Removal of the cooling system radiator may be required if it loses its seal or if there is extensive damage. In this article, we will take a closer look at the progress of such work both on a conventional car and equipped with an air conditioning system. We will immediately make a reservation that for carrying out such work we will not need any additional auxiliary devices, a simple set of tools is enough.
How to remove the cooling radiator on a Chevrolet Niva is described in detail in the video below:
Preparatory work
With visible signs of damage, even without a coolant leak, the cooling radiator needs to be replaced.
Before starting work, make sure that all tools are at hand, WD-40 fluid for the best removal of soured parts, a container with a volume of at least 5 liters to drain the used coolant, as well as an additional container for draining the power steering fluid.
Step-by-step procedure for removing the cooling radiator on a Chevrolet Niva
- We drive the car into a pit or lift, turn on the handbrake.
- Next, disconnect the negative terminal with. Now you can start draining the coolant, and this is done as follows.
- We take the heater lever in the cabin to the red mark and open the cap on the expansion tank.
Turn on the maximum "heat"
- Then, under the machine, we are looking for a tap, with which you need to drain the liquid. It is made of plastic and it is unlikely to confuse it.
We are waiting until all the antifreeze will pour out.
- Slowly unscrewing it, the liquid will ooze through it and may soon gush with strong pressure (which is why work should be carried out after waiting for the motor to cool - approx.).
- After waiting until the liquid merges, we proceed to work under the hood.
For ease of draining, remove the protection from dirt
- The next step is to dismantle the air filter and casing, for this it is enough to unscrew the four fixing bolts and loosen the pipe clamps.
Disassembly should be carried out carefully so that dirt does not get into the nozzle.
- Next, open the lid on the power steering reservoir and unscrew the hose clamps that follow from it to the radiator.
The power steering reservoir is marked with an arrow
- Before the first of the two hoses is completely dismantled, prepare a container and drain the liquid into it, repeat the operation with the second hose.
We continue to work, but with the radiator itself
- In order to dismantle the radiator, we need a “10” head and an extension for the key. It is held on by five bolts that must be completely unscrewed.
- Next, we dismantle the sound signal by disconnecting the terminals from it in advance, as well as from the cooling fan start-up unit.
- Using the key to "7", we loosen and disconnect the clamp coming from the pipe.
You can also use a screwdriver for the best removal.
- For the convenience of removing the radiator, it may be necessary to dismantle the "fly trap", it rests on 4 bolts, there should be nothing difficult with its removal.
- Then we unscrew the mount of the radiator itself, when this is done, you will have the opportunity to dismantle the two pipes going to the radiator at the top, on the passenger side.
During the analysis of these parts, you may need an assistant.
- After that, you can separate the block with fans and the radiator itself.
- For dismantling and disconnecting, there are six attachment points that can be unscrewed with a key to "10".
- When all the bolts are unscrewed, the radiator will still not give in, because it will be held by the hose at the bottom and the air trap.
- We disconnect these parts with the key to “10”, unscrewing 2 bolts, and simply bend the air trap, because it is made of light metal.
- Once all the parts are dismantled, you can remove the radiator from its seat. Please note that there will be about 200-300 ml of coolant inside it, keep this in mind when parsing.
Radiator replacement step by step
New and old radiator
Work on removing the cooling radiator on a car with air conditioning
Work on cars for removing the cooling radiator equipped with air conditioning is generally similar, but has its own characteristics.
When replacing a radiator on a car equipped with air conditioning, at first glance it may seem complicated, due to the large number of pipes and other parts, but in the course of work it is important not to rush and do everything carefully.
Replacement of the Chevrolet-Niva heater radiator. We change the heat exchanger of the stove ourselves
The heater radiator is one of the important components of the car's cooling system. From his work depends on how well the interior will be heated in the cold season. The heat exchanger is in a plastic casing and is located under the dashboard.
Replacing the stove radiator on a Chevrolet Niva necessary in case of detection of malfunctions in its operation. They are quite easy to find, you just need to know the following signs:
- accumulation of coolant under the driver's foot mat;
- in the cabin there was a smell of antifreeze or antifreeze;
- after heating the interior, a greasy film appears on the windows, which is not washed off with water and interferes with the view;
- the stove does not heat well;
- constant lack of coolant in the system.
If you find any of these signs after the heater has been operating, you must immediately inspect it in working condition. If the leak is confirmed, then you need to replace the heat exchanger in the near future.
The radiator can leak in several cases. Firstly, the use of low-quality coolant or tap water, which corrodes its walls. Secondly, the excess of the service life that each vehicle unit has. Thirdly, overheating of the engine cooling system. If the liquid is very hot, the honeycomb can delaminate, thereby creating a leak.
