Mk1 radiator replacing

[tonymor]

My radiator is leaking badly so am awaiting the delivery of a new one .
Hopefully going to fit it myself.
Anyone done this and can give a guidance to the procedure?

[MX-5 Lazza]

I changed one many many years ago. I can't remember the details but it was an easy DIY job with simple tools.
One piece of advice though, there is a radiator drain point in the middle/centre of the rad but don't use it. It's a plastic plug and easy to break. Better to just remove the bottom hose to drain.

[Baskey]

I replaced mine last year. I’m a modest DIY’er at best and I had it changed within a couple of hours allowing for tea break and bleeding of the coolant system

No specific advice as such as it was fairly straightforward. Good luck

[FindingMenno]

Easy job even for a DIY novice. Did it about 3-4 times when I needed to patch on old one up awaiting arrival of a new one. (parts could be hard to get in the caribbean I was at the time.) Needed about an hour.

As I recall:

• drain radiator (using the drain plug, it is soft plastic but I assume you're getting a new one anyways.
• remove air hose at front of engine (between air box and throttle body).
• Undo top hose.
• Undo bottom hose (there is a little access panel, often easier to just undo and drop undertray)
• Unplug fan connectors.
• undo two bolts at each side of top of radiator.
• Depending on model there might also be some hoses attached to a bracket at the bottom of the radiator. If so undo bracket from radiator by removing bolt.
• Lift radiator out.
• Put side mounting rails from old radiator on new.
• Put fans from old radiator on new.

Reinstall new radiator and refill.

[anonymous-user]

If you can get hold of an original Mazda one I would, the MX5parts one I fitted was really horrible cheap nasty quality (as most aftermarket parts are).

As others have said it's a really easy job.