The powerful 4.6-liter 275-horsepower engine in your 1998 Lincoln Continental needs a radiator operating under the best conditions to remove coolant heat as needed and maintain the proper engine operating temperature. Rust and buildup in the radiator coolant passages slow coolant flow and cooling efficiency, gradually increasing engine temperature over time. Before it is too late, protect your Continental engine from overheating and expensive repairs by replacing the failing radiator at home using common tools.
Slide a large pan under the radiator and connect an 18-inch vinyl hose to the drain plug. Open the drain plug and drain the coolant out of the radiator into the pan. Cover the pan and move it out of the way.
Disconnect the ground (black) battery cable with a wrench.
Take off the air cleaner tube with a ratchet and socket. This will give you better access to the radiator assembly.
Trace the upper radiator hose where it connects to the water bypass tube. Slide the clamp securing the hose to the tube away from the fitting with a pair of rib-joint pliers. Pull the hose off the bypass tube.
Disconnect the coolant reservoir hose from the radiator with the rib-joint pliers.
Hold the radiator connector for the oil cooler lines with a back-up wrench and disconnect the cooler lines at the radiator with a flare wrench. Protect the line openings with a piece of clean plastic sheet and a rubber band to prevent dust and dirt from going into the system.
Unfasten the air conditioning (A/C) condenser from the radiator with a ratchet, ratchet extension and socket.
Unplug the cooling fans' electrical connectors.
Raise the front of your Continental with a floor jack and support it with two jack stands. Take off the engine splash shield from under the engine with a ratchet, ratchet extension and socket.
Slide the clamp securing the lower radiator hose to the radiator fitting with a pair of rib-joint pliers. Pull the hose off the radiator.
Unfasten the power steering/transaxle oil cooler next to the radiator with a ratchet and socket and move it aside.
Support the radiator with a safety stand and unfasten the radiator support with a ratchet, ratchet extension and socket. Remove the radiator and cooling fans as a single assembly and lay the assembly on a workbench. Unbolt the cooling fans from the radiator with a ratchet and socket. Detach the upper hose from the radiator with the rib-joint pliers.
Attach the upper hose to the new radiator with the rib-joint pliers. Fasten the cooling fans to the radiator with the ratchet and socket. Carefully position the radiator and cooling fan assembly inside the engine compartment. Fasten the radiator support with the ratchet, ratchet extension and socket. Remove the jack stand.
Replace the power steering/transaxle oil cooler with the ratchet and socket.
Connect the lower radiator hose and secure it with the clamp, using the rib-joint pliers.
Reinstall the engine splash shield with the ratchet, ratchet extension and socket. Lower your Continental with the floor jack.
Plug in the cooling fans' electrical connectors.
Fasten the A/C condenser to the radiator with the ratchet, ratchet extension and socket.
Reconnect the oil cooler lines to the radiator. Use a backup wrench to hold the radiator connector and tighten the line retaining nuts with the flare wrench.
Connect the coolant reservoir hose to the radiator with the rib-joint pliers.
Reconnect the upper radiator hose to the water bypass tube. Secure the clamp to the fitting with the rib-joint pliers.
Replace the air cleaner tube with the ratchet and socket.
Reconnect the ground (black) battery cable with the wrench.
Refill the radiator with coolant using a small funnel. Check for coolant leaks at the radiator hoses.
