Honda Element Radiator Replacement

[@johnkesling]

Thanks for posting this! My radiator on my 2003 Element crapped out the other day so I ordered one online (for around $80), bought a few tools and spent a few hours replacing it today. It was my first time working on anything under the hood and your detailed video walked me through it perfectly. Thanks!

[@boomerguy9935]

@@johnkesling The old carpenter's saying, "Measure twice, cut once", applies to everything you apply tools to. My biggest problem is to walk away when I get frustrated. My brain says, "Take a break. "and my ego says to "Charge ahead!" Sometimes my brain wins the argument.

[@Jasmine-et4zm]

I'm so proud of myself 💕🥰 I used your video as a guide to help change my own radiator 🥰

[@OzarksTruckin]

here's a tip, having done a radiator replacement on an element. Remove the cross-member between the radiator and engine, only 5 10mm bolts hold it in, 2 on each side at top, and 1 bottom center. First unclip the wiring harness from cross brace, unbolt hood latch, unbolt brace and remove, it's easy to do and will save you time, no trying to squeeze out radiator or cooling fans, makes the job so much easier.

[@williamfrazer2578]

Thanks for the help. Just changed out mine from my 2003 Element. I went ahead and pulled out the cross member to give more room.

[@danl7377]

Very helpful. Agree with earlier comment about removing support bracket to get more room. I took out both fans to be able to replace the thermostat and then had lots of room to put in new radiator.

[@boomerguy9935]

Excellent video! One correction should be made. Do not replace the Honda hose clamps. According to my Honda master technician who has been working on all of my vehicles including non-Honda cars, trucks and motorcycles for over 30 years, is to ALWAYS use the Honda squeeze hose clamps or exact style instead of the worm gear screw clamps on plastic connections. The screw clamps have a lump underneath the screw which will dig into the plastic tube and eventually fracture it. It doesn't matter on steel connections but the plastic cannot handle it especially with the temperature changes. The squeeze hose clamps have even pressure all the way around the connection and they cannot be over-tightened. This is one my of my DIY learning experiences.

[@ZipZapDIY]

Very good points!

[@eyoboyeegaming1187]

Except for when they fail because they fail a lot more than you think I’ve had a lot of OEM clamps fail me

[@boomerguy9935]

@@eyoboyeegaming1187 I've been using these OEM clamps for almost 30 years and I've never had one fail. Maybe the cheap aftermarket ones do, but the OEM ones are very high quality. You get what you pay for. I've had the worm-gear screw clamps create problems for me every time I clamp a hose onto a plastic connector.

[@briangiven7399]

​@boomerguy9935 I know this is slightly old topic, but have you thought about not over tightening the worm gear? You should notice when it starts to compress the rubber hose enough to become watertight, if you need additional securities, the worm gear/ hose clamp can be saftey wired so that it cannot expand or twist loose. I've done this to most of my motorcycle radiator hose connections and never have to worry again. This is the technique used on mission-critical engine components on military jets including the infamous SR-71. If it's good enough for CIA war planes, it's good enough (and simple to do) for the garage mechanic!

[@briangiven7399]

​@@boomerguy9935 then again, perhaps Yamaha engines are built to different tolerances than Honda are, but I have very little experience with Honda

[@hallway37]

Excellent video, exactly what I needed to see to replace the radiator on a friend's '08 Element. Thanks!

[@beezaa]

Thanks for this video! I put in new fans and an OSC radiator in under 2 hours. Instead of removing the latch I removed the entire bracing bar the latch is attached to. I found it gave me more room to work.

[@ZipZapDIY]

excellent! it is nice to have extra room!

[@adventurekid9242]

I'm scoping that out on my Honda Element. I agree with you. I think I will pull out the entire crossbar that way I don't have to worry about lining up the hood latch and I will have plenty of room theoretically.

[@josephwang4380]

Thank you for the video! now I can save some money to replace it myself! I have a question, will automatic transmission fluids eventually drain completely if I disconnected hoses earlier while waiting the replacement to arrive?