Preparing to replace the Chevrolet Niva stove radiator
In order to replace the heater core yourself, you will need the following set of tools:
- heads on 8, 10, 14;
- long collar for heads;
- pliers;
- Phillips and flat screwdrivers;
- thin foam.
Before replacing the heat exchanger, it is imperative to drain the antifreeze from the system. To do this, it is necessary to unscrew the cap of the expansion tank, place a suitable container for liquid under the drain hole, and unscrew the bolt from it with a head of 14.
Chevrolet Niva are available with or without air conditioning. It is very difficult to replace the stove radiator in a model equipped with an air conditioning system without the use of special equipment and the help of specialists. Therefore, this article will describe the process of replacing a heat exchanger in a car without air conditioning.
Replacing a heater radiator in a Chevrolet Niva
The manufacturer insists that the radiator be changed only after the complete dismantling of the torpedo and dashboard. But the ingenuity of motorists over many years of operation led to a method that will be described later.
1
.Remove the glove box ("glove box"). To do this, use a Phillips screwdriver to unscrew 4
screws for fastening to the hull and torpedo. 
2 .Using a Phillips screwdriver, loosen the screw securing the bottom air duct of the stove and remove it.
3. Use a screwdriver to loosen the lower hose clamp screw.
To prevent liquid from spilling onto the floor, place a container under the nozzle.
4.
Remove the nozzle and drain the remaining liquid. 
5
.Using a Phillips screwdriver, unscrew 2
screws holding the heatsink to the chassis. 
6. head on 8 unscrew the nut holding the relay cover and remove it.
7. Use pliers to bite off the corner of the plastic casing of the heat exchanger, which rests against the torpedo, and pull it towards you.
8.
Pulling out the old heater core 
9
.Reinstall the new heat exchanger and assemble all parts of the assembly in reverse order.
Refill the coolant back into the system and check the level a few days after replacing the radiator. If the antifreeze is not enough, then add the right amount and check in a few more days.
Comfort in the cabin of any car in the cold season is largely determined by the efficiency and serviceability of the heating system. Heating problems most often arise due to a faulty stove radiator.
The purpose of the radiator of the stove of the car "Chevrolet Niva"
The stove radiator in the Niva Chevrolet Niva car is a conventional heat exchanger. Antifreeze heated by the engine passes through its tubes, supplied from the radiator of the cooling system. These tubes have many thin fins that heat up quickly. The hot radiator is blown by a furnace fan, and warm air is supplied to the car interior through the air duct system.
The heater radiator is a conventional heat exchanger
The location of the heater core
In the Niva Chevrolet car, the stove radiator is located behind the glove compartment. To ensure free access to it, it is necessary to remove the dashboard.
Furnace radiator "Chevrolet Niva" is located behind the glove box
Completely dismantling the instrument panel is problematic and time consuming, so usually only the glove compartment is removed.
Signs of a malfunctioning furnace radiator
The main signs of failure of the stove radiator are as follows:
- a specific smell of antifreeze appears in the cabin;
- after turning on the stove, an oily coating appears on the windshield;
- the air in the cabin warms up very weakly;
- the consumption of antifreeze increases sharply;
- traces of antifreeze appear under the passenger seat mat.
If at least one of these signs is found, in the absence of leaks from pipes with antifreeze, you can safely prepare to replace the stove radiator.
Replacing the stove radiator on a Chevrolet Niva with air conditioning
To carry out the work, you will need a new heater radiator and the following tools:
- a set of open-end wrenches;
- flat and Phillips screwdrivers;
- pliers;
- hacksaw for metal.
In addition, you should prepare a container for draining antifreeze in advance.
Procedure for replacing the heater core
To replace the stove radiator on a Chevrolet Niva with air conditioning, you must perform the following steps.
- Using a Phillips screwdriver, the screws on the side panel in the cabin and the glove box fastening screws are unscrewed.
The panel on the passenger side is unscrewed with a Phillips screwdriver
- The cabin filter is removed. To do this, with a 10-mm open-end wrench, four snail fastening bolts are unscrewed. The latter is pulled out along with the damper, and the entire structure is moved to the side so that access to the wiring appears. After disconnecting the wires, the snail and the electric motor are removed.
When dismantling the stove radiator, you need to remove the cabin filter
- Remove the evaporator under the cabin filter. With a flat screwdriver, two mounting bolts are unscrewed, all tubes are disconnected, and the evaporator is removed from its seat.
