How to Replace a 1996 Toyota Camry Radiator

A new radiator is important to extend the life of an engine.

Toyota Camry has been a popular car, due to its durability, for many years. It is not uncommon for the car to provide many years and thousands of miles of service. This means the radiator may need to be replaced several times during the lifetime of a Camry. Replacing the radiator is not difficult, if the correct procedures are followed.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

things you'll need:

• Wrench set
• 3/8-inch socket set
• Screwdriver set
• Drain pan
• Teflon tape

1. • 1

     Open the hood of the car, and place a drain pan underneath the right side of the Camry radiator. Open the drain valve, and remove the radiator cap. After the radiator has drained, remove the upper and lower radiator hoses.

   • 2

     Unplug the two cooling fans that are bolted to the radiator. Remove the four upper and four lower mounting bolts that hold the fans in place. Pull both fans out, and set them aside. Loosen the lower hose clamps that secure the transmission cooler lines in place, and pull the line off of their fittings. Capture the radiator fluid in the drip pan. Unplug the wires going to the coolant sensor that is mounted in the bottom of the radiator.

   • 3

     Remove the upper radiator mounting brackets, by removing the attaching bolts with a 3/8-inch socket. Lift the brackets off, and make sure the rubber isolators are in good shape. Remove the overflow hose from the radiator neck, and lift the radiator out.

   • 4

     Remove the coolant sensor and the two, brass transmission hose fittings that will need to be reused. Clean the fittings, and wrap the threads with a small amount of Teflon tape. Install the fittings into the new radiator, and snug them into place with a wrench.

   • 5

     Install the new radiator, by placing it into the lower support brackets. Fit the mounting tabs into the lower rubber isolators, and make sure it is set, securely. Reattach the upper brackets, and bolt them into place.

   • 6

     Install the lower transmission cooler lines onto their fittings, and tighten the clamps. Install the lower radiator hose, and secure it into place. Plug the coolant sensor into the wiring harness, and reinstall the two cooling fans an plug in their connectors to the main harness. Fit the upper radiator hose into place, and tighten the clamps.

   • 7

     Fill the radiator with a 50-50 mix of water and antifreeze. Squeeze the upper and lower radiator hoses to remove as much air as possible. Install the radiator cap, and start the car. Allow it to run, until the fans begin to cycle on and off. Allow the car to cool, and add more antifreeze to make sure the radiator is full. This process purges any trapped air. Continue this process, until there is no more trapped air.

Tips & Warnings

• If the car has a lot of miles, replace the radiator cap and the two radiator hoses when the radiator is replaced. If the car is equipped with an automatic transmission, consider replacing the two transmission cooler hoses. Use hoses that are approved for hydraulic fluid use. Fuel line hoses will swell and deteriorate when exposed to hydraulic fluid.