How to Change the Radiator in a Jeep Cherokee

Radiators are the heart of any vehicle's cooling system. Changing the radiator in your Cherokee is necessary if it begins to leak, has heavily damaged cooling fins or becomes plugged with corrosion or other debris.

Instructions

1

Remove the negative battery terminal from the battery and set it aside so that it can not make contact with the battery. Use a wrench or socket to loosen the bolt on the terminal.

2

Position a clean bucket or drain pan below the passenger's side of the radiator, just below the drain petcock. Slide a 24-inch long section of 1/4-inch tubing onto the petcock and run the tube to the bucket.

3

Remove the radiator cap and open the petcock to drain the radiator. Be sure to catch the coolant and dispose of it properly or drop it off for recycling at an auto parts store.

4

Remove the upper and lower radiator hoses by removing the clamps with a screwdriver or hose clamp pliers if your Jeep still has the factory hose clamps on it. Remove them completely or just take them off the radiator and bend them out of the way.

5

Unplug the electric fan connector from the fan and remove the two mounting bolts at the top of the fan. Lift the fan straight up and remove it from the Jeep.

6

Remove the two mounting bolts for the fan shroud on the mechanical fan and lift the shroud so that the locking tabs at the bottom of the shroud slide out of the slots in the radiator. Slide the shroud back and over the mechanical fan.

7

Remove the cooling lines that run from the transmission to the tank on the radiator. Unscrew the lines using a wrench and move them aside so they are not in the way when you pull the radiator out of the Jeep.

8

Unbolt the mounting bolts along the top of the radiator support and remove the support. There are six bolts that run along the top; remove them using a socket or wrench.

9

Remove the two brackets that attach the air conditioning condenser to the radiator. There are two bolts located on the right and left side of the radiator that hold the bracket in place.

10

Lift the radiator out of the Jeep, being careful not to damage the A/C condenser if you have one in your Jeep. Slide the new radiator into the Jeep, inserting the alignment dowels on the bottom of the radiator into the holes in the radiator cross member.

11

Attach the A/C condenser brackets to the radiator and tighten with a wrench. Replace the mounting bracket onto the top of the radiator and insert the six mounting bolts. Tighten them using a wrench or socket, but remember that they thread into clips that were installed from the factory--do not over tighten them or they will break.

12

Insert the two transmission cooling lines into the fittings on the radiator and tighten them with a wrench. (On later models, the lines may have a disconnect that requires a tool from Jeep to remove and reconnect.)

13

Slide the fan shroud for the mechanical fan back to the radiator and drop the mounting tabs on the bottom of the shroud into the slots on the radiator. Install the two upper mounting bolts and tighten with a wrench or socket and ratchet.

14

Slide the electric fan back down into position on the radiator. Align the mounting tabs on the bottom of the shroud into the slots in the radiator. Insert the two mounting bolts and tighten them with a wrench or socket and ratchet. Plug in the electrical connector for the fan.

15

Reinstall the upper and lower radiator hoses onto the radiator and tighten the hose clamps with a screwdriver. If you are using factory clamps, use a pair of pliers to squeeze the tangs together and slide the clamp into position. Release the pressure on the tangs to tighten the clamps.

16

Reinstall the negative battery cable onto the battery. Fill the radiator with coolant and test run the engine. You may need to add more coolant once the thermostat opens, so keep checking it until the entire system is full.