Remove the radiator for cleaning, checking and replacing
We install the car on a lift or a viewing ditch
We remove the radiator fan (see the article - How to remove the radiator fan of a Nissan Almera car)
We remove the front bumper and its amplifier (article - Removing the bumpers of a Nissan Almera car)
To gain access to the radiator mount, you need to remove the two side plastic radiator deflectors.
Each deflector is attached with four clips: one clip to the upper plastic deflector of the radiator and condenser, the other clip to the upper cross member of the radiator frame and two clips to the cross beam.
Using the Torx T-30 wrench, unscrew the retainer of the piston securing the right deflector to the upper deflector
Remove the piston with lock
We also remove the piston for fastening the right deflector to the upper cross member of the radiator frame
On the inside of the transverse beam with a Torx T-30 wrench, unscrew the retainer of the cap of the upper fastening of the deflector to the beam
Remove the piston with lock
We also take out the piston with the retainer of the lower deflector attachment to the cross beam
Remove the right deflector
Also remove the left deflector
We substitute a container for draining the coolant under the pipe of the left radiator tank.
With sliding pliers, we compress the ends of the clamp for fastening the outlet hose of the radiator and slide the clamp along the hose
We move the hose from the pipe of the left radiator tank, draining the coolant into the container.
To remove the air conditioner condenser without disconnecting the refrigerant inlet and outlet pipe
On the right side of the radiator, with a screwdriver, press the retainer of the holder (made on the radiator tank) of the upper bracket of the condenser and lift the right side of the condenser so that the retainer remains pressed
We perform the same operation on the left radiator tank and lift the condenser, removing its brackets (two upper and two lower) from the holders on the radiator tanks
Carefully, so as not to damage the condenser and its tubes, lower the condenser to the floor and fix it.
With sliding pliers, we compress the ends of the clamp for attaching the radiator inlet hose and, by sliding the clamp along the hose, remove the radiator inlet hose from the pipe of the right radiator tank
If it was not possible to disconnect the hose from the nozzle (the nozzle is in a hard-to-reach place), then you can disconnect the upper end of the hose from the nozzle of the thermostat cover.
On the right side, with a 10 head, unscrew the bolt of the bracket for the upper radiator mount
Remove the bracket from the radiator pin
We also remove the upper radiator mounting bracket on the left side.
We raise the radiator, removing the two pins of its lower mounting from the rubber pads inserted into the holes of the front suspension subframe
Remove the radiator down
We check the tightness of the radiator in a bath of water.
Having plugged the radiator pipes with wooden plugs, we supply compressed air to it through one of the plugs at a pressure of about 0.1 MPa (1 kgf / cm 2) and lower the radiator into a bath of water, not less than for 30 s.
There should be no air bubbles. We replace the leaky radiator with a new one.
Install the radiator in reverse order.
If necessary, replace the rubber pads of the lower radiator mounting with new ones.
Fill the coolant into the cooling system and bring the liquid level in the expansion tank to normal.