To gain access to the stove radiator, it is necessary to unscrew the evaporator mounting bolts
- After removing the evaporator, access to the four mounting bolts and hoses of the stove radiator opens. In case of severe wear, the hoses are cut with a knife and replaced with new ones when installing a new radiator. The mounting bolts are unscrewed with a socket head by 12.
Under the evaporator, access to the pipes and radiator mounts opens
- The mounting straps are slightly pushed aside, and the radiator is carefully pulled out through the side panel opening in the cabin.
To remove the radiator, the mounting strips are bent
- Installing a new radiator is done in reverse order.
Video: replacing the stove radiator on the Niva with air conditioning
Replacing the stove radiator on a Chevrolet Niva without air conditioning
To replace the stove radiator on the Chevrolet Niva, you will need the same tools. However, the replacement algorithm is slightly different.
The sequence of actions when replacing the stove radiator
The procedure for replacing the stove radiator on a Chevrolet Niva without air conditioning is as follows.
- All antifreeze is drained from the heating system. Complete draining of the coolant takes 7-10 minutes.
Before replacing the stove radiator, it is necessary to drain the antifreeze from the expansion tank
- A Phillips screwdriver unscrews the screws holding the glove compartment and the plastic side panel from the passenger seat. Opens access to the mounting bolts and radiator pipes.
The glove compartment is removed with a Phillips screwdriver
- Use a flathead screwdriver to loosen the metal clamps on the pipes. Then the pipes are removed. At the same time, a small container should be substituted under the radiator, since even with a complete drain, a small amount of antifreeze remains in the radiator, which can get on the interior trim.
When removing the pipes under the radiator, substitute a small container for antifreeze
- With a Phillips screwdriver, two radiator mounting bolts are unscrewed, and it is carefully pulled out until its right corner rests against the edge of the plastic panel.
The heater core is attached to the body with two bolts.
- The corner of the plastic frame, which does not allow you to pull out the radiator, is carefully broken off with pliers or cut off with a hacksaw. The radiator is completely pulled out.
The corner of the plastic frame is broken off with pliers or cut off with a hacksaw
- Before replacing, a corner is cut off in the same way on the plastic frame of the new radiator. Further actions are carried out in reverse order.
Video: replacing the stove radiator on the Niva without air conditioning
Problems of choosing a new radiator
For the Chevrolet Niva car, you can find aluminum and copper radiators on the market, which differ both in performance and in price.
Aluminum radiators
The main advantages of aluminum radiators:
- low price (from 700 rubles);
- short heating time;
- light weight.
The disadvantages of such radiators include:
- low heat saving rates (heats up quickly and cools down quickly);
- low maintainability (it is impossible to solder holes and holes);
- the presence of steel inserts that are subject to corrosion and significantly reduce the life of the radiator.
In Russia, aluminum radiators are manufactured by LUZAR and the Orenburg Radiator plant.
LUZAR radiators are low cost
Copper radiators
Copper radiators have a number of advantages, the main of which are:
- high rates of heat saving;
- longer service life than aluminum radiators;
- the possibility of repairing holes and holes by soldering.
Disadvantages of copper radiators:
- high cost (from 1700 rubles);
- slow heating;
- heavy weight making installation difficult.
DAAZ copper radiators hold heat well
The greatest demand among car owners is for copper radiators manufactured by DAAZ and SHAAZ.
Thus, replacing the stove radiator of a Chevrolet Niva car is quite simple. You will need a new radiator, a standard set of locksmith tools and no more than two hours of free time.
Sooner or later, it may be necessary to replace the Chevrolet Niva stove radiator with air conditioning. This is due to the tendency for this element to break down to maintain a normal microclimate in the cabin. After all, those times have passed when copper radiators were installed in the brainchild of AvtoVAZ, they were essentially eternal. Now aluminum parts are being installed, which does not have the best effect on the duration of the stove.
At the same time, many drivers are afraid to do repair work on their own and turn to services. They do not like this work there, for a large volume, not too comparable with the payment, and often they do not do it very well. In this regard, it is advisable to do the replacement yourself.
Symptoms
Replacing the radiator of the Chevrolet Niva stove with air conditioning is a rather complicated job, but at the same time it is quite possible to do it yourself. Only first you need to determine whether the cause is really in the heater radiator. The symptoms of a malfunction are as follows:
- Poor operation of the stove;
- Regular lack of fluid in the heating system;
- (not always);
- A puddle of oily liquid under the driver's mat (read the article at the same time).
Tool. This work does not require a special tool, almost everything you need can be found in the usual set of keys. You will also need 2 screwdrivers (slotted and Phillips) and pliers. And also a box for screws. In addition, you can stock up on a marker.
Related article: "".
