How to Remove the Radiator on a Jeep WJ Grand Cherokee & Tips! - Vortex Garage Ep. 25 

Don't forget to remove the passenger seat, the glove box, and the transfer case also. And disconnect the dome light switch 1st.

Just wanted to thank you for posting this. I had to replace the radiator in my 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo, and your videos (part 1 and 2) really helped tremendously! Best videos on the process I have seen so far. Thanks!

You were the only one on all of the RU-vid videos that I watched that remove the radiator correctly by removing the front fascia and you got everything out is one big piece job well done thank you .

If you remove the bottom 2 torx bolts of those 2 braces, you can remove the top radiator support and the hood latch all together. That way you don't have to remove the whole grill brace, just the front facsia of the grille.

Video helped a lot. I did the trick to keep the transcooler/condenser supported. But I was able to complete the job without disconnecting the trans lines. Thank you for making life easier for all us WJ owners!

OMG I just watched it again he is definitely an engineer they can't figure anything out probably is held in high regard where he works & belittles his underlings

I just did this job last weekend. I have a 2002 4.7 Overland. For my setup it is possible to do this job without removing bumper. The only trim I needed to remove was the grill and popping of the left headlight for access to one bolt/clamp that holds the lines for the optional power steering cooler (mounted in front of the A/C condenser). I decided to pull the radiator and fan shroud out as one unit (personally I feel this is the easiest way to do this). In order to do this there are a few lines to disconnect. I have the built in trans cooler in my radiator so the only lines to disconnect come from the bottom of the vehicle. They are fairly simple to access. I also have the hydraulic fan setup which means disconnecting two lines and one hose from the same locations as the trans lines. My Jeep sat for a few days in the garage waiting for the new radiator to arrive so make sure you cap and bag all your lines to ensure there is no fluid loss or contamination if your going to be waiting. Also beware, some of the aftermarket radiators have different angled return pipes. Mine had a straight on angle vs the slight right inward angle my OEM radiator had. This made it a pain in the ass to get past the frame rail on the install. Just be gentle and preferably have a second pair of hand to help you with the reinstall.

For the bumper cover on the wheel well plastic rivets, harbor freight has a cheap plastic rivet gun and set of various sized plastic rivets with it that works great.

Just finished my rad swap! Followed the video step by step. Very easy and not too much time. Thank you very much for making these videos! I also rebuil my prop shaft cv joints with your video too!

I watched other videos and this guy does way to much work. Wonder if it's a customer's car and he's 120$ an hour while this video is being made. What what

Did this twice, never had to remove the bumper or "tear all front of the Jeep appart". I remove the top and bottom hose, and trans lines, the shroud (two bottom bolt are a pain so I replace with zip ties), the top metal bar, the grill. Access the condenser bolt through the grill, radiator bolts are a little more tricky. Then from below push condenser tab out of the radiator so I can pull the radiator up. So, while it is a good video, I think it can be done with much less teardown.

I just swapped a new radiator into my 2004 4.0 WJ this morning. Start to finish in 1.5 hours including refilling the system with no power tools. You do not need to tear that much apart. Upper support can easily be slipped out. I removed the outer grille by unclipping it in 3 places, a total of 12 bolts with 10mm heads, 4 Torx heads and 3 13mm nuts. The only other things were upper and lower hoses and the electrical connector for the fan and the tube that goes to the expansion tank. I didn't cut, bend, or break anything.

I like this. Excellent video. Only thing I'd suggest, to save adjustment headaches later, is to scribe a mark around the support bolts for the hood latch before removing it.

All you have to do is drain the radiator, loosen the hood latch, remove the metal stiffening plate on top with the hood seal, remove air cleaner and air inlet duct, unplug the electric fan, take the overflow line off, remove the 2 radiator hoses from the radiator, remove the trans cooler rubber lines and take the bottom cooler line off the radiator tank cuz it won't clear when you lift the radiator, take the 2 bolts out of the radiator, loosen the condenser and unhook the bottom 2 slip in mounts lift the radiator about an inch out of the rubber mounts on the bottom and move the bottom of the radiator back to free the condenser, loosen the one nut on the fan, right hand thread, you can free the nut with a hammer and wrench or a big screwdriver on the point of the nut and a hammer if you don't have a wrench big enough, pull the radiator and shroud straight up with fan inside shroud, Done The factory service manual does explain it this way, at least for 99.

