give you clue as to where any leak is .. to be completely sure you need to remove the rad ( a bit of a PITA to lift it out if you're on your own .. get help for that bit to avoid damaging your inner wings) but in 99% of cases you will see evidence of the leak by pulling that nearside shroud forwards.

Edited by trackcar on Thursday 22 January 12:10

[Storer]

How difficult is it to remove the bonnet? It would make working in the radiator area much easier but is it a bugg*r to refit properly.

[itsallyellow]

Removal of the bonnet is easy enough.

Just the two bolts at the front.

Mike

[JensenA]

itsallyellow said:

Removal of the bonnet is easy enough.

Just the two bolts at the front.

Mike

Or the 4 x M8 bolts that you access from the 'mouth' of the car, 2 each side. at the top of each side od the mouth.

[itiejim]

Thanks to those of you who helped me with this one - a brief update.

I have found my minor leak without nedd to pull the rad - one of the welds around the short pipes between the water rail and the head had developed a tiny crack - hard to find but definately the cause of my problems!

Thanks!