It's essential to keep the radiator on your Mazda 6 in good condition, as a leaky radiator can cause overheating and engine damage. However, radiators can wear out or corrode over time. If you're mechanically inclined, you can save money by replacing the radiator yourself. Although the process is essentially the same for any year, here's how to replace the radiator in the popular 2004 Mazda 6.
Disconnect the negative battery connector before you begin. Locate the drain on the lower part of the radiator and drain the engine coolant into a resealable container.
Remove the air cleaner, shroud panel, and cooling fan. If your Mazda 6 has a 3.0-L engine, unhook the upper radiator hose and if your Mazda 6 has an automatic transmission, disconnect the oil hose from the radiator. If your Mazda 6 has a 3.0-L engine, take off the coolant reserve hose.
Unfasten the radiator bolts and remove the radiator hoses. Inspect the hoses, and if they show signs of wear such as cracks or bulges, they should be replaced.
Remove the radiator from the vehicle.
Install the new radiator and torque the bolts according to specifications with a torque wrench. Reinstall the engine components in the reverse order in which they were removed, tightening nuts and bolts securely.
Fill the radiator with a mixture of distilled water and engine coolant. Leave the radiator cap off while you start the engine and let it run for several minutes. This will bleed any air from the system. Turn off the engine and put the radiator cap on tightly.
Check the level of transaxle fluid and add fluid if necessary.
