Hyundai Santa Fe Radiator: Specs, Fitment & Common Faults

On the Santa Fe, a leak specifically from the weep hole near the A/C compressor genuinely points toward a failing water pump seal.

Illustration for editorial purposes

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OEM Part Number: 253102B970 (as quoted in catalogue listings — confirm via VIN) — aftermarket radiators Nissens 675046 / Valeo 701363

Accuracy note: Covers the Hyundai Santa Fe (2012-2018) as listed in the UK aftermarket catalogues. Radiators are sold by engine, gearbox and air-conditioning fitment, and one model usually has two or three different cores — a thicker core for diesels and automatics, a thinner one for small petrols — with different hose positions, so a radiator for the wrong engine will not connect up. The references below are UK aftermarket listings whose fitment lists name this generation, labelled by brand with the core size in mm; genuine numbers are those quoted against the listing. Check your engine code and whether the car has air conditioning against your VIN, and replace the coolant and bleed the system after fitting.

Radiators (aftermarket)	Nissens 675046 (510 x 471 x 26 mm, soldered aluminium core, plastic tanks, with built-in oil cooler, fits 2.0 CRDi 150/185 PS D4HA and 2.2 CRDi 197 PS D4HB, 2WD and 4WD); Valeo 701363; NRF 53168; Van Wezel 82002339.
Core sizes & variants	One radiator covers all the UK diesel engines; it has 35 mm hose connections and an integral transmission oil cooler, so it suits the automatic.
Genuine (OE) numbers quoted	253102B970; 253102B990
Fitment notes	Supplied with gaskets and seals. The same part also fits the late Santa Fe II (CM) diesels.

Accuracy note: genuinely worth knowing: some Santa Fe engines pair the radiator with an integrated oil cooler or a separate charge-air cooler depending on turbocharging — these aren't interchangeable, so confirm your exact engine spec before ordering.

A Genuinely Useful Diagnostic Detail Worth Knowing — Hyundai Santa Fe Radiator

If you're trying to pin down exactly where a coolant leak is coming from, this is genuinely worth knowing: a leak specifically from the small weep hole in the engine block near the A/C compressor points toward a failing water pump seal rather than a more general leak elsewhere.

A genuinely honest point worth knowing even after a recent water pump replacement: if a leak returns despite a relatively recent replacement, internal seals or bearings within even a new pump can occasionally be compromised, or the pump can be damaged by an unrelated issue. It's worth checking the timing belt tensioner and pulleys for wear at the same time, since improper belt tension can itself damage an otherwise sound water pump.

It's also worth knowing that the thermostat housing sits toward the front of the engine, higher up than where normal AC condensation would appear — worth checking this specific area if you're unsure whether water underneath the car is genuine coolant or harmless condensation.

Hyundai Santa Fe Radiator: The Part That Keeps Everything Else From Cooking

Unglamorous as it is, the Hyundai Santa Fe's cooling system sits behind nearly every serious engine failure that isn't just ordinary wear — and one that went unaddressed for too long. Noticing early warning signs here is a small cost against a potentially very large one.

Hyundai Santa Fe Radiator: Watch: Replacing It

🎬 Watch: HYUNDAI SANTA FE RADIOTOR REPLACEMENT AND OVERHEATING DIAGNOSTIC #hyundai #autel

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Generation not stated in title; the only clearly dated alternative is the 2005-2010 older gen (BmHM5E9Blk0).

Hyundai Santa Fe Radiator reference plate

Before you buy: radiator size and design vary significantly by engine size, transmission type, and whether your car has air conditioning. Always confirm against your VIN before ordering.

Hyundai Santa Fe Radiator: What It Does

On the Hyundai Santa Fe, engine coolant sheds its heat into the passing air via the radiator, which is what keeps engine temperature in a safe working range. On automatics, it frequently pulls double duty cooling the transmission fluid through its own internal circuit — a detail that makes getting the exact part number right especially important.

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Hyundai Santa Fe Radiator: Faults, DIY Difficulty & Aftermarket Advice

These are the same regardless of make or model — see our full Radiator Guide for the three common failure modes, confirming fitment against your VIN, and OEM vs aftermarket guidance.

More Hyundai Radiator

The same part, covered across other Hyundai models.