This video helped me allot when doing mine last week. Don't get the complaints about removing the front end. It takes all of 10 mins to remove the bumper cover, headlights and brackets. On my 2000 you didn't need to snake any wires for the bulbs. I just disconnected the main harness connection and they all stayed with the lights. Other than that, easy as hell.

hi thanks for this guide

Wow! You took off way too much! I did mine in 2 hours! From drain to refill! No leaks, never removed the grille, headlights, or schroud! Other than that good video!

Just a helpful tip- The 1999 and 2000 WJ's with the Limited trim level have a one piece grill/bumper cover and have to be removed together. I have a 99 WJ Limited and have had the bumper cover off while working on the Jeep.

My 2003 WJ has a leaky radiator it's the exact same leak where the aluminum and plastic meet it's dripping, I was taking a look at it and noticed that not my radiator or coolant thing or fan where bolted in at all, I can easily move them up and down left and right with my hands, I noticed before but I never thought it was a big deal, I still don't think it's a huge deal but it would definitely be nice to get those all bolted in, I'm probably just going to pay someone to do it for me because that looked kind of complicated and time-consuming and I don't think I have the right tools, dope video though you really got every step recorded which was cool

I'm doing this to replace my motor and transmission. Thanks

Great video! Do you think one could leave the fan shroud attached and pull out the radiator with the fan? Seems like it’d be easier than getting to those lower 10mm bolts if you’re going to undo the transmission lines for flexibility anyways… thoughts?

Going to be doing this soon

Really good video. Many thanks!

I took my Jeep to Vortex Garage for an oil change and he told me the engine has to be removed to change the oil, when I asked him to set my tire pressure he told me the wheels have to come off. It may be just me but I don't think this guy would make it very far in a real shop environment.

Finally!!! Someone with my exact Jeep. It also has a leaking radiator and needs 1 downstream and 2 upstream oxygen sensors. The windows will not come down and some of the instrument panel lights out. The left rear door does not open and has the Jeep "death wobble." Help!!!

im pretty sure you can disconnect the fan from the radiator and unbolt the radiator itself then disconnect the hoses and slide the radiator up and out of the engine bay. I have NEVER removed the front of a car to replace a radiator.

You dont need a service manual with this guy. He pretty much is a mechanical guru

I think I messed up somewhere. I ended up back by the emissions tank.. Took out the seats, the upholstery and everything in between. Still no radiator. 🤷🏼‍♂️ No worries, back to the grind to find it. Still quite a bit I can remove.

Haha. I have done several of this. And the bumper cover doesn't have to be removed. They really complicated a not so difficult job.

Min 12:18 Temperature sensor for the read out Inside the vehicle. I found it hanging down, didn’t know what’s for . Thanks buddy.

U might as well remove both fenders & hood too?

No need to remove grill, headlights, bumper cover, battery, lower panel, large front panel or condenser. Also, once the radiator is loose on top, you can get the mechanical fan out the top. Radiator and shroud lift out together. Your method takes twice as long.

Good video, but as others have said, this is a lot more work than you actually need to do. It's not necessary to tear the whole front of the WJ apart to change the radiator, on either the 4.0L or 4.7L. Also, I'm not sure why you say that "the book" says that you're supposed to discharge the AC system, because if you mean the factory service manual, it doesn't say that at all! If you have a 4.7L with hydraulic fan and you want to avoid having to crack open the hydraulic lines when changing the rad, it definitely helps to tear down the whole front of the Jeep as you have done here. But otherwise, the only piece of front trim you need to remove is the grille.

Aaaaah this is awesome! Thank you so much.

If I need to get to the condenser lines on the left can I stop the process at 17:17 mark ?

Fantastic video sir! Just what I was looking for. Im my case, I'm just replacing a broken fan shroud. It was messed up by the previous owner when he replaced the radiator. I'm wondering if I should go ahead and replace the water pump while I have easy access. Possibly the serpentine belt tensioner and idler too. The Jeep has over 165K and I really have no idea whether these have ever been replaced, but based on some of the botched work I've seen so far from the pervious owner's work, I'm tempted. I'd be interested in your thoughts. I've done my fair share of wrenching, but Jeeps are new to me.

Thank You just happened to me . Thought a hose popped but it was two cores squirting up through the grill and was a piss off. Since I just finished installing shift solenoid in transmission. Ordered a denso rad Rock Auto 113.00us 180 cad. With reinforced coreand tanks. I suggest getting 12 lb pressure cap and new Thermostat. I drill 2 5/16 holes in the top of thermostat. My jeep never overheats towing for hours mid summer. It takes a little longer to get hot in the winter but a rad blocker works for that when its undrr minus 10cel. Happy Jeeping

Enjoyed the teardown,its giving me ideas to get in were i need.i have a 2002 wj limited 4.7l and my lower radiator body braces if thats what there called is nearly rusted thru on bottom.so was thinking on replacing them..was hoping ur repair might show that section.p.s.what is that black bottle/reservoir sitting on frame on passenger side for.know the other side is window wash reservoir.?????snookie pa.

I did subscribe

I'm about to change out radiator on 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4.7 AWD. I noticed on a lot of the videos that the coolant fill cap is located on the drivers side, mine is on the passengers side. Does this affect which specific radiator I should purchase? And how would I figure out which fan I have, electric or hydraulic?

Worst part of the whole job other than squeezing radiator between the lower body frame was the 10mm fan shroud bolt on lower drivers side. PITA!!

Great video

Gracias explicas muy bien.

nice job bro. I want video how to set gas gauge

I have a 2000 4.7l, how much would a job like this cost me?

Why on earth would you take half the car apart to replace a radiator? Completely unnecessary.

No need to remove headlights o& bumper at all

I just had a brand new radiator in my WJ 4.0 installed by licensed mechanic and now I have no AC it was ice cold before new radiator installed. Any Input Would Be Great. Thanks

Ima go ahead REMOVE myself from this video because ain't no way in Holy hell you have to take all this off to just replace the dam radiator SIR. PS. Great camera 👍✌️

overkill (fact) 1-2 hrs tops --> once you take the latch bracket off! the radiator is right there just look at the new radiator and you will see that there really isn't that much to do ;

Time 32:50 I see a black container with a black lid, it sits just under were the passenger head light would be, any idea what that contains? What is that? Any thoughts idea. Does any one know? thanks!

Will this work the same for the 4.7?

Would you recommend to do something on a jeep that has rust in the coolant. I know I need to flush it all out but is there something that I can add to eat up the rust?

Dude... you forgot to remove the rear tires and lift gate..

whoahhh did you just said you put that radiator in 6 months ago! if that happens to ke i will drive that P.O.S to the desert pour gas on it and let it burn

Hey i've been watching this video because i need to get to my vacuum reservoir for a cruise control issue. Would you say you would only be able to access the reservoir by removing the bumper cover and headlight brace, or is there an easier way? Thanks for the informative videos.

F that find the crack in plastic a jb weld it

So many varieties and options on the WJ concerning radiator removal. Pretty obvious where our society stands when folks have to go to an instructional video created to help people and critique and bash someone else's method or ideas. If you know all the answers and can do same job in 30 minutes make your own video and share instead of critiquing someone else trying to help others. Absolutely ridiculous!

I guarantee I would get more angry and frustrated doing all this as opposed to just taking the radiator out through the top.

Had my radiator replaced last week mechanic charged me 100 hundred and was finished in 1 and half.He didn't do 90 % of this.

This is the long drawn out hard way to do it. This job can be done much quicker

or if I was someone working at his plant I would be told you don't understand the process

...if you want to shave off about 5hrs just take off the hood latch bracket!! ~ you're welcome

You don't have to do all that to get the radiator out

Wow

Talk about greasing the customer, wow! You did WAY too much work to pull the radiator. No need to pull headlights, A/C condenser, grill, fascia, etc. You don't have to remove trans lines, just cut the rubber and replace. 22:41, you failed to mention on a hyd fan model with a 4.7 those lines are NOT trans cooler lines, they are P/Steering cooler lines and do not have to be disconnected nor does the condenser have to be removed. I have done this job in my shop MANY times and never have removed the entire front end to do it.

Dude are u serious?

Probably the worst tutorial for radiator replacement, maybe the best to remove front end🤔

????? really? life's too short to waste time like this ! so if you have to replace your garage door do you tear the wall down ?????? friggin bizzare oh shit I figured it out he's not a mechanic he's a hobbyist with an engineering degree that explains why he can't figure out how to do it properly

remove the rear tires too, jajaja

This is a joke, right?

Dude - you removed way to many items making this job - way to complicated

You forgot to remove the whole engine to swap out a radiator!

I just did that yesterday. I just removed the bar across the top. Disconnected the hoses and brackets and pulled it straight out. This guy is doing WAY too much work for himself. This guy is the perfect mechanic that garage owners love to hire to make money from labor costs

Of the 639 videos on youtube of this exact process this is the only one which is not complete shit. Thank you and keep up the good work.

How Do I cure the death wobble?

What does WJ mean or stand for?