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The quote to replace the radiator including parts for your Toyota Sienna is a national average price. The breakdown would be $150 for labor & $350 for parts. The replacement procedure for a 2005 Toyota Sienna is far from easy. It's not like just removing the cooling fan shroud, upper & lower water hoses and radiator brackets like regular cars or older model minivans. It involves removing the bottom plastic shroud, bumper cover, styrofoam impact absorber, connectors (a dozen of them), harness holder (another dozen of them), a dozen of those radiator & cooler holders combined, hood lock, the cable of the hood lock, hood lock cover, upper & lower water hoses, oil cooler hoses, air cleaner assembly, upper radiator support assembly, etc., etc., etc. It takes a day for a dedicated mechanic to do only this job. It's not an easy do-it-yourself thing. Re-installing all these bolts requires using a torque wrench. Replacing all these holders, screws and holders with new parts is highly recommended. Plus,You need to be concerned about the quality of service. I learned my lesson. I did it for 3 days (8-10 hours a day) on my driveway. Not worth it. Let the professional do it. My 2005 Toyota Sienna LE is still with me without any issue with the radiator. It's 2015.
The quote to replace the radiator including parts for your Toyota Sienna is a national average price. The breakdown would be $150 for labor & $350 for parts. The replacement procedure for a 2005 Toyota Sienna is far from easy. It's not like just removing the cooling fan shroud, upper & lower water hoses and radiator brackets like regular cars or older model minivans. It involves removing the bottom plastic shroud, bumper cover, styrofoam impact absorber, connectors (a dozen of them), harness holder (another dozen of them), a dozen of those radiator & cooler holders combined, hood lock, the cable of the hood lock, hood lock cover, upper & lower water hoses, oil cooler hoses, air cleaner assembly, upper radiator support assembly, etc., etc., etc. It takes a day for a dedicated mechanic to do only this job. It's not an easy do-it-yourself thing. Re-installing all these bolts requires using a torque wrench. Replacing all these holders, screws and holders with new parts is highly recommended. Plus,You need to be concerned about the quality of service. I learned my lesson. I did it for 3 days (8-10 hours a day) on my driveway. Not worth it. Let the professional do it. My 2005 Toyota Sienna LE is still with me without any issue with the radiator. It's 2015.
If it takes a days labor (i.e. 8 hours) for a mechanic to change out a radiator and the labor quote is $150, that means he / she is working for $18.75 an hour, which is not happening. If the labor quote is correct, I would think it's less than a 2 hour job.
Just wanted to give y'all an update. It turns out a friend's father is a mechanic for an auto dealership. He also fixes friend's/family's cars on his own time for extra cash. He's agreed to replace our radiator for $440 and change the timing belt/water pump for $365.
Just about all radiators are aluminum now and never require replacement. Just about all cities/towns had a radiator shop in the old days as the radiators used to be made out of steel and they would rust over time. Yes, aluminum does corrode. But rare today. It is possible that the radiator got damaged somehow. The sides are usually plastic and that can crack. But all of this is rare. If you live in a cold climate make sure that you have proper anti-freeze.
As for the timing belt.
Next vehicle you get - buy one that has an engine that uses a timing chain. Do you homework.
Never ever buy a vehicle with a timing belt. Timing belts come in two configurations. Interference and non-interference. With one the whole engine blows up if belt breaks. So in the future stick with a timing chain engine. Yes, someone many chime in with an example of a timing chain that has broken. But that is extremely rare.
For those of us who can do our own labor, those prices seem high, but they really are not. Most garages get between $75 and $100 per hour labor and it does take time to disconnect everything, remove the radiator, refill it all, and then put all the stuff back on.
A friend just had a radiator replaced in his car and it came to over $500. That is why I do most of my own work.
I have a 2005 Toyota Sienna LE w/ 108,818 miles, bought certified used in 11/2007 for $20k.
I had the sparkplugs in my car changed today. While looking at the car, the mechanic noticed that the radiator was leaking. He says it's a small leak that could be repaired, or we could just opt to change out the whole radiator.
Also, make sure that NEW radiator fluid - anti-freeze - is put in. You have to ask for this.
The quote to replace the radiator including parts for your Toyota Sienna is a national average price. The breakdown would be $150 for labor & $350 for parts. The replacement procedure for a 2005 Toyota Sienna is far from easy. It's not like just removing the cooling fan shroud, upper & lower water hoses and radiator brackets like regular cars or older model minivans. It involves removing the bottom plastic shroud, bumper cover, styrofoam impact absorber, connectors (a dozen of them), harness holder (another dozen of them), a dozen of those radiator & cooler holders combined, hood lock, the cable of the hood lock, hood lock cover, upper & lower water hoses, oil cooler hoses, air cleaner assembly, upper radiator support assembly, etc., etc., etc. It takes a day for a dedicated mechanic to do only this job. It's not an easy do-it-yourself thing. Re-installing all these bolts requires using a torque wrench. Replacing all these holders, screws and holders with new parts is highly recommended. Plus,You need to be concerned about the quality of service. I learned my lesson. I did it for 3 days (8-10 hours a day) on my driveway. Not worth it. Let the professional do it. My 2005 Toyota Sienna LE is still with me without any issue with the radiator. It's 2015.
Mitchell's labor guide gives 2.3 hours for this. Tony at my shop could do it in less time than that.
Just about all radiators are aluminum now and never require replacement.
That is utter nonsense. We replace failed radiators on a regular basis. Plastic tanks crack, seams leak, necks get eroded. All parts sources have one or more lines of replacement radiators in stock.
Don in Austin
Quote:
Originally Posted by unit731
Just about all cities/towns had a radiator shop in the old days as the radiators used to be made out of steel and they would rust over time. Yes, aluminum does corrode. But rare today. It is possible that the radiator got damaged somehow. The sides are usually plastic and that can crack. But all of this is rare. If you live in a cold climate make sure that you have proper anti-freeze.
As for the timing belt.
Next vehicle you get - buy one that has an engine that uses a timing chain. Do you homework.
Never ever buy a vehicle with a timing belt. Timing belts come in two configurations. Interference and non-interference. With one the whole engine blows up if belt breaks. So in the future stick with a timing chain engine. Yes, someone many chime in with an example of a timing chain that has broken. But that is extremely rare.
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