The radiator is one of the most important components of the cooling system for your Dodge Caravan or any other vehicle. There can be a number of reasons why you might need to remove the radiator, whether it's to clean it, replace it, or for access to other components within the cooling system or engine compartment. When installing a new radiator or the old one back in a Caravan, it's important to make sure all connections are secure with no leaks.
Instructions
Removal
- 1
Disconnect the van's negative battery cable, then drain the engine coolant into a large container, unscrewing and removing the drain fitting at the radiator bottom.
2Unscrew the fasteners for the air cleaner resonator that covers the cleaner assembly, and lift it off.
3Pull off the rubber coolant reservoir hose from the coolant filler neck, then disconnect the fan connector at the left end of the fan module. Unscrew and remove the coolant reservoir and radiator retaining screws from the crossmember with a screwdriver and disconnect the engine block heater's wire.
4Remove the crossmember for the upper radiator closure panel. Loosen the clamps for the air cleaner's two halves, remove the housing's left side, lift out the cleaner element and then unbolt and remove the lower cleaner housing.
5Disconnect the lines to the transmission oil cooler and plug the lines with tape or rubber. Loosen the hose clamps with pliers and detach the radiator's upper and lower coolant hoses. Remove the fan module's lower clip.
6Remove the four fasteners connecting the radiator to the condenser with a wrench and then separate the two components. Remove the bracket to the air conditioner filter/drier, along with the nuts on the drier and the bolts on the fan module.
7Lift the radiator out of the engine, making sure you don't damage the the water fins or the cooling tubes or spill engine coolant on the car paint.
Installation
- 8
Install the radiator in position, making sure the air seals are in position and the radiator is seated on the lower isolators. Connect the air conditioning filer/drier with its bracket and connect the condenser to the radiator with their fasteners.
9Reconnect the coolant hoses with their clamps followed by the oil cooler lines.
10Reinstall the air cleaner assembly, starting with the lower housing, the cleaner element and then the left housing. Reconnect the upper crossmember with its retaining screws, including the one for the coolant reservoir.
11Connect the fans back onto the connector at the fan module's left side and reconnect the reservoir hose to the coolant filler neck.
12Place the air cleaner resonator back on the assembly with its screws.
13Refill the engine coolant at the filler neck. If the old coolant is dirty, dispose of it properly and fill the radiator with a fresh mix of water and antifreeze.
