Radiator Swap/Change with photos - request

[Lyric_Kayden]

Request - Write up with pics possible - Radiator Swap/Change

Hi everyone, I'm new to the site here and look forward to helping others and getting help myself. I'm needing to replace my radiator soon here and wondering if anyone has photos with steps showing how to? I previously owned a Land Rover and had to replace the radiator which was one hell of a job and I'm hoping the 4runner will not be such a pain. Below is information on the 4runner I have. If anyone could provide some photos or a video with steps to take I would appreciate it very much, Thanks

Year: 2004
Engine: 4.0 V6
Drive: 4x4

I think above is probably all that is really needed. Thanks

 

[radlynx]

i'm replacing my radiator too next week. I just ordered the parts which should arrive by the end of the week. i'm replacing the following it with the following brand. denso radiator, gates radiator cap, thermostat with housing and coolant (from toyota, 2 gallons).

from the book that I am reading, you will need to do the following.
1. empty the coolant thru the drain cock
2. remove the coolant reservoir
3. remove the bottom splash shield
4. remove the top hose and bottom hose
5. unscrew the top radiator support
6. remove the fan and the one attached to the fan
7. remove the fan cowl (there are some bolts you need to remove at the bottom part or tab work on to get the fan cowl removed)
8. remove the atf line hose (prepare to catch atf oil with a pan)
9. check a few more bolts to remove if it will not budge

once you have enough room and removed the bolts, you can pull the radiator up. this may not be very detailed since i'm just trying to write it from memory. you don't need to remove the bumper to accomplish this. more details are coming once i start working on it.

Hi everyone, I'm new to the site here and look forward to helping others and getting help myself. I'm needing to replace my radiator soon here and wondering if anyone has photos with steps showing how to? I previously owned a Land Rover and had to replace the radiator which was one hell of a job and I'm hoping the 4runner will not be such a pain. Below is information on the 4runner I have. If anyone could provide some photos or a video with steps to take I would appreciate it very much, Thanks

Year: 2004
Engine: 4.0 V6
Drive: 4x4

I think above is probably all that is really needed. Thanks

 

[RunnerAK]

I just replaced a leaking radiator on our V6 a few months ago. It is a really easy job if you are the least bit mechanically inclined, you only need to remove a few bolts and disconnect 4 hoses (no need to remove the fan if you are just replacing the radiator). I was able to finish the job in a few hours one evening after work.

I didn't take any pictures of the process, I just printed out the applicable pages from the service manual and followed those directions. I can post the pdf when I get home from work tonight if you don't already have it. The hardest part for me was reaching the darn coolant drains on either side of the engine block, I don't think I'd bother with that if I were to do it again, but I wanted to get all the old coolant out.

I went with a Spectra Premium radiator from Autozone, I figure it can't be worse than the OEM one which failed after less than 90k miles, and it has a lifetime warranty to boot. I also went with Zerex Asian formula coolant after much research. It is near identical in formulation to the Toyota coolant, but at a fraction of the price that the local stealership wants for the genuine stuff.

 

[Kmvreter]

I did mine a few years back. Easy.
From the FSM:

 

[Lyric_Kayden]

i'm replacing my radiator too next week. I just ordered the parts which should arrive by the end of the week. i'm replacing the following it with the following brand. denso radiator, gates radiator cap, thermostat with housing and coolant (from toyota, 2 gallons).

from the book that I am reading, you will need to do the following.
1. empty the coolant thru the drain cock
2. remove the coolant reservoir
3. remove the bottom splash shield
4. remove the top hose and bottom hose
5. unscrew the top radiator support
6. remove the fan and the one attached to the fan
7. remove the fan cowl (there are some bolts you need to remove at the bottom part or tab work on to get the fan cowl removed)
8. remove the atf line hose (prepare to catch atf oil with a pan)
9. check a few more bolts to remove if it will not budge

once you have enough room and removed the bolts, you can pull the radiator up. this may not be very detailed since i'm just trying to write it from memory. you don't need to remove the bumper to accomplish this. more details are coming once i start working on it.

Thanks for the info, I don't think the fan itself will need removing but I will keep everything noted what you've said to help out. Thanks

 

[Lyric_Kayden]

I just replaced a leaking radiator on our V6 a few months ago. It is a really easy job if you are the least bit mechanically inclined, you only need to remove a few bolts and disconnect 4 hoses (no need to remove the fan if you are just replacing the radiator). I was able to finish the job in a few hours one evening after work.

I didn't take any pictures of the process, I just printed out the applicable pages from the service manual and followed those directions. I can post the pdf when I get home from work tonight if you don't already have it. The hardest part for me was reaching the darn coolant drains on either side of the engine block, I don't think I'd bother with that if I were to do it again, but I wanted to get all the old coolant out.

I went with a Spectra Premium radiator from Autozone, I figure it can't be worse than the OEM one which failed after less than 90k miles, and it has a lifetime warranty to boot. I also went with Zerex Asian formula coolant after much research. It is near identical in formulation to the Toyota coolant, but at a fraction of the price that the local stealership wants for the genuine stuff.

Thanks for replying. I think I will be purchasing a Koyo radiator off line. I've read and heard that Koyo radiators are excellent and at one point it's what Toyota used until they switched over to their own radiators. In all honesty a radiator is just a radiator and they are all pretty much built the same - it's not rocket science. lol. Thanks for the information

 

[Lyric_Kayden]

I did mine a few years back. Easy.
From the FSM:

Thanks very much, this is better than words - not actual photos but diagram photos are sometimes better. Thanks a lot.

 

[Lyric_Kayden]

Just in case anyone is reading this thread and wondering my current mileage I am currently sitting at 162,549 and running strong

 

[radlynx]

I completed doing a radiator replacement last night including the thermostat and radiator cap. Once the radiator is removed, you have plenty of room to remove the waterpump and fan and belt and pulleys. Removing the radiator is not too difficult after all. This is so well engineered on this area. Here's a modified and more accurate way to remove your radiator. I don't have a picture so just visualize it.

1. empty the coolant thru the drain cock (make sure that engine is cool).
2. remove the coolant reservoir. (use a container to store old antifreeze and dispose properly).
3. remove the top hose connected to the radiator (secure hose away from work area)
4. remove the bottom hose connected to the waterpump.
5. remove the fasteners from the top of the radiator (use flat screwdriver to pry it up)
6. remove the fan cowl (there are some bolts you need to remove at the top part of the fan cowl and pull up and have it lean against the engine and away from the radiator)
7. remove the atf line hose (prepare to catch atf oil with a pan - plug the hose so it does not drip)
8. remove 4 bolts that's holding the radiator to the car. (see your new radiator to find out which one)
9. after removing the 4 bolts, you can pull up the radiator up. make sure the bottom radiator hose is not catching into something.
10. All the rest would be simple. You actually don't need to drain all the water out and flush it. You'll need at least 2 gallons of new antifreeze.

FYI, I got the car new and have never touched the antifreeze until at 96000 miles. antifreeze looks still okay. I took my time in cleaning up every part I remove. It's worth it thinking I have more miles to use it. Hopefully my waterpump does not leak within 2 years or so. I had to replace only the radiator since I need to get it done quickly. If I need to replace the waterpump at a later time, I guess removing the radiator is the way to go so you have enough room to unbolt stuff properly and torque it properly.