How To Install A Mazda Mx5 Mk1 Radiator And Fan Shroud
Posted by Matthew Marks on 2nd Aug 2024
Today, we will cover installing a Mazda Mx5 Mk1 radiator and fan shroud with photos of every step involved. The installation is relatively straightforward, so most people with basic car knowledge should be able to follow this guide.
We filmed this video a while ago (Kyms Mazda was still green!) but never got around to doing the full write-up on how to install it. For some people, this will be more helpful than the video, but if you would rather watch the video, then here it is:
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We will cover the tools you need for installation, the radiator and fan shroud combo that we think works best, and the best testing methods to ensure it works correctly.
Tools Needed To Install An Mx5 Radiator And Fan Shroud
You will need a few tools to start this installation, but the number will vary depending on whether you fit the radiator and fan shroud on the floor or use a ramp.
Also, the fan shroud kit you decide to purchase may have different bolts than the one we used for this guide so that I will make the tools section as generic as possible.
Tools and Parts Needed:
- Mx5 Mk1 radiator
- Mx5 Mk1 fan shroud kit
- Ratchet with the correct-sized sockets
- Spanners
- Hex head socket or Allen keys for the cap head bolts
- A jack with axle stands or ramp
- A bucket or drain pan for the coolant
Optional Tools or Parts:
- Genuine Mazda coolant
Now you have all the tools you need and are ready to start installing the radiator and fan shroud combo, let's move on to the good stuff!
1. Install The Fan Shroud To The Radiator
Unbox the radiator and lay it on the box with the coolant ports facing upwards. Unbox the Mazda MX5 Mk1 radiator fan shroud and do the same thing.
Most of the time, the fans aren't fully bolted down to the fan shroud or will be supplied separately, so start by installing these to the shroud.
Once all of the nuts or bolts are tight, place the fan shroud on top of the radiator to line up the bolt holes correctly.
Install the 4 bolts through each cut-out in the fan shroud and tighten them into the welded bosses on the mx5 mk1 radiator. You should be done with the new radiator and fan shroud; they are ready to be installed.
As a side note, make sure the electrical connector for the fans is pointing the correct way, as with SPAL fans, you can mount them in 2 different positions. Check which way your fans are currently installed on the radiator in your car, and match this on the new fan shroud.
2. Lift The Car Into The Air
The new radiator and shroud have now been assembled; we can start the steps before removing the old one.
Start by ensuring the car is on level ground and jacking it up using safety precautions such as axle stands in the correct location on the car.
If you use a post ramp, get the car to the correct height and let the ramp down to the locking mechanism.
2. Drain The Coolant
Now, you will need to drain the coolant from the radiator. Start by removing the radiator cap and placing the bucket or drain pan underneath the drain bung on the bottom of the radiator.
Remove the drain bung and drain all the coolant out of the system. You can normally leave this for a few minutes until the whole system has been drained. Please note that you will still have some coolant in the hoses, so just be careful of this when removing them later on.
Once the coolant has been drained, install the bung and radiator cap back into the radiator to reduce the chance of leaks when removing the radiator.
3. Remove The Old Radiator And Fan Shroud
It's time to remove the old radiator and fan shroud from the car. First, unplug any wiring connecting the shroud to the car. There should be one or two plugs here.
Then, remove the top and bottom radiator hoses and put the bucket underneath to catch any excess coolant.
You don't need to remove these from the cylinder head side, but it will make installing the new radiator a bit easier, so this step is optional. At the bare minimum, you will need to remove the hoses from the radiator side.
Remove the overflow hose that should be connected to the radiator filler neck.
Remove brackets holding the radiator and fan shroud to the chassis; you can now lift the radiator and fan shroud out in one.
4. Install The New Radiator And Fan Shroud
Once you have double-checked that the bolts are tight on the radiator and fan shroud, place the new combo into the engine bay, locating it in the same place as the OEM radiator. You should have tabs on the chassis that these fit in.
You should replace everything you have removed from the old radiator, such as the hoses and brackets holding it to the chassis. Install everything in reverse order, and the last thing you should be left with should be the wiring for the fans.
Ensure that all hose clamps are tight to minimise the chance of leaks later on.
5. Wire The Fans To The Loom
Now, you must wire the fans to the car's OEM wiring. The fan shroud kit we sell comes with universal SPAL plugs, so these must be removed and the wires stripped to be connected to the OE wiring.
Do the same on the original plug side, and connect these together by soldering or crimp connectors. Soldering is always the best way here, but if you don't have a soldering iron, crimp connectors or adding waterproof superseal connectors will do the job.
In the photo below we temporarily crimped them together just to make sure the fans work. We have since soldered these.
Once you have connected these and tested them, you are all done and can move on to the last step, adding coolant back into the system.
6. Fill With Coolant And Bleed The System
Now the new Mx5 Mk1 radiator and fan shroud combo have been installed, you can add coolant and you will be finished! First, ensure the drain bung is tight, as the factory has not checked some of the new aluminium radiators.
Once you are happy everything is tight, fill the system with coolant, let the car off the ramp or axle stands and start the engine.
You can move on to the bleeding process if there are no leaks. Turn the car's heater to maximum and let the engine warm up. Once the engine has gotten to temperature and no more air bubbles are coming out of the radiator neck, you can install the radiator cap, and you are all done.
If you notice the car not getting to the correct temperature on the gauge or has a lumpy idle, then make sure to go back and repeat this process to re-bleed the coolant system to remove any air still trapped in the system.
Congratulations! You have now installed your brand-new radiator and fan shroud combo!
Products Used In This Guide
If you read this guide before purchasing either the mx5 mk1 radiator or fan shroud, we will put some links below for you as we sell a few of the products used in this guide.
This helps us out massively to create articles and videos like this, and if you are considering buying anything, then please use our specific reader discount code:
BLOG5
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How effective are aluminium radiators over standard?
A. Aftermarket aluminium radiators are much better at dissipating heat than standard radiators as they are made from better materials and have a much thicker core. For example, the Tegiwa Mazda MX5 Mk1 radiator has a 50mm thick core compared to the OEM radiator, which is around 16-20mm.
Q. Do I need an aftermarket Mx5 fan shroud?
A. The only time you would NEED an aftermarket fan shroud is when the fans struggle to keep up with the temperatures in applications such as turbocharging or high compression.
A higher-flow fan shroud package will always be beneficial, though, as it will reduce the chance of overheating in situations such as spirited driving or hot days in traffic. The T7Design fan shroud packages that we sell range between 1560cfm and 1860cfm with dual fans running.
Plus you will gain a huge amount of engine bay space as the OEM shroud is bulky versus an aftermarket slimline option.
Conclusion
So, that's our full guide to installing a Mazda Mx5 Mk1 radiator and fan shroud package. If you learnt anything from this guide, want to request a specific installation guide, or want to let us know what builds you are working on, please comment below!
If you are struggling with anything in this guide, please get in touch with us; we will be happy to assist!
For any related guides, then please head to these links: