Acura Vigor Radiator Replacement (Long Version) -EricTheCarGuy

1. I need to replace the radiator in a '96 2.5TL. The parts catalog lists 2 types of radiators, Showa and Nippondenso. Are they interchangeable?

2. what I have seen ? do not buy a car from NEW YORK rust buckets

3. Heads up, if you get an Advance Auto lifetime warranty they do stand behind it. Mine started leaking in 4.5 years and I bought another one and returned the old one and they gave me all my money back. I got the Carquest one and it's so cheap that it doesn't even have a drain plug. But you don't need a drain plug because there is a lower radiator hose. They are a lot cheaper on Amazon $50 for my Subaru vs. $110 Advance Auto, but I'm not sure about lifetime warranty. I guess you could buy two for the price of one so it doesn't matter. I always wanted an all aluminum radiator but there seems little point when the plastic ones are so cheap with lifetime warranty. As long as you don't get stuck somewhere far from home. But you should be able to change one in the advance auto parking lot.

4. Where can I find the thermostat on this model your working on ??

5. Just got done doing this to my 1995 Buick Lesabre because it had a plastic shell radiator crack on the seam on top of tank..  Got an exact replacement from a 98 Lesabre 3800v6 used looks new.  It would start to dran after running just a little depending on it's workout.  My 78 D100 225 Slant 6 was more simplier to replace more room.

6. I love your videos and your on screen persona Eric. For the love of god man enough of this GD Acura Vigor. Go visit Scotty Kilmer and ask him about making videos on customer cars or something. Keep up the good work I always check out your stuff regardless. Stay dirty my friend.

7. 22:01 "Think that's going in" That's what she said!

8. That's a GREAT trick using the pliers to unclip the harness plugs.  Some of them are a bugger to get loose.  Now I also have to go buy that funnel kit.  Thanks Eric for making me buy tools.  Hah!

9. Where did you source your new radiator? Just curious, because I put a cheap Chinese part in my Mom's minivan about a year and 6 months ago. I'm slightly skeptical about how long it will last, but its a high mileage car and I don't care to replace it with expensive parts.   

10. that bleeder valve at 27:39 is way to close to the alternator!

11. I don't know Eric about the new blue stuff being great then green, I just think is the radiator in general. I got 2007 Honda Pilot EXL with 106K there is a small leak on the bottom passenger side and smell like coolant. My buddy had the same problem with his 03 Honda Pilot EXL with 117K. I did some research online about it and that a common issue with these years Pilot and Ridgeline don't know about the Honda Vans tho. I had to change the radiator it out and Timing belt as well it make more sense to do the coolant system and timing belt once at that miles.

12. What is the special technic to avoid the "F word" when you are on camera fighting with old bolts in a tight place and rust falls into your face? You are a really professional presenter! 

13. Eric another great video, I have been watching you since the first shop. Where did you get your long and short flashlight from

14. Always love your vids 🙂
    Especially the longer ones. This is my TV, folks!!

15. Don't buy automatic cars, then you don't lose any transmission fluid when doing a radiator =D

16. you should really paint your Vigor.

17. I had the exact same problem on a 1994 mercedes c 180. The plastic had cracked just obove the aluminium. I never had any problem like this on my saabs. On very old car where the radiators are made of brass or copper, all you needed to do were a little soldering to stopp the leak.

18. Holy crap all of your pipes are disintegrating 

19. hey Eric would you swap to red coolant? I swapped my first gen talon to Red coolant and did a little research on the difference between the Red and Green coolant.
    Supposedly reds not good for some of the older vehicles as it breaks down seals? this true? I was just looking for a longer life/maintenance free coolant other then the green.

20. thank you for another awesome and educational video. Even though I'm sitting behind a computer screen, I still felt the urge to wear my safety glass when "we" got under the car with you. So much rust! I'm from and live in southern California so rust is virtually a non-issue here. 🙂

21. whered you get that awesome long light?

22. lol at that elvis clock at 2.21

23. That no-spill funnel is awesome.  I have one two and it saves me a TON of time.  But I have to ask: what have you been using that funnel for to cause the yellow plastic has turned brown? Thats nasty…  

24. why is the coolerfan on one side and AC fan on the other side ? .. usually the AC fan is placed in front of the cooler

25. This car looks almost as easy as my 83 S10.  From start to fully bled, was between 15-20 minutes. (prep work is key)  

26. It sucks how Honda is dropping parts support for these cars.  The radiator and thermostat are not available as OEM parts any longer.  I've had one of these cars since 1997 and my rad leaked in the same location at about 90K miles.  It cost about $400 new in 1999.  Your radiator looks close to OEM which is great.  The junked Vigors I see have aftermarket radiators with metal tanks in most cases.  These cars had only a few problem areas like the exhaust system corrosion/cracking, distributor oil leaks, and not so good (sluggish) auto transmission.  

27. Almost a half million subscribers:) it's party time. Next, ETCG takes over primetime television. Can't wait!

28. Hay Eric can you do a transmission flush for us?

29. Bearings are cheap.. pull the fan motor and replace them.

30. How long did it take you from start to finish Eric? 

31. Are Vigors good vehicles to learn car maintenance on? I see there's one in my area that looks in good condition with 100,000 miles on it for $500. 

32. Shame on you!  You should have tried to clear off as much rust as you could and give it a spray of primer to prevent more rust!  evil eye

33. Very good Eric!

34. I know Eric noted in this video not to use tap water in the cooling system, and I implore people not to do it as well. My experience has taught me that leaving tap water in your cooling system will clog and corrode your heater core because of the minerals in the tap water and possibly other parts of your cooling system as well. I'm lazy and not likely to flush the entire system after adding tap water, so I recommend adding the 100 percent if you have to and dilute it with 50/50 mix or distilled water at a later date. its probably cheaper to do it that way instead of buying more coolant to flush the entire system, plus heater cores are not a fun repair.

35. I've used golf tees for transmission cooler line plugs with some success.  I will try the spark plugs, though.

36. I use the pliers a lot when I'm with tubes holding valve stem in place while adding  air, stays in place that way.

37. Eric, I love that you have these long versions, sometimes things that you don't think is important to you, is actually to us. Thank you.

Comments are closed.