Replacement
There are 2 ways to change the stove for a Chevrolet Niva with air conditioning. They differ in the speed of execution and additional work required to complete the action:
- Without removing the dashboard. In this case, it will be necessary to depressurize the air conditioner, which will require its subsequent refilling with refrigerant;
- With withdrawal. This method does not cause damage to the air conditioner, but is more time consuming to perform.
This completes the dismantling of the heater radiator. Everything is assembled in the reverse order.
Conclusion. Drivers often face the problem of heating the cabin. Which is not surprising. After all, the heater works in a very difficult mode. Therefore, it often fails. Then you will need to replace the Chevrolet Niva stove radiator with air conditioning. This work is simple, but painstaking. It is important to do everything as carefully as possible, otherwise you will have to refuel the air conditioner.
The stove radiator performs an important function in the heating system of each car. If the heat exchanger malfunctions, the system’s performance is disrupted, which reduces not only the comfort of driving a vehicle, but can also lead to overheating of the motor. There are characteristic signs that indicate that there are problems with the radiator and the part needs to be replaced.
Where is the stove radiator located on the Chevrolet Niva
The car heating system consists of a number of elements, without which its normal functioning is impossible. One of these is the heater core. Sometimes there are problems with the heat exchanger, to eliminate which it is necessary to dismantle the assembly. The radiator is located in the passenger compartment behind the heater control unit. In addition to heating and ventilation devices, the car can be equipped with an air conditioning system. If in the first case it is possible to dismantle the radiator without much difficulty, then in the second case it will take a lot of effort.
Body interior heating system: 1 - ventilation duct; 2 - air duct for heating the windshield; 3 - intermediate body; 4 - intermediate air duct; 5 - air intake filter housing; 6 - fan of the heating system; 7 - central nozzle for interior ventilation; 8 - lining of the panel of control levers; 9 - front air duct for heating the passenger compartment; 10 - rear air duct for heating the passenger compartment; 11 - air duct for heating the legs; 12 - heater assembly; 13 - side nozzle (stove radiator is inside box 12)
When the Radiator Needs to be Replaced
During long-term operation of the vehicle, the following problems arise with the heat exchanger:
- the appearance of a leak, as evidenced by puddles under the rug on the driver's side, the formation of a greasy coating on the windows;
- clogging, which affects poor throughput and deterioration of heat transfer.
How to replace the stove radiator on a Chevrolet Niva without air conditioning
Before proceeding with the dismantling of the radiator, it will be necessary to drain the antifreeze from the cooling system. To do this, unscrew the bolt on the cylinder block and remove the cover of the expansion tank. Another option is also possible, in which the reservoir lid is opened and the throttle assembly cooling tube is disconnected. Instead of this tube, another hose is inserted through which the liquid is removed. To speed up the process, you can gently purge the tank to drain the remaining antifreeze. In addition, it is recommended to disconnect the negative terminal from the battery.
To replace the stove radiator, it is necessary to unscrew the bolt on the cylinder block and the plug of the expansion tank to drain the coolant Tools for the job
To dismantle the radiator you will need:
- screwdrivers (flat, cross);
- pliers;
- wire cutters;
- end heads of different dimensions (8, 10, 14).
How to remove the heater core
It is worth taking into account that the manufacturer's recommendations for car repair are far from always the simplest and most accessible for an ordinary motorist. Therefore, quite often you have to rely on the experience of owners who carry out repairs with their own hands using improvised means and tools, resorting to various tricks. Let's start the disassembly process:
- We dismantle the glove compartment, for which we unscrew the corresponding fasteners. We unscrew the screws for fastening the lining on the right and left sides at the passenger's feet, remove the terminals of the lighting bulbs.
To remove the glove compartment, you will need to unscrew the corresponding screws and remove the side decorative trim at the legs - We loosen the clamps of the rubber pipes from the radiator and carefully tighten them, draining the remaining antifreeze into the prepared container.
After removing the hoses from the radiator, drain the remaining antifreeze into the prepared container - After removing the hoses, we unscrew the fasteners of the heat exchanger itself and push the part towards ourselves until it rests against the air duct.
- We unscrew the nut securing the relay cover with the head on “8” and remove the element. It will be seen that the corner of the frame interferes with the subsequent dismantling of the radiator. To solve this problem, we remove the interfering part of the plastic with wire cutters and remove the heat exchanger itself.
To dismantle the radiator from the seat, you will need to cut off a piece of plastic - On a new radiator, it is recommended to glue the extreme edges with foam rubber to avoid air penetration due to leaky connections.
- We also cut off a piece of plastic on the frame of the new heat exchanger, after which we insert the part into its seat.
