radiator replacement need to dran ac freon?

R

Riceball777

Member
ok my radiator is leaking in my 2009 fx35 but i read on the ex35 that the radiator has to come out through the front. meaning you have to drain the ac freon and take the ac condensor out before the radiator has to come out. Is this also true for my 2009 fx35? Also if i change the radiator i would think that i will have to add some fluid into the automatic transmission since some will be lost in the oil radiator. How much do i add and i cant seem to find the dip stick for the transmission. is there one?
 
Yes that is true you have to drain the AC to remove it i just had mine done but the guy remove it from the back some how and you will loose transmission fluid when you disconnect the cooler lines that goes in to the radiator you can clamp them off so you don't loose fluid but if you d0, top it off with transmission fluid Nissan Matic S,we don't have dip sticks so you have to fill it from the bottom fill it till it start to run back out that indicate its full then plug it up.
 
I had to look in the service manual to confirm.....that is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard! Evacuate the Freon & remove the condenser just to replace the radiator??!?!?

Now the average Joe CAN'T do this job and must bring it to a repair shop.....where Im sure they will charge $300-$400 labor now..... WTF!!?!!?
 
Per the factory service manual, you have to remove the condensor in order to remove the radiator. Very interested to see how it can be remove from the back. Here is the link to Infiniti Factory Service Manuals. Infiniti Factory Service Manuals
 
That does seem pretty crazy. Couldn't you just loosen the condenser and slide the radiator out in front of the support? There may be enough give in the lines to do so once brackets have been removed.

On my BMW, I had to replace the AC condenser once and instructions said to pull the radiator. But I was able to get it out by just loosening the radiator brackets and moving it back some. So usually there is a workaround.

FWIW, refilling an AC condenser isn't that bad. I actually bought a vacuum pump for cheap to ensure the system was clean and a gauge from HF. Then it was as simple as pumping refrigerant in there until the pressure was right. Did that 3 years ago and everything still works perfectly.

But I would hate to do it simply to replace a radiator though. Seems like a huge amount of unnecessary work.
 
It cost me $636 to have it done and as i stated the guy did some how removed it from the back without removing the the bumper as the dealer recommend so your right the average joe won't be able to do it i replaced many radiator before in my lifetime but din'td want take on this job.
 
I recently did a radiator in my 2009 fx50s. I did not remove the condensor or evac the freon. I will tell you, this job is definitely a whore though. The fsm states to remove basically the entire front end, headlights and all plus remove ac. If i recall, i removed all hoses, including the bolt on plastic elbow, then unbolted the condensor from the radiator as well as the bolts that secure the ac lines. Then very carefully with both hands pull the condenser forward, you will feel like you are bending the lines a little bit but the have some Give to them, just dont kink them.
This will give you enough room to slide the radiator up and out. I did this in about 3 hours time. No way i was removing all that crap to do a radiator.
 
You don't need to remove the condenser or drain the Freon. It's a time-consuming job though.
 
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