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A Direct-Fit Aluminum Radiator for the 2000-2007 Ford Focus

If your first-generation Focus is losing coolant or running warm, the factory plastic radiator is the usual suspect. Plastic end tanks crack and seams leak with age, and a leak always ends the same way: low coolant and a temperature gauge climbing toward the red.

The Aluminum Radiator for 2000-2007 Ford Focus 2.0L 2.3L L4 CU2296 replaces that weak point with aluminum from end tank to end tank. It's engineered as a direct replacement, so it installs on the stock mounting points with the existing connections — no cutting, no fabricated brackets, no adapter hoses.

Signs Your Factory Radiator Is Done

Plastic tanks and seams fail in predictable ways. Watch for these:

• Coolant puddles under the front of the car after it sits
• A coolant level that keeps dropping with no visible hose leak
• Temperature creeping up in traffic or on long pulls
• Visible cracks or staining on the plastic end tanks

Any one of these means the cooling system needs attention. Because the OEM design depends on plastic tanks, the repair that lasts is a swap to all-aluminum construction.

CU2296 Technical Specifications

Measure twice, order once. These are the numbers that matter:

The 1-5/16" inlet and outlet match the factory hose size, and the 23-5/8" X 14-3/16" core sits in the stock position — that's why the swap needs no modifications. Black and silver carry the same construction and the same 1-year coverage, so pick the finish you want.

Aluminum vs. the OEM Plastic Radiator

Heat Transfer

Aluminum conducts heat about 3 times better than plastic. More heat moves out of the coolant on every pass through the core, so your engine temperature stays steadier in traffic, on grades, and in hot weather.

No Plastic Tanks to Fail

The plastic end tank is the part that cracks and leaks on a stock Focus radiator. The CU2296 is aluminum from tank to tank, so the pressure and temperature extremes that kill plastic don't produce the same failures.

Fin Design

High-density multi-louvered fins maximize contact with airflow. That means maximum cooling efficiency at highway speed and at low-speed crawling alike.

Service Life

Aluminum radiators typically last 2-3 times longer than the plastic OEM versions. Install one and you stop repeating this job every few years.

Trusted by Owners and Specialists

Industry experts consistently recommend aluminum radiators over plastic OEM versions for their superior heat dissipation and their resistance to the pressure-related failures common in plastic end tank designs.

Customer reviews and automotive forums report the same pattern: aluminum replacement radiators deliver longer service life and more reliable performance, especially in higher-mileage vehicles and demanding driving conditions.

Installation on Your Focus

This is a removal-and-replacement job. The old radiator comes out, the CU2296 goes in on the same mounting points with the same connections, and standard hand tools cover the whole thing.

Tools You Need

• Socket set
• Screwdrivers
• Pliers
• Coolant collection pan

No special tools are required for this direct-fit replacement.

Five Steps to a Clean Install

1. Drain the coolant completely before removing the old radiator.
2. Check every hose and clamp while the system is open, and replace anything cracked or soft.
3. Refill with a proper coolant mixture — typically a 50/50 blend of antifreeze and water.
4. Bleed the air out of the cooling system after the fill.
5. Test for leaks before returning to regular driving.

Because the fit is direct, the work is straightforward removal and replacement — not adaptation. Doing the hose-and-clamp check while the system is open saves a second teardown later.

Other Focus Parts Worth Knowing About

Also wrenching on a newer Focus? koeep carries a radiator for the 2013-2018 Ford Focus (for 13352), so those model years get the same fit-specific treatment.

If a 2012-2014 Focus 2.0L is in the picture, the radiator shutter grille shutter for those years is also in the catalog.

Fill Out the Rest of the Cooling System

The engine cooling components collection gathers every cooling part koeep stocks, so you can pair the radiator with anything else the job calls for in one place.

And for a 2005-2006 Focus with drivability complaints, our guide to the engine & transmission mount set covers the symptoms of worn mounts, the installation process, and the benefits of replacement.

Not Sure It Fits? Ask First

Send your Focus's year, engine size, and transmission type through the request-for-quote page and koeep will check the match before you order. You can also email support@koeep.com or message the team on WhatsApp.

Getting the part number right the first time beats shipping a radiator back.

Frequently Asked Questions