Radiator failures are a common problem as cars get older. The radiator in your 1995 Saturn SC2 is a straightforward replacement, but you'll need to do some work underneath the vehicle, as the radiator isn't mounted entirely from above, like it is in many cars. Expect to spend about an hour performing the swap. You'll need at least seven quarts of coolant to refill the system. Purchase two gallons of pre-mix or one gallon of antifreeze.
Instructions
- 1
Open the cap on the coolant tank. Place a drain pan below the radiator and remove the plug on the bottom to drain the coolant.
2Unbolt the air cleaner assembly and move it out of the way. It is in the center of the engine compartment, at the front edge. You may need to disconnect the air hose from it to make room.
3Disconnect the upper radiator hose. Squeeze the tabs on the clamp with a pair of pliers to loosen it. If your model has an automatic transmission, you will need to use a wrench to remove the upper transmission oil line from the radiator.
4Unbolt the cooling fan assembly from the radiator and disconnect the lower radiator hose.
5Lift the front of the vehicle and support it on a pair of jack stands. The lift points are just behind the front wheels, where the body panel is attached to the undercarriage. Unbolt and remove the splash shield under the radiator.
6Disconnect the lower oil cooler line if your car has an automatic transmission. Remove the two bolts that attach the condenser bracket to radiator. Suspend the condenser out of the way with a piece of wire.
7Remove the nuts and brackets that hold the top of the radiator in place. Remove the radiator from the vehicle. Install the replacement radiator following the reverse procedure.
8Fill the coolant tank to the cold line. Run the engine with the cap off to bleed air from the system. Add coolant if necessary.
