The 2001 Ford Ranger was available in three trims -- XL, XLT and EDGE -- and offered a choice of four different engines: a 3.0-liter 6-cylinder, a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder, a 4.0-liter 6-cylinder, and a 2.3-liter 4-cylinder. Radiator removal and installation is exactly the same for all models and engine configurations. The bottom of the radiator sits in the lower radiator bracket and the top is bolted to the core support. Changing the radiator requires removing the engine fan and fan shroud.
Put on the safety glasses. Place the large drain pan under the radiator. Remove the radiator drain plug by turning it counter-clockwise by hand. Allow all the coolant to drain into the drain pan and replace the radiator drain plug. Leave the drain pan under the radiator to catch any spillage during the removal process.
Raise the vehicle hood and support it with the hood prop rod. Loosen the coolant overflow hose clamp with a flat-head screwdriver. Remove the coolant overflow hose from the radiator.
Loosen the upper radiator hose clamp with a flat-head screwdriver. Twist the hose slightly to break any corrosion between the hose and the inlet, and pull the rubber hose straight off the radiator inlet.
Remove the fan shrouding bolts with the 10 mm socket and ratchet. Tilt the fan shroud forward and lift it away from the radiator and fan assemblies. Remove the fan bolt -- located in the center of the fan -- with the 15 mm socket and ratchet. Remove the fan and fan clutch from the vehicle.
Lying under the vehicle, loosen the lower radiator hose clamp with a flat-head screwdriver. Twist the rubber hose around the coolant outlet to break loose any corrosion, and pull the rubber hose off the coolant outlet.
Remove the two bolts that mount the top of the radiator to the core support, using the 15 mm socket and ratchet, and remove the two mounting brackets from the top of the radiator. Tilt the radiator toward the rear of the vehicle, then lift the radiator straight up to remove it from vehicle. Remove the three plastic pins from the top of the radiator channel by prying on the center push pin with a flat-head screwdriver. Unscrew the plastic cap.
Install the upper radiator channel to the new radiator by setting the push pins in place and pushing on the center pin until it is flush with the plastic clip. Screw on the plastic cap. Set the radiator into the lower radiator bracket and pull it toward the core support. Set the upper mounting brackets onto the top of the radiator and install the radiator upper mounting bolts with the 15 mm socket and ratchet.
Lie under the vehicle and slide the lower radiator hose onto the coolant outlet, then tighten the lower radiator hose clamp with a flat-head screwdriver.
Set the engine fan and fan clutch onto the pulley and hand-tighten the mounting bolt. Tighten the fan mounting bolt to 40 foot-pounds of torque with the 15 mm socket and torque wrench. Set the fan shroud over the radiator; make sure the bottom tabs sit into the fan shroud holes at the bottom of the radiator, then tighten the two mounting bolts with the 10 mm socket and ratchet.
Slide the upper radiator hose onto the radiator coolant inlet and tighten the hose clamp with the flat-head screwdriver. Slide the coolant overflow hose onto the overflow outlet and tighten the clamp with the flat-head screwdriver.
Check to make sure the radiator drain plug is tight. Remove the radiator cap and fill the radiator to the top of the fill neck with new coolant. Start the engine and allow it to reach operating temperature, adding coolant periodically as air is worked through the system and the coolant level drops.
Allow the engine to run for 15 minutes with the radiator cap off to allow any air pockets to exit the system. Shut off the engine and top off the radiator with coolant. Replace the radiator cap and remove the drain pan from under the truck. Dispose of the old coolant properly.
