What would dealership charge to replace radiator?

lcchik

lcchik

New member
I am considering buying a 2001 SR5 and after reading in fear about the "pink milkshake", I would like to know the costs when I am negotiating the price. The truck has only 85K on it, came from up north with some surface rust on the undercarriage (but no sheet metal rust). I am a newbie to 4runners, and am not mechanically inclined (yet) to tackle a replacement myself. I have read the sticky about buying one...any other tips? Thanks!
 
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If you want a quote on what a dealership would charge for this, call a few dealerships and ask. They may vary from dealership to dealership, so nobody can answer this for you with any accuracy.
 
The dealership can do it for about $100-150 their cost. They'd charge probably $300 if you just got a quote. Call and get one from a different dealer just to be sure.

But it shouldn't cost the dealer much to do it, if it's an agreed on item before you purchase. Don't let them jack the price at all over that. It's cheap for them. 1/2 hour labor and fairly cheap part at their cost.
 
Use the Koyo A1998 it costs about $150. then another $150 plus for labor. Looking at approx $375 total at the dealer. They may ask for more but should be able to do it for $375. Some dealers are better than others...

If you let them quote a OEM radiator it will be more like $600 total.
 
Here's a question: I just bought a tranny cooler for my 97' limited. I want to do the radiator too, can I now run a raditator for a manual transmission 4Runner since I have a seperate tranny cooler?
 
You're not in San Diego are you?

I had mine done at a reputable local shop for $380 Koyo + labor and misc parts.
 
a rad is a simple thing, just go to a rad shop and have them do the work if your not comfortable doing it yourself, should be over half that quoted cost, if it was something like setting the valve lash or something of that sort i would suggest dealer only, but this is just adding a tank and moving a few coolant lines here and there, most shade tree guys would be more then capable of doing this sort of work for you but if you want piece of mind just go to a proper rad shop, they are just like a muffler shop and really only do 1 thing so give them a shot, if not then get guys from the site to come over and give you a hand, lol, i'm sure a few of them out there would be interested in doing this.
 
Before I knew of a reputable local shop, I had the radiator replaced by a stealership. They charged me $900! I got them back though...they had to replace my recalled LBJ's even though my car is at 176k miles.
 
One of the few dealerships outside of DC charges $925, but that does include new hoses, thermostat, cap, and fluid.

One thing I did notice is that the Koyo was lighter than the OEM (I don't know who makes it, GM?) but it hasn't failed me in two years.
 
PitbullRescuer said:
Here's a question: I just bought a tranny cooler for my 97' limited. I want to do the radiator too, can I now run a raditator for a manual transmission 4Runner since I have a seperate tranny cooler?
Click to expand...

you cant get a manual trans rad, they dont sell them all new rads are for the auto sorry, i tryed to do this the only way to do this is find a used manual trans rad...
 
Thanks all..

Bought the truck tonight from the dealership. I didn't steal it from the dealership by any means - negotiated down from $13700 to $12400 OTD. But I was willing to pay a premium for the truck: only 70K, Toyota maintained, one owner, garage kept, options such as sunroof, flares, roof rack, running boards (no hard core off roading proposed..yet). Very excited with purchase!

Looking forward to learning more about the 4Runner here on the forum (have been a Landcruiser nut - currently enjoying three - 81, 89, 92)

Thanks again for the replies...found a good friend who will replace the radiator for me for the cost of the radiator (and dinner!).
 
Man, what is with all the people wanting to replace their radiators as preventive maintenance?

Just install an aftermarket tranny cooler. It is half the price, less work, and will keep your tranny cooler than the stock one. Plus it is a 100% guarantee against the pink milkshake.

Sheesh, there are options people...
 
Nelsonmd said:
Man, what is with all the people wanting to replace their radiators as preventive maintenance?

Just install an aftermarket tranny cooler. It is half the price, less work, and will keep your tranny cooler than the stock one. Plus it is a 100% guarantee against the pink milkshake.

Sheesh, there are options people...
Click to expand...

Hey...No more Caffeine for you today OK...:rant:...:D

At high mileage it's not a bad thing to do if you have the cash....for peace of mind..Actually doing both is a good thing if you can afford it.
 
Nelsonmd said:
Man, what is with all the people wanting to replace their radiators as preventive maintenance?

Just install an aftermarket tranny cooler. It is half the price, less work, and will keep your tranny cooler than the stock one. Plus it is a 100% guarantee against the pink milkshake.

Sheesh, there are options people...
Click to expand...

If you bypass the factory cooler, and the rad fails, you'll lose all your coolant on the road, stranding you, and potentially overheating your engine. It's still a good idea, even if your tranny would be safe by adding an external cooler.

You seem to get easily upset about things.:p
 
ALBPM said:
Hey...No more Caffeine for you today OK...:rant:...:D

At high mileage it's not a bad thing to do if you have the cash....for peace of mind..Actually doing both is a good thing if you can afford it.
Click to expand...

IanB said:
If you bypass the factory cooler, and the rad fails, you'll lose all your coolant on the road, stranding you, and potentially overheating your engine. It's still a good idea, even if your tranny would be safe by adding an external cooler.

You seem to get easily upset about things.:p
Click to expand...

Oh come on... I am not getting upset about this, just surprised that you all are giving all this advice without even mentioning the cheaper easier alternative that many of us have done. Are you really going to let the OP spend $300-900 at a shop when he could do it himself for $60?

And give me a little credit, if you plug the stock tranny cooler ports, or just connect a hose from one to the other, then it you won't lose any coolant if it milkshakes after installing the external cooler.
 
Nelsonmd said:
Man, what is with all the people wanting to replace their radiators as preventive maintenance?

Just install an aftermarket tranny cooler. It is half the price, less work, and will keep your tranny cooler than the stock one. Plus it is a 100% guarantee against the pink milkshake.

Sheesh, there are options people...
Click to expand...

A good trans attached to an engine with bad head gaskets gets you nowhere fast. :zoom:
 
Nelsonmd said:
Oh come on... I am not getting upset about this, just surprised that you all are giving all this advice without even mentioning the cheaper easier alternative that many of us have done. Are you really going to let the OP spend $300-900 at a shop when he could do it himself for $60?

And give me a little credit, if you plug the stock tranny cooler ports, or just connect a hose from one to the other, then it you won't lose any coolant if it milkshakes after installing the external cooler.
Click to expand...

A properly functioning rad is just as important as a properly functioning tranny cooler. If it fails and you have the tranny cooler looped or plugged, it's still failed and can put your engine at risk. It's not just the tranny that this failure can compromise, so an external tranny cooler does not cover all the bases, even if it is cheaper than a new rad.

In my mind, the rad should be replaced, and the external cooler is something you could do as an extra step, or if you tow or live somewhere really hot.
 
I just replaced my radiator and hooked my tranny lines back up to the bottom of the new rad. I want to add a tranny cooler later only to hopefully extend the life of my transmission. I'm not so worried about the pink milkshake at this point but my concern is that I'll have something else in front of my radiator blocking airflow with the addition of the tranny cooler. It's probably fine but just a little concerned about that.
 
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