[@enriquer.6163]

Thank you, I learned a lot and saved me some money for repair.

[@dpete8995]

Thanks for the demo!... thought it looked like a pretty simple R&R but, always helps the see it done first... Got a lifetime warranty radiator on eBay for $57, free shipping... there are some as low as $35 if you don’t care about warranty.

[@ZipZapDIY]

wow , that is cheap

[@markhughes3522]

Do you have to remove the wheel?

[@Freshbrood]

I need to do this in a 2004 Honda Element. Is it the same process? Everything in the same place?

[@unclegeorge7845]

Thanks for real world approach with real tools.

[@melvin5818]

I would change out the coolant hoses if the radiator is being replaced because its old and brittle the hoses are as well and will fail later on whats the point in doing double the work.

[@bakerrr333]

Also you have a bit more room if you remove the support bracket. It's four 10mm bolts, and a few plastic tabs to remove the wiring harness that's snaked onto it. And that way you wouldn't have to remove the hood latch because it's attached to that bracket. Not necessary but it's not too much trouble and you get more room that way.

[@hallway37]

+bakerrr333 Thanks for this info, I'm going to try doing it this way as the radiator is badly bent near the bottom and the extra clearance will come in handy.

[@salvadoralvarez2093]

How do you bleed the air out ..buen trabajo.

[@katherineh2639]

Can anyone recommend an aftermarket radiator for a 2004 Honda Element EX with manual transmission? Also what is the difference replacing the radiator in a manual vs. an automatic?

[@JaSamVlad]

Do you have to remove wheel? Thanks

[@Dankster422]

What do I do if 2 of my support bracket nuts won’t come off all they do is spin in place they won’t come out I sprayed them with WD-40 and nothing still keeps spinning

[@scottypenney3862]

OK.. I'm confused. When I did the radiator fan, every video said to lose the radiator support.. you didn't. Did I do unnecessary work?

[@accelmargn]

I am assuming a manual transmission would have a different radiator because of not having transmission fluid

[@JesseBoyko]

Thanks for the video! does this change at all with a manual transmission?

[@ZipZapDIY]

Should be exactly the same, browse through the comments, some good insight into the task

[@tracyw4184]

I ordered a new radiator. The top is plastic. Does that make sense? Seems rinky dink...

[@atxjax1]

Does anyone know by chance which one of the trans fluid lines is the return one?

[@benjaminmagee9427]

If the car's heat gauge is still almost at half way point, is that normal or would it indicate changing a thermostat? The needle stays there at just below halfway, doesn't fluctuate but goes there pretty quick after driving 5-10 minutes. I just replaced the radiator and fans (which are working now) a week ago because of the need but it hasn't changed where the heat gauge needle is at on the dash.

[@bennettschilpp9411]

Benjamin Magee if it isn’t going above halfway your fine

[@fredtaylor3432]

I used your video and was very pleased. When I took the bottom radiator hose off the radiator I noticed the inside of the hose is blocked by rubber seal. Is this normal and why is it there? Thanks again for your video

[@ZipZapDIY]

blockage is not normal! you may have a piece of the radiator inlet that broke off in the hose... (they sometimes do erode and fail) i just had that happen on my Land Rover when i changed the radiator.

[@Rivet0153]

Does it matter what colour the coolant is? The original coolant was a neon green and the new coolant on the bottle says acura honda and 1 more make i cant remember its a 50 50 blend so the water is already in there and the colour is blue

[@mtjm]

Always use blue coolant in Honda's. The guy in the video made the mistake of using green.

[@paulsaulsbury438]

Not true, While blue is Honda now, back in the day these came with green from the factory. Use premixed 50/50, or full strength and dilute with DISTILLED water.

[@aslade866]

nice video, can you show us how to change the thermostat ????

[@dioika2940]

yes, I found the video very useful. THANKS.!👍

[@designboysillykid]

so you had no problems with it after the radiator was replaced even using the cheap one? thanks I got the denso one which is probobly the same the dealer wanted 550.00

[@ZipZapDIY]

+edward bach no issues since, and this element is not coddled.

