How to Remove the Radiator in a 96 Toyota Corolla

In 1968, Toyota released the Corolla to the U.S. market. The 1996 Corolla received its power from either a 100-horsepower, 1.6-liter engine or a 105-horsepower, 1.8-liter engine. A 50-50 mix of water and antifreeze, cooled by a radiator and fan, helped regulate the engines operating temperature. The radiator not only helps cool the antifreeze and water, but it also acts as a storage area for the mixture. When the radiator fails, you must replace it immediately to prevent overheating and potential engine damage.

Instructions

Removal

1

Loosen the negative battery cable, using a combination wrench, and pull the cable from the battery. Remove the radiator cap.

2

Raise the front of the Corolla with a floor jack and slide jack stands under the subframe. Lower the vehicle onto the jack stands and remove the floor jack.

3

Crawl under the radiator and locate the petcock -- drain plug -- and place a drain pan under the petcock. Remove the petcock by hand and allow all of the coolant to drain from the radiator. Reinstall and tighten the petcock.

4

Slide the drain pan to the lower radiator hose and slide the hose clamp down the radiator hose, using slip-joint pliers. Pull the hose from the radiator and allow the small amount of coolant to flow from the hose into the drain pan.

5

Set the drain pan under the automatic transmission lines on the base of the radiator, if your Corolla is equipped with an automatic transmission. Remove the transmission lines from the radiator using a line wrench. Wrap the open ends of the hoses with clean, lint-free cloths to prevent debris from entering the lines.

6

Position the drain pan under the upper radiator hose and slide the hose clamp down the upper hose from the radiator, using slips-joint pliers. Pull the upper radiator hose from the radiator.

7

Remove the coolant overflow hose, by sliding the hose clamp down the hose, using slip-joint pliers, and pulling the hose from the radiator neck.

8

Remove the two upper radiator bracket-to-upper radiator support bolts, using a ratchet and socket. Pull the upper radiator brackets from the radiator.

9

Trace the cooling fan wire until you locate its wiring harness. Disconnect the cooling fan wiring harness.

10

Grab the top of the radiator and pull it and the cooling fan out as one assembly.

Installation

11

Remove the four bolts securing the cooling fan to the radiator and pull the cooling fan from the radiator. Set the cooling fan on the new radiator and tighten the bolts with a ratchet and socket.

12

Transfer the rubber mounts from the bottom of the old radiator to the bottom of the new radiator. These mounts pull off by hand.

13

Set the new radiator in the engine compartment, making certain to seat the rubber mounts in the mounts on the lower radiator support beam.

14

Set the upper radiator support brackets on top of the radiator and tighten their bolts to 9 foot-pounds, using a torque wrench and socket.

15

Reinstall the transmission lines, if applicable, and tighten them with a line wrench.

16

Press the lower radiator hose onto the radiator and reposition the hose clamp to where the hose connects to the radiator, using slip-joint pliers. Repeat this step for the upper radiator hose and the coolant overflow hose.

17

Plug the wiring harness into the radiator fan. Reconnect the negative battery cable.

18

Raise the Corolla off of the jack stands, using a floor jack, and lower the Toyota to the ground.

Filling and Checking Fluids

19

Open the radiator cap and fill the radiator to the base of its filler neck with 50-50 premixed ethylene glycol (green) antifreeze.

20

Start the engine and allow it to reach operating temperature. Add coolant each time the level drops. The level drops as coolant circulates through the engine and displaces air from the system.

21

Replace the radiator cap and shut the engine down once the coolant level remains steady at the base of the filler neck for a time. Allow the engine to cool and check the level in the coolant overflow tank. Add 50-50 premixed ethylene glycol (green) antifreeze until the level reaches "Max" on the overflow bottle. In total, the Corolla holds 1.4 to 1.6 gallons of 50-50 premixed antifreeze.

22

Pull the dipstick from transmission and wipe it off with a clean, lint-free cloth. Reinsert the dipstick and remove it. Check the oil level on the dipstick is between the two notches on the "Cool" section of the dipstick.

23

Insert a funnel into the dipstick tube and add Dexron II transmission fluid until the level reaches the "Cool" section of the dipstick, if needed. Reinsert the dipstick.