Replacing radiator in 97 Accord (any tips)

Just looked at radiator barn site and they have 2 options, 1 has a
plastic tank with aluminum core and the other brass tank with copper
core - the aluminum plastic is slightly more money - which is better.

A couple of things - had a local garage change my 97 accord's radiator
last summer. They used Bumper to Bumper - first 2 radiators had holes
- #3 was lucky - no holes Hecho in Mexico. Watched the tech - some of
the hoses were a real PITA to get off. Also he did not reconnect the
AC and it did not work - figured that out. ALso the garage manager
stole one of my maps - clean out your vehicle - took everything else
out - how did know the AH manager was going on a trip to Chi that day -
that is the map he took - crooks abound.

 

With the new hoses in hand and a visual sanity check done, my son just cut
the lower hose in two with a knife. The Gordian Knot method ;-) But thinking
about it, that may have made the cross-member thing unimportant if the lower
fan bolts were accessible.

Mike

 

With the new hoses in hand and a visual sanity check done, my son just cut
the lower hose in two with a knife. The Gordian Knot method ;-) But thinking
about it, that may have made the cross-member thing unimportant if the lower
fan bolts were accessible.

Mike

 

* Can anyone recommend an aftermarket radiator that installed easily
into a 94-97 Accord?

Buy a brand called Koyo. Very high quality at a reasonable price.
Practically indistinguishable from the factory, and a perfect drop in fit.
Only difference might be filler neck size requiring a different cap.
Howard

 

* Can anyone recommend an aftermarket radiator that installed easily
into a 94-97 Accord?

Buy a brand called Koyo. Very high quality at a reasonable price.
Practically indistinguishable from the factory, and a perfect drop in fit.
Only difference might be filler neck size requiring a different cap.
Howard

 

to join the chorus of radiator recommendations, i'd go nissens. very
high quality, reasonable price. they're oem manufacturer for a number
of high end euro vehicles. alleurasianautoparts.com. some of the
cheaper stuff is garbage. as research, i surfed junkyards to observe
aftermarket radiator quality. nissens was the best i found. right up
there close to the oem denso.

 

| change my 97 accord's radiator
What happened to your original radiator ? My '90 ( Toyo 60300, Japan
made ) radiator is still fine : no rust / crack ( incl cap's rubber seals ),
though by 75000 km its Mitsuba fan motor's bearing already had no
oil left [ii] 1 bolt @ bottom of fan motor's casing had rusted & jammed.

 

| change my 97 accord's radiator
What happened to your original radiator ? My '90 ( Toyo 60300, Japan
made ) radiator is still fine : no rust / crack ( incl cap's rubber seals ),
though by 75000 km its Mitsuba fan motor's bearing already had no
oil left [ii] 1 bolt @ bottom of fan motor's casing had rusted & jammed.

 

You can also do an emergency repair with household pepper.

Had a relative visiting just after the start of a long touring holiday.
Developed a hole among the fins (don't ask) and put a handful of pepper
in the radiator. Put the lid on and ran the motor.

Not too sure of the chemistry on this but I am told it's something about
the pepper circulating in the hot water, when it hits the cold air as it
exits the leak turns to a solid lump and seals the leak.

Anyway he went on the rest of his holiday and 6 months later he still
hadn't done anything to fix it. (it was not a modern car)

 

You can also do an emergency repair with household pepper.

Had a relative visiting just after the start of a long touring holiday.
Developed a hole among the fins (don't ask) and put a handful of pepper
in the radiator. Put the lid on and ran the motor.

Not too sure of the chemistry on this but I am told it's something about
the pepper circulating in the hot water, when it hits the cold air as it
exits the leak turns to a solid lump and seals the leak.

Anyway he went on the rest of his holiday and 6 months later he still
hadn't done anything to fix it. (it was not a modern car)

 

I'll hazard a guess... the Great Psychic sees a crack running from left to
right (or is it right to left... the vision is hazy) across the middle of
the flat spot on the top of the radiator where a support crosses on the
passenger side.

Anyway, that's what it was on my daughter's '93. Apparently that flat area
flexes as the radiator pressure builds and deflates, until it finally
cracks. Maybe the '97 doesn't have that spot.

Mike

 

I'll hazard a guess... the Great Psychic sees a crack running from left to
right (or is it right to left... the vision is hazy) across the middle of
the flat spot on the top of the radiator where a support crosses on the
passenger side.

Anyway, that's what it was on my daughter's '93. Apparently that flat area
flexes as the radiator pressure builds and deflates, until it finally
cracks. Maybe the '97 doesn't have that spot.

Mike

 

My 97 sprung a leak/crack from right to left or vice versa across the
top where the top connects to the fins.

When buying radiators - beware of Hecho In Mexico - took 3 tries to get
one that did not leak.

 

My 97 sprung a leak/crack from right to left or vice versa across the
top where the top connects to the fins.

When buying radiators - beware of Hecho In Mexico - took 3 tries to get
one that did not leak.