How to Replace Radiator 98-11 Ford Ranger V6 4.0L
Difficulty: Advanced · About 100 min · Ford Ranger
Replace the radiator and bleed the cooling system on a 1998-2011 Ford Ranger with the V6 4.0L engine.
Tools you will need
- Adjustable wrench
- Socket extensions
- Flat blade screwdriver
- Torque wrench
- Phillips head screwdriver
- Fan clutch wrench
- 7mm socket
- 10mm wrench
- 10mm socket
- 3/8 inch drive ratchet
Parts and supplies
- Radiator
Steps
- Drain the coolant
Remove the radiator cap, remove the four 10mm bolts holding the under-radiator cover and pull it down, have a drain pan ready, open the drain with a 19mm wrench, let it drain, then hand-tighten the plug.
- Remove the intake tube
Remove the throttle body cover's Phillips screws and 7mm bolt, loosen the two intake hose clamps and the air box clasps, then remove the intake tube and box.
- Remove the upper radiator hose
With a drain pan ready, compress and slide back the hose clamp nearest the radiator and twist the hose off, then let it drain.
- Remove the radiator
Remove the fan shroud's two 10mm bolts and hang it over the fan, remove the overflow hose, remove the transmission cooler line bolts with a 16mm wrench (keeping the line nut from spinning), remove the radiator's two 10mm bolts, compress and slide back the lower hose clamp and twist the hose off, let it drain, remove the transmission cooler line bracket, then lift the radiator out.
- Install the radiator
Set it into place, transfer the old air dam onto the new radiator, tighten its two 10mm bolts, hand-tighten the transmission cooler lines then tighten them with a wrench, lift the fan shroud into its slots, then tighten its two 10mm bolts.
- Reinstall the upper radiator hose
Connect it to the radiator and tighten its clamp, connect the lower hose and tighten its clamp, then insert the bottom cover and tighten its four 10mm bolts.
- Reinstall the intake tube
Insert the tube and air box cover, tighten the hose clamps with a flat blade screwdriver, reconnect the breather hose and MAF sensor, refit the throttle cover and its screws, then refit the lower cover and its 10mm bolts.
- Bleed the system
Fill the radiator with the correct mixture, leave the cap off with the funnel in and a drain pan below, run the engine with the fan on low and heat on high, top off coolant while watching for bubbles, wait until the level stops dropping and heat flows from the vents, then shut it off, refit the cap, top off the overflow bottle, and monitor levels on a test drive.
Check your vehicle’s repair manual for exact specifications and fit.