On a new stove radiator, it is necessary to cut off the corner of the frame, which will allow you to install the part in place - We assemble in the reverse order.
Video: removing and installing a stove radiator on a Chevrolet Niva without air conditioning
How to replace the stove radiator on a Chevrolet Niva with air conditioning
When equipping a car with an air conditioning system, replacing a stove radiator at home is much more difficult, but still possible.
What tools will be needed
For dismantling you will need:
- Screwdriver Set;
- keys (heads) on "8", "10", "19", "24";
- cross bits and Torex T20;
- Head Torch;
- sealant.
To dismantle the radiator, you will need to prepare a certain list of tools How to remove the evaporator and fan
Before dismantling the radiator, you will need to provide access to it. To do this, you need to remove the air conditioner evaporator. We carry out the procedure step by step:
- We remove the glove compartment, for which we unscrew all the fasteners.
- We dismantle the airbag (if it is present in the vehicle configuration). Remove the negative terminal from the battery, then look for the red airbag connector and remove it. Using a suitable tool, unscrew the pillow mounting bolts. Using a flat screwdriver, pry off the plug on the panel, press the latches from the bottom and pull the pillow up.
With a wrench or head of a suitable dimension, we unscrew the two bolts securing the airbag - Remove the air duct on the passenger side. We pry off the ventilation grille plugs with a flat screwdriver, unscrew the screws and take out the grille. Remove the tape and remove the air duct.
To remove the air duct on the passenger side, you will need to dismantle the ventilation grille and remove the adhesive tape - We dismantle the pipe at the passenger's feet. We unscrew the fasteners for fastening the hose and pull it towards ourselves.
At the passenger's feet, you need to remove the pipe, for which we unscrew the hose fasteners - To remove the air conditioner evaporator, you will need to remove the fuse box and control unit. There is no need to completely dismantle them, you can simply leave the devices in a hanging position. We unscrew the cover of the control unit using the head on “10”, unscrew the fastening bolts with a Phillips screwdriver.
Before dismantling the air conditioner evaporator, you will need to remove the control unit and fuse box - To dismantle the fan, we remove the air filter and unscrew 4 self-tapping screws that secure the electric motor.
To remove the heater fan, you need to remove the cabin filter and unscrew 4 screws - At the bottom of the stove, we unscrew the self-tapping screw with a bat at “7”.
We insert the bit on "7" into the key of a suitable dimension and wrap it with electrical tape - We bend metal brackets.
To remove the evaporator nothing interferes, you need to bend the metal brackets - Carefully remove the cable that is responsible for adjusting the damper so as not to lose the latch. We remove the structure itself to the right.
- To disassemble the fan into two parts, remove the latches (6 pieces), prying them with a screwdriver. After that, the housing can be disconnected and pulled down.
To separate the parts of the fan, it is necessary to remove the latches, after which the elements are removed - The next step is to remove the air conditioner evaporator. To do this, unscrew the tubes of the air conditioning device under the hood. Since freon will begin to leave the system, it is better to avoid getting it into the respiratory system.
- We unscrew the nuts from the studs located nearby.
In the engine compartment, you will need to unscrew the nuts from the studs and remove the evaporator tubes - Carefully unscrew the bolts securing the evaporator housing so as not to break the nuts, and one self-tapping screw located near the radiator pipes.
In the cabin, carefully unscrew the evaporator mounting bolts, as well as a self-tapping screw - We bring the evaporator nozzle to the right until it is released, while you have to make some effort. Removing the assembly will interfere with the left front bracket - it must be pulled and pulled out from under the panel mount. In addition, the clamps of the radiator pipes will prevent removal. It is better to loosen them and pull them down. After that, we take out the evaporator itself.
To remove the evaporator, it is necessary to make some efforts to remove the bracket on the left side from under the panel mount
How to remove the radiator
The dismantling of the evaporator refers to the preparatory measures before removing the stove radiator. First, we perform the following step-by-step actions:
This completes the dismantling process. Assembly is carried out in the reverse order. It is recommended to use new nozzles during installation, since the rubber elements lose their elasticity over time. If desired, the hoses can be put on the sealant. Upon completion of all procedures, coolant is poured into the system to the required level in the expansion tank.
Video: replacing a heater radiator on a Chevrolet Niva with air conditioning
Before the cold sets in, it is recommended to check the operation of the heating system and make sure that the radiator connections are tight in order to reduce the likelihood of unforeseen situations. If you need to replace the radiator on the Chevrolet Niva with or without air conditioning, you can do the procedure yourself, despite the complexity of the work. You just need to be patient and follow the step by step instructions.
