How Do I Replace a Radiator In a 1993 GMC Safari?

The radiator is generally recognized as the largest, most important component of your vehicle's cooling system. If the radiator in your GMC Safari van is leaking coolant or otherwise damaged, you need to replace it before the van suffers from overheating. On older models like the 1993 Safari, you won't have to deal with removing other components like the air cleaner or cooling fan to access the radiator.

Instructions

Disconnect the van's negative battery cable.

Place a large container under the radiator and connect a 3/8-inch hose to the drain fitting. Twist open the tab-like fitting and drain the engine coolant into the container.

Mark the position of the hood latch to the radiator support with a felt pen. Pry out the cable housing from the latch with a screwdriver and detach the cable, then unbolt and remove the latch from the radiator support.

Loosen the hose clamps for both radiator hoses with pliers and disconnect the hoses from the radiator. Disconnect any hoses or wires connected to the upper fan shroud, remove the shroud's bolts with a wrench and remove the shroud.

Disconnect the oil cooler lines from the radiator; this includes the transmission oil lines if the van uses automatic transmission.

Remove all bolts for the radiator, including the bolts that secure it to the air conditioning condenser and the lower fan shroud, and remove the radiator from the engine.

Insert the replacement radiator into the engine and apply all its mounting bolts.

Connect the oil cooler lines and radiator hoses to the radiator with their clamps as needed.

Reconnect and bolt the upper fan shroud.

Bolt the hood latch into place using the pen marks as a guide and connect the cable to the latch.

Fill the radiator at the filler neck with a 50/50 mix of ethylene glycol-based antifreeze--it is colored green--and water.

Inspect the levels of the engine oil and transmission fluid with their dipsticks and add extra fluid if needed.