C5 MkII Rad Removal - How?

[StokeMusicDude]

I know everything is easy when your shown or told how . . and I'm hoping you can give me some gentle help.

I'm about to replace a cracked radiator with a new one. I've done a system "internal scrub" and then drained and flushed the system with clean water.

Please tell me I don't have to remove the front bumper and dozens of plastic plates to remove the radiator. I have a Haynes manual and all it says is the the top of the rad is held in place by plastic clips that you have to prise free (read break - 'cause you don't know where they are) to release the rad. Are these securing clips/brackets reached from the engine side (of the radiator) or god forbid from the front (after hours romoving bumper/panels/grills et).

I just cannot see how the radiator is held/released at the top.

Any help would be very much appreciated.

[RichardW]

Looks like engine side, they appear to be just levered back:

It does say before that you should remove the top 3 fixings on the bumper / grille, but not sure why.

[moizeau]

If they are the same as the clips on my Dispatch, they have little tangs down each side of the plastic insert, or at least mine did.......obviously a previous owner didn't realise this, they are now held back with a cable tie.

[Sophia88]

Unhook and lift the hood to remove the tie that connects the pipe to the radiator, allowing all the water circulating between the radiator and the various pipes to drain, then proceed by removing the bolts that secure the upper part of the bumper, removing the radiator inlet hose and disconnecting all connected plugs. In this manner, you may withdraw the radiator from the top and proceed with the installation of the replacement component, then just reverse the procedures indicated backwards for the reassembly of the different components.

[StokeMusicDude]

Hi there . . And thanks for all the help so far. Going to have a go at the full job tomorrow. If I can get the clips out from inside engine bay per Richards illustrations, the job should be fairly straightforward. Famous last words I know!!

Just FYI, I've already discovered something that might be useful to all us autobox drivers. The replacement rad was checked by the local motor factors shop and they thought (as did I) that we had been sent the wrong one. On all Citroen radiators in automatic cars, there is a 2nd (smaller bore) cold feed out (about 4" from main out) on the bottom moulding of the radiator, to feed a direct supply of coolant to the autobox casing. Luckily, a wise old Yoda behind the counter explained to me (and the young assistant), that they manufacture ALL radiators with this second outlet mounted into the casing but that you have to drill the exit hole yourself and insert a supplied hose tap housing into the bottom casing. Makes sense I suppose . . but like I said at the start of the thread, you don't know until you know. So after a while this PM, my new generic replacement radiator has been drilled and moded with the 2nd autobox cold feed out and is good to go.

So the moto is . . . before you rage at the machine . . ask a Yoda for advice!!

[StokeMusicDude]

OK . . I started and had to abandon my radiator replacement last Friday. 1 - I'd been sold the wrong radiator by the car motor factors (first time in 20+yrs they have steered me wrong), but more importantly, 2 - I could not for love nor money shift the top radiator fixings. They are not budging and (as stated at start of this tread), I got mighty close to breaking the fittings. I've attached a couple of pics that appear to be identical to the illustration provided by Richard W . . but no joy whatsover getting them free. They appear to be completely enclosed top/bottom/sides and back . . . so I really need to "see" how they are fixed into the bodywork.

As anyone got any pictures of these "clips" when they are OFF THE CAR.

They are clearly sprung vertically, but that is NOT whats holding them in place (as I can slip a thin bladde butter knife between the top of the clip and the alcove they sit in. They MUST have so latch mechanism on both sides? that "should" give and release in the way Richard W describes . . BUT THEY DON'T.

Can anyone please help on how these wretched "clips" are welded into my car body before I take to hitting them with a hammer!! What the hell is wrong with a rubber bush/securing face plate and two bolts !!!! Grr

[StokeMusicDude]

CORRECTION - SCRUB THE POST ABOUT ALTERING THE RADIATOR 2ND BOTTOM HOSE FITTING - BAD DIRECTION FROM SHOP!!!

Unbelievable, you are not sure on the correct radiator for "automatics", on www some sites differentiate in the description, most just state suitable for both. So instead of guessing, you go down to your motor factors shop for expert advice. Yep you guessed it . . they "guessed" wrong too. I just want to get my car fixed . . not play guessin' games!!

Anyways, not only did they get me a the wrong (manual version/single bottom hose mounding) they then told me to drill out the 2nd hole myself and mount the hose tap moulding into place. As I said, this made sense to me at the time, as it's gotta be cheaper to make ALL radiators the same (with the extra mounding mounting there) and to then adapt it to "automatic" set-up. So I wasted a couple of hours preparing my new radiator, only to find it is no-where near the pipe size (and of course the bore flow rate) necessary!!

I DON'T KNOW WHY THE SECOND MOULDING IS ON THE BOTTOM RAIL - BUT IT IS NOT THERE FOR ALTERING TO THE "AUTOMATIC" 2nd OUT NEEDED!!

The shop is "very sorry" of course and are presently getting me the correct "automatic" version.

So the moto is, if you not sure in your own mind that its right , stick to your guns and tell old Yoda to shove it!!

Will my car ever get to drive again I wonder?

[RichardW]

6:45 on, a little more finesse appears to get them out? Maybe they changed the design, but didn't update the instructions!

[StokeMusicDude]

Oh thank you so much for this video . . which confirms what I had pretty much suspected . . spring legs to the side(s) of the "spring/clip" moulding.

I was pretty much there as I could feel some give when I explored a small flat bladed screw driver down each side. My "mistake" was assuming that once free, that the clip would slide out from the housing and also be free from the radiator top (as I thought the back of the mounting cavity would sit on the back edge of the prong up off the radiator). Of course the the "securing clip" is actually better described as a sprung mounting bush secured in the housing by side spring tangs. I also note that the trick is to move the whole radiator outward as you compress the side tang past its stay.

One last question . . prompted by this video and how illogical this fitting is . . please tell me that the offending "spring/clips/bushes" do actually come off the radiator once you've got it out. It wouldn't surprise me to think that Citroen had made this a battle too!!!

Cheers

[moizeau]

If they are the same as the clips on my Dispatch, they have little tangs down each side of the plastic insert, or at least mine did.......obviously a previous owner didn't realise this, they are now held back with a cable tie.

They lift off the rad once free