Replacing radiator in '93 626

[Lou626]

Hi all,

I've done this for my old B2200 p/u and it was easy but there is alot more under the hood of this car. It is my daughters car, has about 110,000 miles on it and a leaky radiator. The engine is a 2.5L V-6 with auto tranny. I got a replacement radiator from a recycler and it looks like the one in the car from what I can tell. hose from engine at the top passenger side, hose to engine on the bottom driver side and a smaller hose connection below the passenger side one at the bottom. Has anyone done this here and what/how long will it take (parts to remove?). I don't have the Chiltons for this car so any advice is welcome.

 

[boahx]

Hi all,

I've done this for my old B2200 p/u and it was easy but there is alot more under the hood of this car. It is my daughters car, has about 110,000 miles on it and a leaky radiator. The engine is a 2.5L V-6 with auto tranny. I got a replacement radiator from a recycler and it looks like the one in the car from what I can tell. hose from engine at the top passenger side, hose to engine on the bottom driver side and a smaller hose connection below the passenger side one at the bottom. Has anyone done this here and what/how long will it take (parts to remove?). I don't have the Chiltons for this car so any advice is welcome.

shouldn't take too long like 30 mins around there i just did mine ummm but it was mtx thou(boom05) what is chiltons? every is easy 2 take off 2 sockets vice grips & a flat head, remove the clamp from the themosat remove the 2 bolts where the brackets hold the rad in place (near the fans) then remove the hose near the pass. side & i think that's it correct me if i'm missing something here ppl thx boxxx msg me how it goes?

 

[Lou626]

It doesn't look too difficult however there's little space to work in in there so that looks to be my biggest problem. Oh, the Chiltons is a very detailed how to book of sorts that covers many different types of vehicles and production years. Like the Haines but only more detailed. I think they make one for Mazdas like the 626 as well. But it's about an additional $20.00 which I don't have at the moment. The radiator I got is a pull from a recycler because I couldn't afford a new one. I'm hoping nothing goes wrong.....will post back when it is finished but any additional info, especially from anyone who has done this on the same model/year, is very welcome. Any of those little things that I need to be aware of would be really nice. Thanks.

 

[xelderx]

if you have two smaller hoses going into the radiator...usually at the bottom...those are for the transmission. Transmission fluid runs through them to help keep it cool. Nothing that shouldn't be self-explainatory.

 

[Lou626]

Well, can't do much about this now. I should have checked into the replacement radiator a little more closely(wow) . There are two lines that come out of the one in the car on the driver side that the replacement radiator does not have connections for. Bum luck:'( . Damn I wish I had the book now!!! I told these guys everything I knew about the car. Apparently this radiator is out of a '96 as well. Well, have to wait till tomorrow to call them and find out about another replacement that actually IS for this car. I'M PISSED!!!!!!................mostly at myself for not being thorough.

 

[boahx]

well your right it's kinda tight working spaces but also removing the cooling fans help abit 626 engine bay is almost the same as my mx6, also try working on a probe's engine bay now that's a tight spot..
btw if u can score a manual it will be golden 4 u it helped me alot ppl are selling them on here & mx6.com 4 cheap good luck on finding another rad..(breakn)

 

[Lou626]

Got the right radiator. The guy said he thought I said manual transmission instead of auto. Do they make a manual tranny for the 90's 626? My wife had a 98 626 auto tranny and it didn't have the connections for the tranny lines so either he's mistaken or doesn't know squat about what he's doing. Either way, I now have the proper readiator. Will install it Saturday.

I know this threads about a radiator but does anybody know anything about recharging an air conditioning system? That's the next issue to tackle with this car.

 

[boahx]

Got the right radiator. The guy said he thought I said manual transmission instead of auto. Do they make a manual tranny for the 90's 626? My wife had a 98 626 auto tranny and it didn't have the connections for the tranny lines so either he's mistaken or doesn't know squat about what he's doing. Either way, I now have the proper readiator. Will install it Saturday.

I know this threads about a radiator but does anybody know anything about recharging an air conditioning system? That's the next issue to tackle with this car.

yeah pretty simple u need the a/c flow gauge with freeon & a/c oil & the a/c flow gauge has a big female end so u need an adapter if u are from canada i would say parts source or ur local parts store ur looking @ over 100 bucks b/c if ur gonna do it urself u need the tools? i think crappy tire does it 4 like 40 bucks not 2 sure call them up . or u can borrow a/c flow gauge from a friend? but make sure u have both mixture gas & oil charge it @ like 35psi

 

[boahx]

these car cdn price from what i saw @ the store @ the time
flow gauge 35-60$cdn
free on gas & oil 1 of each around 30-40$ 4 both so like 20$ each
adapter 5-15$

 

[boahx]

LOU btw make sure 10000000000000000% u buy both b/c if u dont buy both & charge with freeon only u will blow ur compressor the oil soo it lubes u no
i bought my 6 & the guy didn't charge oil so now i'm drive with all windows down 4 now untill i get a new comp i think that;s problem not 100%

 

[Lou626]

First off thanks for the input. As for the radiator I got that fits, hah,....got it in and everythings looking good and I put in almost all of the fluid and find out it has several leaks at the top of the radiator so have to drain, remove, and take back for refund. 120 miles of driving to and from recycler and for nothing. The lesson: never get a radiator from a recycler. Bought a new one for around $130 and installed with no leaky leaky's. But wouldn't you have guessed it,....both transmission lines to and from radiator have tears in them that were unnoticeable until i got the engine going and notice a puddle of red fluid pooling underneath(argh). But an easy fix and Kragens gave me new hose material free of charge(mj)! And on to the next project,.....pan gaskets! Can I get an AMEN?


As for the ac, I will get the parts next month for that and thanks all for helping me out!

 

[boahx]

The lesson: never get a radiator from a recycler. Bought a new one for around $130 and installed with no leaky leaky's.

i dont fully agree with u on that 1 Lou b/c i picked up up 93 MT rad. w/ 2 fans on it still the down side 1 fan rusted away the sroud o well didn't rly need the fans anyways but 1 did come in handy u also gotta check if the rad. has white corrosion inside the tubes u dont want that!! sry 2 say but i picked up everything @ a junk yard 4 50cdn 4 all 3 pieces.. i was about 2 buy a new 1 2 Lou but it would have cost me 335cdn + 14% tax new 4 it BLAH cant c myself wasting 300 bones 4 a 15 year old car.. we already give money 2 our insur. brokers <--- Lmfao scammers! (asshole)(smash)(uhm)(screwy)(protest)(nuts):wtf:

 

[Lou626]

Well, to each his own. I did give the recycling way a try but the savings was certainly not worth the trouble and aggravation. I live in Lincoln CA and the nearest recyclers are all in Rancho Cordova. That's about a 30 mile one way trip and that one way has some of the worst traffic conditions due to the limited ways to get there. 3 round trips and the headaches of installing and removal several times does not justify the $50 or so I was saving. I don't know about stuff like radiators anyways. How many miles on the car they came from and did the owner of that car properly maintain by flushing when necessary? I knew it was a chance but it's not a chance I'll take again. But as for other parts, it will be the first place to look.

 

[Asuna]

Rads

I would never buy a second hand one for a auto car. Reason being the transmission lines run right through the radiator and if they leak they can pump pres tone and water into the transmission. Badda BANG!(deadhorse

Happened to a guy here with a escourt.