[@wheelspkruel]

i did it bro change it too the radiator explote on me so I put a new one but my car overheats the radiator fan is off all the time it just turn on when i turn on the AC the two fans work so I think I have to change the temperature sensor

[@ZipZapDIY]

one fan turns on when the a/c is turned on, the other turns on when the engine goes above operating temp. If it does not turn on you may have a bad radiator fan.

[@danielhuckabone1214]

Thank you, thank you, thank you for making this video.

[@ZipZapDIY]

You're welcome!

[@frankwern8784]

Nicely detailed in video and scripting. Very helpful. Thank you!

[@ZipZapDIY]

+Frank Wern Happy to help!

[@Danademers]

are you replacing just the radiator or the ac condenser. everything online sells them both together but I dont see anywhere online or in your vid that there is a seperate condenser. (black compared to the aluminum colored radiator) when purchasing it online.

[@ZipZapDIY]

The condenser is separate, not part of radiator on an Element. The transmission cooler is part of the radiator though.

[@Danademers]

you've given me such confidence and eagerness in repairing my 2004 Ex element. SO sad when they discontinued it, was hoping they'd make a hybrid element. Heard theyre making the element again but in Japan called the Element N Wagon. but its much smaller. carsintrend.com/2017-honda-element-a-dog-car-redesigned/

[@bakerrr333]

You can tape a piece of cardboard over the fins to keep them from getting damaged while you try to jimmy it back in there.

[@ZipZapDIY]

+bakerrr333 that cardboard is a nice tip! It would be a good way to protect during fan replacement on any car. thx.

[@bakerrr333]

Yeah man and thanks for the awesome video DIY

[@swfljoe]

Great video... very informative! THANKS!

[@gsdls]

Great video. I'm about to tackle this tomorrow so thank you.

[@ZipZapDIY]

Excellent! If memory serves, there is a clip securing some electrical wires on the bottom of radiator that was not connected on mine, but some people have had to remove it. Good Luck!

[@rw5096]

Good video but I'd always use the Honda blue coolant more expensive but better then the cheap stuff imo.

[@antwanowens4013]

Why do u have to take off the wheel, more work???

[@designboysillykid]

what brand radiator did you use and where did you get it?

[@ZipZapDIY]

+edward bach picked it up at Advance Auto. the cheapy version.

[@Mjgalvan24]

what coolant did you use

[@ZipZapDIY]

For this Honda, just the cheapest on offer at the parts store.

[@Will45149]

Great video! Great detail! Thank you!

[@RyanTreks]

Very thorough video. Thank you so much!

[@ZipZapDIY]

you're welcome!

[@nathanlief]

About how long did this take you?

[@ZipZapDIY]

+nathanlief this job could take 1 -2 hours the first time doing.

[@ZipZapDIY]

surprisingly, you can get a radiator on amazon for about $80 (May 2016) amzn.to/1WPY6AU

[@MrErikBaker]

Great video - efficient, easy to follow, and very detailed. Thank you! The link you posted above is for a Spectra Premium Radiator (CU2443) - is that the same one you used in the video/did it fit alright?

[@ZipZapDIY]

Thanks. The link is not the same radiator. Just an example of an option.

[@icyuranus404]

dude, you are using the wrong coolant - it should be blue like windshield wiper fluid. every honda since 1990 uses the blue stuff, honda all season antifreeze/coolant type 2. as for the transmission fluid, is that what came out of the hose? how much is stored in the radiator? these go for about $55 online now (august 2017) in quality aftermarket parts' stores and ebay its an OK video but will need to find a 'second opinion' to follow up because you got a few things wrong

[@jeremyflin]

Thank youuuuuu!

[@rameybutler6555]

why in gods name didnt you just remove the center bracket? you are overworking yourself? with that top bracket removed you have acres of room to put that radiator in, and reattach the fans.