Vitara Radiator in a Jimny?

As above really... I've done a few google searches and read a few articles all relating to earlier Jimnys and overheating specially when challenged with hills, pulling etc

One chap had said he had replaced his radiator with the bigger vitara, similar design but bigger but he had to make some mounts.

I was wondering/hoping anyone on here had done this and have some guidance? Or just anyone who may have some tips tackling it.

For reference this is what I was looking at on the bay...


pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=151275691557&alt=web

Cheers

Surprised to hear of a Jimny overheating. I live in Oz, temps here get up to 50c in summer in Victoria and I have been out in the Flinders Range South Australia, pretty barren country, on days where it was 55 in the shade and temp has always remained at the same low point on guage. Towed boats and trailers up and down hills and never had any overheating issues.

My Jimny is an October 2000 build with 397,000 k's on it.

they only get hot if the radiator is full of mud

Interesting! I might hold back for now then although can't see it hurting in the future

think I might try the water pump next then. Got a metal impeller one which might improve things

I tow a 16 ft dinghy at up to 60 mph up and down hills with two up and all the gear, and have never ever had an overheat.
I would check why before spending cash on a bigger radiator, water pump/blocked radiator matrix/fan problem etc.
Cheers
Vic

As has been said above - there is nothing wrong with the standard Jimny cooling system when in good order.

Like any vehicle, when it gets older it deteriorates and components may need replacing. Radiators get blocked from the coolant not being replaced often enough and the rust building up inside. They are cheap enough and easy to replace.

The viscous fan's viscous unit can stop locking up. You can force it to be locked all the time or replace with an electric fan. An electric fan can be cheap with a temperature sensor put between the fins on the radiator or there are ways of placing a probe within the coolant. The fact it is not continuously running off the engine reduces drain on engine power and may save a little fuel. If it aint broke though - don't fix it.

Also as you say, the water pump may been on its way out. Cheap and easy to replace too.

So replacing the whole system is cheap and easy to do, but I would start with just the rad as it is the likely culprit, cheap and easy to change. Then if it still runs hot look at the other two possibilities.

Kirkynut