[SILVY968]

I am about to get a new OEM radiator. I am looking for a DIY document. Clark's has a procedure for this, but I want to be sure that it is for a 968, not a 9XX.

Is it the same for all 9xx series cars? Do you have to remove the radiator from the bottom of the car? I don't know if I can get it up high enough on the jack stands. How high does it have to be off of the ground? Anyone with experience in this area?

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[Greimann]

The radiator comes out the top of the car pretty easily. If memory serves:



Drain the coolant. There is a drain screw that you can see from under the car on the bottom - aft part of the core.



Remove the Lower hose and the electrical plugs to the fans. I believe you can leave the fan assembly in place.



Up top, remove the cross bar that holds the air box and top radiator support.



Remove upper hose and connector to the fan switch.



You should be able to lift the radiator right out now.



Once out you can swap over the fan assembly and the fan switch.



The fan switch needs a 29mm deep socket.

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[Brian]

i yanked my radiator out this summer when i was working on my coolant system.



i'm no mechanic.



it was very straightforward. all work is done from the top.

start by removing the air box and the frame right under the air box.

drain all the coolant from the drain plug in the radiator (lower driver's side) - be careful with that plug, it breaks very easily! it's a messy job because there's a rail under the drain that catches coolant. you may want to cut a bit out of the rail with a dremmel.

then remove a few hoses... pull it out. it really just sits in there on a couple pins.



there's a plastic deflector that sits in front of the radiator just under the air box. it clips in place. flash told me that he had success in having a new one made up that didn't block the top 1" of the radiator. you may want to consider that, too. you'll notice it right away. i'm sure he'd be happy to talk about it with you.



clark's garage had an article on a coolant drain and fill that worked just fine for me, except that 968's don't have a coolant drain in the block itself where 944's do.

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[SILVY968]

Thanks guys!

I feel confident with this information to go ahead as soon as the radiator arrives.

Brian

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[968gene]

my $0.02...the fan assembly is deceivingly heavy and take the opportunity to change the fan switch while you are in there...maybe even the lower temp Vanagan switch.

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[SILVY968]

968 GENE,



Had the switch replaced last summer as well as the drain plug. Hoses with the radiator this time.

Good advice. Thanks

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[SILVY968]

Replaced the rad tonight. Thanks for the help. It was as you said except that I removed the fan assembly because I could not get the rad and fans to clear the belts; no big deal. A fresh shot of orange prestone and all done.

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[psuphoto]

Can I imply from the straightforward directions in this post that the Radiator Fans are even easier to replace? I noticed the temperature gauge was just a couple of millimeters higher than usual (thought it was just Florida summer) but following step one of the DIY cooling system guide, I detected only one fan is coming on when A/C switch is on and ignition key is turned. If I replace one fan, should I replace them both? what else should be replaced at the same time? How much should one fan cost? two fans? How much labor should be involved.

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[ds968]

A low temp switch seems to be a favorite item (as a replacement of the stock one ). I've had one since I bought the car and really happy with how it works. I'd check the contacts to the fan, never heard of one of those motors going bad. Oh, and just as long as you don't have to replace the radiator because it's not easy finding one any more.. don't ask me how I know <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/glare.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[flash]

removal of the fans takes me about 15 minutes, including jacking up the car and removing the front apron.

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[psuphoto]

Thanks. When I bought it in 2004, the mechanic put in a Volkswagen Sirocco low temp switch. That lowered the Temperature gauge from 10 o clock down to 8 o'clock. And until a few weeks ago, the gauge never went past 8oclock. Now it will creep up to about 8:30, maybe 8:45. Only a 968 owner would even notice that! Anyway, I'm thinking that's why my alternator is running hot, and why my charging voltage drops so quickly, therefore making the fan run slowing allowing the car to get hotter and dropping the charging voltage... etc. etc. Hard to say just how long the fan has not been working, as 1 fan seems to keep the engine reasonable cool and Florida winters are a blast in the 968. BTW as further validation of my hunch, the fan that is out, is the one that blows directly onto the alternator... I will follow the DIY post on cooling system repair to try and diagnose what's up. first thing will be to power the fan directly, see if that works. Thanks!

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[psuphoto]

@flash: does jacking the car up (in the 15 minute replacement) imply that you are accessing the fans from the bottom? working form the top, I took off the air filter and disconnected from throttle body. I'm looking at a hose, and a black bar (the length of the radiator) that seem to need to be removed to pull the fans up and out.

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[flash]

yes - no way to do anything from the top with the fans unless you plan to disconnect the radiator.

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