2003 V70 24T Looking for advice on Radiator R & R

[bbeels]

I am looking for images or videos that show a 2003 Volvo V70 24T Radiator removal and reinstallation.

I have found lots of posts that most likely are giving me nearly the right answers, but they all seem to be for other models, engine types, or years. I’m just not sure whether nearly the right information, is the right information.

I have visited this site while researching various items in the past for anything from replacing a faulty DIM to getting access into the door to replace a window. I know that everyone has their experience and I am grateful that there is as much dialogue on so many aspects of Volvos.

In perusing posts that came up when searching “Radiator” in the Volvo V70 & XC-70 (2001-2007), S60 (2001-2009) forum I did find some PDF’s that look helpful:
01 S60 Turbo Radiator Replacement
04 xc CAC and Rad
04 xc70 fan2
04 xc70 rad

Can anyone verify that these would be the same to use for a 2003 v70 24T?
In the past, I have done quite a bit of work on my cars, those were older VW’s and Toyotas. I’m not sure that I want to open up the engine block, but it looks like a radiator swap would be a fairly basic operation. I talked to the local NAPA dealer and he can have a new radiator for me overnight for under $170.00. Doing it myself seems much more reasonable than the $1200.00 that I was quoted by my local shop. I’m sure that any money I save here will go to fund work that may be more in depth than I want to take on. Any opinions would be appreciated and considered.

In my searches I did find some very useful tips. Using a tube to direct the draining coolant into your desired container, use ramps instead of jacks to raise the front of the car and have it be stable. Some say that the fan housing comes out the top, and the radiator comes out the bottom. Others say they both come out the bottom. Is there a ruling on 2003 V70 24 T?

Several posts prefer Volvo coolant or at least a coolant using HOAT technology. I know that there is a Prestone container in the back of the car now and we were buying random coolants when having to refill. The post from AlanS on 18 mar 2014 “Coolant Brand?” certainly says not to mix them. As I probably did mix them, I’m sure the flush will be required.

I expect the coolant system should be flushed before I replace the radiator. As a stopgap to the seepage, I did use Bars cooling system repair in March 2014 and again in August 2014. I was going on longer than usual trips and this allowed me to travel without having to feed the coolant reservoir. It seems like there would be residual of this in the system and would prefer to not bring it forward into a new radiator. I would like to have the new radiator work well and last a good long time.

The current situation

In mid February the upper radiator tube came away from the radiator while my wife was driving our 2003 Volvo V70. She was able to get it back on and it stayed on till she got home. I looked at the connection and it looked like she’d gotten it back on without an issue. During the next few outings with the car it was consistently popping back off. Antifreeze would go all over and it was a hassle to get the tube back on and keep putting in more fluid. I probably tightened the clamp more than needed, but didn’t know how much pressure would be right to get the tube to stay.

We have another vehicle, so just traded our use to that car.

When the V70 was at home and cool, I took the tube off to see if I could figure out why it was popping off and found a ring of what looks like part of the radiator plastic stuck in the hose. I don’t know if it had come off from being old or if I had inadvertently snapped it off when being over zealous in my tightening. At this point I figure that I need to replace the radiator.

A little background.

It had been recommended to me by a local shop to replace the radiator during 2013 both in April and in August (126000 miles) when this local shop was attempting to fix an oil leak ($470.00) that had not been completely vanquished during a major service ($1360.00) in April 2013. Maybe this was a new oil leak. They had done a lot in April, so I wasn’t sure why I would be having a new leak so soon.

I had thought that the drips that I had were from the radiator “seeping” (see below).

During the April service (122000 miles) the timing belt was replaced as well as both cam seals and the front crank seal. Looking over my notes, I see that they did diagnosis both the oil system and a coolant system. The result came back that there was a “seeping” from the radiator up against a much more prolific oil leak. The oil leak was more pressing and so we did that with the timing belt, rather than going with an additional $1200.00 to replace the radiator at that time.

Also in August of 2013 just after the second oil leak fix the front and rear bushings and sway bar links were replaced. My notes show that I got tires, then had the August oil leak visit, and went back to the tire dealer for the sway bar issue. I think only the passenger side needed the work. The cause was determined to be from the oil that was leaking.

Fast forward to November of 2014 and a couple of new tires brought up that the sway bars links and bushings were once again in need. The tech said that the leaks should be taken care of before I fix these, as they would just deteriorate if I didn’t. Hmm. I need to find a shop that could really fix the oil leak. I need to stop the radiator leak or find a way to replace it.

This brings us back to February, when we shifted to the other car and I began more diligent research. The weather is now more dependable and I’d like to stop procrastinating. I’m confident that will your help, my v70 will be back on the road soon.

Thank You.