Changing radiator

[APNess]

Since mine sprung a leak (on the driveway, which is good in lots of ways, but WTF?) I need to replace it. The trials of trying to undo wheel arch screws that haven't moved in 11 years have been overcome, the bumper is off, battery and headlights out.

What's next? The bumper carrier/bar to come off? The pipes for the radiator top and bottom obviously, probably a temperature sensor near the bottom. The four screws holding the fan cowl on so I can lift that out. What's holding the radiator in that I need to remove? Also do I need to sort out the bonnet release somehow?

I've looked for a guide and it seems there was one but the link is long dead (from 2010 I think). Haynes manual for a Golf is as vague as ever, so just need a heads up from someone whose done the job so I'm not looking for hidden screws. I will grab a picture of the front of the car as is right now and post it up if someone can point at the parts I need to remove to get to the broken rad.

Thanks for any help!

Cheers, Paul

 

[APNess]

That's where I'm at. Disconnected the top rad hose, need to jack the car up to get at the bottom but the temp sensor looks doable from the top.

The 4 bolts on either side of the thick main crash bar/bumper hanger look to hold the whole front end up (or at least after I took all out on one side and most out on the other it all wanted to drop!) so at the moment held in with a bolt on each side. Might need another pair of hands for that.

The bonnet catch looks to come out easy enough once I've wiped the accumulated crud off it.

Anything else I'm missing? The air con might be a pain in the arse but hopefully should get the old rad out/new one in without having to disturb it, will see.

Anyone know of any guides for the Leon? Like I say, searched on here but the only one I found is long dead, foreign one by the looks of it.

 

[Bigjohn84]

Hears some hear mate

 

[Bigjohn84]

http://www.vwforum.com/forums/f15/mk4-radiator-replacement-diy-51597/
http://www.pelicanparts.com/techart...nt/18-WATER-Radiator_and_Hose_Replacement.htm

 

[Bigjohn84]

https://youtu.be/m2IvmVkszWU

 

[APNess]

Ah nice one BigJohn, those should help nicely. Looks like the whole lot has to come off so I can transfer stuff from the old to the new.

Nowts ever chuffin easy/straightforward!

Thanks again for the links - been scratching my head about this and wondering whether to keep taking bits off or have taken off enough...

 

[APNess]

Got it done. Bit of a pig of a job really. There was a loose screw embedded in the engine side of the rad bottom corner that had punctured it. God knows how it got there or where it came from! Had been using the car all day and it 'popped' when i started the car up to put it in the garage.

Crappest parts of job - wheel arch screws, getting to bottom rad hose inside engine bay, losing a bolt somewhere in the bumper (will look for it tomorrow) scratching the front of the driver side wing

I would suggest giving it to a garage to sort out unless you have your own pit to work over. Forgot how much of a pain working on cars in the rain is....

 

[747_727]

That looks a massive job. Just hope my rad never goes!