How to replace a radiator on a 2001 Pontiac Aztek?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Aimee B
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Aimee B

Any tips? Do you pull it from the bottom, top...Where to find an exploded view of the cooling unit?
Any help you could give would be greatly appreciated.
Step by step details.
Looked for a Chilton manual, there isn't one.
 
there should be three tubes going into your radiator. unscrew the hose clamps, slide the tubes off. there also should be two clamps towards the bottom of the radiator that clamp it down, and some vehicles have a plastic or metal shield on top of the radiator that will have to be removed. to sum it up, remove everything that is in the way, and pull it out.
 
how to replace the radiator

hello im new here. i have the same question. a girlfriend of mine took her aztek to a garage because the radiator blew internally and the tranny fluid is going into the coolant. i have never looked under the hood but they told her that the engine needs to be pulled to change the radiator..is this true?? thanx for any help
 
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Engine does not need to be pulled to remove radiator....there are numerous other steps that you must consider but all are doable by a home mechanic with basic tools. Some of the steps and some of the challenges you will face might deter you from the job. GM did not design this task to be easily performed. Do you still need a break down of the steps involved?
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I am new here and about to perform that very task. I would GREATLY appreciate a breakdown of the steps. Also, some advice as to good places online to order the new radiator.
 
It's not that hard but will take a lot of time , i replaced the ac condenser a couple months ago and took me about 5hrs, radiator would take a little less time but not much.
Drain coolant.
If I remember right you have to loosen one side of the motor mounts(dog bone things) move them out of the way.
Then remove the fan unit i think it had a couple clips and a couple bolts pull it out the top.
Remove the lines for the transmission cooler, and the two clips holding the top of the radiator in.
Then you have to search for some bolts holding the radiator to the condeser and remove them.
Pull the radiator out the top.
Put everything back together, if I remember right the hardest part was getting the condensor apart from the radiator and back together because there isn't enough room to remove them together.
I know there's a little more to it then this just been a couple months since I did it.
 
stanleybrew said:
It's not that hard but will take a lot of time , i replaced the ac condenser a couple months ago and took me about 5hrs, radiator would take a little less time but not much.
Drain coolant.
If I remember right you have to loosen one side of the motor mounts(dog bone things) move them out of the way.
Then remove the fan unit i think it had a couple clips and a couple bolts pull it out the top.
Remove the lines for the transmission cooler, and the two clips holding the top of the radiator in.
Then you have to search for some bolts holding the radiator to the condeser and remove them.
Pull the radiator out the top.
Put everything back together, if I remember right the hardest part was getting the condensor apart from the radiator and back together because there isn't enough room to remove them together.
I know there's a little more to it then this just been a couple months since I did it.
Click to expand...

I know old post, however, I am needing to replace the radiator in my 01 Aztek. All the manuals say to evacuate the A/C, disconnect the condensor lines, and remove the radiator and condensor as a unit. Can you possibly disconnect the radiator from the condensor while still in the vehicle? I see that you state that the radiator and condensor can't be removed together because not enough room. Help would be appreciated. Not much info on this process.

TommyJ
 
every source concerning this topic states they have to come out together as an assembly
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I have a 2003 aztek I need to pull the radiator my only concern is the motor mounts when I take them off the motor won't drop will it that's my main concern
 
any time you disconnect a mount you have to support the engine from below first
 
I notice in the Chilton manual for 2004 Aztek that a spring hose clamp is shown for the radiator hose clamps. I currently have stainless steel clamps that I believe are "worm" style but I'm not sure. I'm having an intermittent leak of coolent coming out from the upper radiator hose where it connects near the bleeder valve on the engine. The leak is on the underside of the hose. I've inspected the hose and clamp and both seem in fine shape. I'd like to see if a spring hose clamp may solve my problem - - where can I get some the right size and grade? My hose measures 1.72 inches diameter from the outer edges of the hose when I used a caliper to measure.

Also, is it possible to have like a pinhole leak in the hose? I cannot find any gross markings, bulges, soft or hard spots.
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I use nothing but worm clamps they can be tightened.
Have you tightened the clamp?
 
melsg5 said:
I use nothing but worm clamps they can be tightened.
Have you tightened the clamp?
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Yes, I'm not adept at the clamps but my husband came out and tightened it for me. I'm all thumbs with clamps. I feel like I need a third hand. LOL. Don't know how other people do it. He tightened it a couple weeks ago as part of the first line of troubleshooting.
 
SweetAztekMa'am! said:
Yes, I'm not adept at the clamps but my husband came out and tightened it for me. I'm all thumbs with clamps. I feel like I need a third hand. LOL. Don't know how other people do it. He tightened it a couple weeks ago as part of the first line of troubleshooting.
Click to expand...
It continues to leak after tightening?
If it does, remove it and hose, look for cracks or any substance preventing a good seal.
 
melsg5 said:
It continues to leak after tightening?
If it does, remove it and hose, look for cracks or any substance preventing a good seal.
Click to expand...
Yes, it continued to leak after tightening. It seemed fine for about 1 week, but then the same leak came back in the same area. I can see where the leak is landing and steaming/burning off of, but I cannot definitively see the actual spot where the coolant is coming out of, but by deduction it must be somewhere on the underside of the upper coolant hose near the hose clamp. My husband and I have both inspected the same hose on separate occasions - once about a month ago, and once about a week ago. I had looked on YouTube for how to know if the hose might be bad, but I didn't see any of the signs of bad hose, so I put it back on and of course asked for help clamping it just for dexterity and getting it tight enough. I think - after I start the car and the thermostat opens a few minutes later, there is a spurt or a few spurts, and then it stops. I feel like I'm never sure when it's going to be "the big one" and I'll be on the side of the road with a pillar cloud as a guide like Moses. I've ordered a new upper hose from Rock Auto and a new thermostat just for the heck of it since I've got 208,000 miles and to my knowledge the thermostat hasn't been changed in recent history if ever.
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