Radiator / Fan Question

LJGoose · Aug 18, 2010

Hey guys I have a question. I noticed on my car that it seems that the radiator is not sitting right. The whole assembly is leaning towards the Intake header on the top. It seems the bottom is in right but it is leaning something like this.

/_______ (I don't have a pic right now. Pretend the straight line is the engine. and the / is the radiator assembly)

It seems that the radiator is not in the two holes right in the front of the hood section. Is this something I should be concerned about right away? I mean it has been like this I guess for over 2 months and I have not had any problems but I just noticed it today. The plastic fan shroud is right up against the air intake header thing.

jetrinka · Aug 18, 2010

I would definitely get it back to how it is supposed to be. There are several air dams in front of the radiator that feed air into it and the radiator is supposed to be positioned to take full advantage of these. Having it slanted like that is only going to give you sub-par cooling on the highway.

LJGoose · Aug 18, 2010

Alright... I kind of figured it is not optimal but I have not had any overheating issues even when it was 100+ with the high humidity we have been having all summer. Even still though I want to get this radiator back in place.

I'll take some pics today and show you all. How would I go about putting it back in the 2 top holes though? I pushed it a little and the radiator did move back but not in the two top holes it just moved it about an inch away from leaning on the intake. I'm afraid to push to hard incase I break something in there. I mean if worse comes to worse I can bring it down to the shop but I don't know if my warranty will cover something like this. Should be pretty cheap to have a shop move it back into place though right?

whynotthinkwhynot · Aug 18, 2010

You're going to have to use tools to get it back in it's place. Once you remove the upper plastic covers, you should see how those radiator supports are bolted in place. Remove the bolts, pull the brackets off, and put the radiator in the brackets before you bolt it back up again.

At least I think that's how it will work, I haven't actually removed my Focus radiator, but that's how every other radiator I have ever replaced worked.

sailor · Aug 18, 2010

Posted via FF MobileCan`t see how old the car is on FF mobile - the lower support has rotted away on some older Foci. one of the first places rust strikes. Thin metal, low in front, no undercoat unlike most of the rest of the undersides... (bodywork factory coated)

jetrinka · Aug 19, 2010

Its just as Whynot said. Remove the top plastic piece and loosen the bolts holding the top radiator support/crossmember on. You should only have to lift it just slightly up in order to get the radiator back to where it needs to be then put it back down so the grommets in the support capture those two tabs on the radiator. Bolt it back up and there ya go.

Its kinda strange that it got this way though if the car hasn't been recently apart... I would also try and find the cause while you are in there.

LJGoose · Aug 19, 2010

Alright sounds simple enough. Thanks guys. I have a feeling the car was in an accident and it looks like whoever replaced the radiator did not put it in all the way. Looks like the car hit a truck becouse the whole top of the engine looked brand new when I got it while the bottom shows the 65K miles. Fender bolts where also worn like the fenders were replaced. Car was also repainted.

Things that you learn when you buy a car. I learned the hard way.

Radiator / Fan Question

LJGoose

jetrinka

LJGoose

whynotthinkwhynot

sailor

jetrinka

LJGoose

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