1997 Mountaineer Radiator Removal

Ford Motor Company released the Mercury Mountaineer for the 1997 model year. Ford based the Mountaineer on the same platform as the Explorer, and it was nearly identical to its Ford cousin until 2001. In 2001, a redesign separated the two, making the Mercury slightly more luxurious looking. The 1997 Mountaineer came with a 4.9-liter V-8 that produced 211 horsepower. A radiator helps keep the 4.9-liter engine's coolant at an acceptable temperature to prevent overheating. Replacing the radiator in the 1997 Mountaineer is a task for an experienced do-it-yourself mechanic.

Instructions

Remove the radiator cap from the radiator.

Raise the front of the Mountaineer with a floor jack and set jack stands beneath the frame rails. Lower the floor jack until only the jack stands support its weight.

Slide under the radiator and press a 1/8-inch rubber hose on the radiator petcock, located just under the lower radiator hose. Place the free end of the hose into a drain pan. Turn the petcock counterclockwise with a combination wrench to allow all coolant to drain from the radiator into the drain pan. Close the petcock once the flow of coolant has stopped.

Disconnect the electrical connection leading to the intake air temperature sensor, the sensor mounted in the air intake tube. Loosen the hose clamps on either side of the intake hose with a flat-head screwdriver, and remove the intake hose from the throttle body and air box.

Remove the radiator overflow hose from the radiator neck by loosening the hose clamp with a flat-head screwdriver and pulling the hose from the radiator. Push the hose aside.

Hold the fan clutch steady with a fan clutch wrench and disconnect the fan using a fan hub wrench. Notice the fan remains held in the engine compartment by the fan shroud.

Remove the two bolts securing the fan shroud to the radiator, with a ratchet and socket. Pull the fan shroud and fan blade assembly from the engine compartment.

Loosen the hose clamp securing the lower radiator hose to the radiator, using a flat-head screwdriver, and pull the hose from the radiator with a slight twisting motion. Inspect the hose for defects or severe aging and replace it as needed.

Loosen the hose clamp securing the lower radiator hose to the radiator, using a flat-head screwdriver, and pull the hose from the radiator with a twisting motion. Inspect the hose for defects or severe aging and replace it as needed.

Position the drain pan under the two transmission lines screwing into the side of the radiator and remove these lines with a line wrench. Wrap the ends of the lines with clean, lint-free cloths to prevent debris from getting into the lines.

Remove the two upper radiator bolts with a ratchet and socket. Squeeze the air-conditioning condenser retaining clips on either side of the radiator and separate the condenser from the radiator, if applicable. Pull the radiator from the engine compartment; notice the two rubber brackets the bottom of the radiator inserts into.

Set the new radiator in the engine compartment and guide the tabs on the bottom of the radiator into the two rubber brackets on the lower radiator support beam.

Guide the air-conditioning condenser back to the radiator and snap the clips into place. Tighten the two upper radiator bolts to 4 to 6 foot-pounds with a torque wrench and socket.

Remove the plastic plugs covering the transmission line holes on the new radiator, if applicable, and screw the transmission lines into their respective holes. Tighten the transmission lines with a line wrench.

Reinstall the upper and lower radiator hoses back onto the radiator and tighten the clamps with a flat-head screwdriver.

Reinsert the fan blade and fan shroud into the engine compartment, guiding the fan shroud into its lower mounts. Tighten the two upper fan shroud bolts to 4 to 6 foot-pounds with a torque wrench and socket.

Hold the fan clutch still with the fan clutch wrench and hand-tighten the fan blade assembly onto the fan clutch. Tighten the fan blade assembly with a fan hub wrench, while holding the fan clutch steady with the fan clutch wrench.

Reinstall the air intake tube on the air box and throttle body and tighten the clamps with a flat-head screwdriver. Plug the wiring harness back into the IAT sensor.

Raise the vehicle from the jack stands, using a floor jack, and remove the jack stands. Lower the Mountaineer to the ground.

Fill the radiator with 50-50 premixed coolant and start the engine. Allow it to reach operating temperature and shut it down.

Allow the engine to cool and slide the drain pan under the water pump. Loosen the hose clamps holding the heater hose to the water pump, with a flat-head screwdriver, and pull the hose from the water pump enough to release any trapped air. Plug the hose back into the water pump and tighten the hose clamp.

Add 50-50 premixed coolant to the radiator until the level is just below the top of the filler neck and close the cap. Start the engine and allow it to return to operating temperature. Stop the engine and check the coolant level, add coolant as needed until the level reaches about 1-1/2 inches below top of the filler neck. Close the radiator cap. It total, the Mountaineer's cooling system holds 3.2 gallons of coolant.

Pour the fluid from the drain pan into the empty coolant bottles and take the bottles to a used automotive recycling facility. Many auto parts stores perform this task free of charge.