Radiator: does this price sound fair?

[unit731]

Originally Posted by Don in Austin

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

Correct. I should have stated rarely.

All of the local radiator shops have closed in my state. So that says something.
And yes, if connectors are of dissimilar metals - there is an issue.
And yes, plastic parts that the radiators use now may be cheap in some cars.

Are radiators replaced. Yes. But few and far between at least in my area.

[Don in Austin]

Originally Posted by unit731

Correct. I should have stated rarely.

All of the local radiator shops have closed in my state. So that says something.
And yes, if connectors are of dissimilar metals - there is an issue.
And yes, plastic parts that the radiators use now may be cheap in some cars.

Are radiators replaced. Yes. But few and far between at least in my area.

Radiator shops are closed or closing everywhere not because radiators don't fail, but because they are no longer cost-effective to repair. With careful shopping you can get most radiators new under $100.
Not worth it to replace a plastic tank. It CAN be done, but hardly ever is.

Don in Ausin

[mrxs]

Originally Posted by mrxs

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.

I exaggerated on the job time for a mechanic. It only takes 2-3 hours to get the job done. The low quote was based on regular automotive repair shops and non OEM parts. But for a Toyota specialist to do it, the labor cost is about $350 and $500 for genuine Toyota parts. If you bring it to a Toyota dealer service, expect at least double, $1700. By the way, These quotes are taken from Silicon Valley, Northern California. Have it done in Southern California like Los Angeles, you can have it done for $500.