Rarely, your 1983 Mazda B2000 will complain on the job, providing you with thousands of trouble-free miles on the road. Eventually though, you will need to replace a major component like the radiator. Fortunately, you can install the new radiator yourself, working in your driveway, without a considerable amount of tools or equipment. You will not only get your B2000 back on the road for miles to come, but also save on repair costs.
Tools Used: Floor jack, if necessary, 12-inch vinyl hose, 2 safety stands, if necessary, Large drain pan, Ratchet, Socket set, Phillips screwdriver, Small standard screwdriver, if necessary, Wrench, Flare wrench, 2 clean plastic sheets, 2 rubber bands, Small funnel, New antifreeze, if necessary, Distilled water, if necessary
Put a Newer Radiator
Removing the Radiator
Lift the front of your B2000 with a floor jack, if necessary, so that you can work from underneath the truck. Support the front with a safety stand on each side under the frame and block the rear wheels with a couple of wooden blocks.
Open the hood and install a 12-inch vinyl hose on the radiator drain plug. Position a clean, large drain pan under the radiator and open the drain valve. Loosen the radiator cap and let the coolant drain completely.
Unfasten the cooling fan shroud with a ratchet and socket and place the shroud back over the fan and away from the radiator.
Loosen the clamps on the upper and lower radiator hoses with a Phillips screwdriver and disconnect both hoses from the radiator fittings. If the hoses seem stuck on the fittings, loosen the seal by carefully pushing a small standard screwdriver between the hose and the fitting to break the seal.
Detach the coolant reservoir hose from the radiator neck by hand. Disconnect both cooler lines from the radiator, if your B2000 is equipped with an automatic transmission. Hold the fitting nut with a backup wrench and loosen the line retaining nut with a flare wrench. Cover both lines with clean, plastic sheets and a rubber band to keep the oil from dipping onto the floor.
Locate the radiator mounting bolts on each side and unfasten the radiator bolts from the support frame with a ratchet and socket. Lift the radiator straight up and out of the engine bay.
Installing the New Radiator
Make sure the drain valve on the new radiator is closed. Lower the new radiator into the engine bay, aligning the radiator and support frame mounting holes, and install the mounting bolts finger tight. Tighten the bolts with the ratchet and socket.
Reconnect both cooler lines to the radiator, if your B2000 is equipped with an automatic transmission. Use the backup wrench to hold the fitting nut as you tighten the lines' retaining nuts with the flare wrench. Attach the coolant reservoir hose to the radiator neck by hand.
Reconnect the upper and lower radiator hoses and secure them to the radiator fittings with the clamps using the Phillips screwdriver. Replace the cooling fan shroud using the ratchet and socket.
Lower the front of your B2000 with the floor jack, if you had to lift it, and replace the coolant into the radiator through the radiator neck, using a small funnel. If you are adding new coolant, prepare a new 50/50 mixture of new antifreeze and distilled water. Leave the radiator cap off.
Start the engine and let it idle for about 15 minutes. Check the coolant through the radiator neck. When the coolant begins to flow, turn off the engine. Add more coolant to the radiator to bring the level just below the radiator neck and replace the radiator cap.
Add coolant to the reservoir to bring the level up to the "Full" mark and close the hood.
Tips & Warnings
When working on the cooling system of your Mazda B2000 truck, first make sure the engine and radiator are completely cool, to avoid serious personal injuries caused by boiling coolant.
0 Comments