4th gen radiator leak spreading
 

Someone I used to work for sawed a hole in my radiator while we were installing the 4Crawler/RB body lift. He didn't want to use the radiator brackets I bought with it, and insisted instead on cutting out part of the fan box ... during which he hit the radiator, and all the fluid drained out. He called around to a few people and decided we should use JB Weld to fix it. Ii ran to the store, picked some up, and got some new antifreeze as well. We put the JB Weld on and waited for a few hours before messing with it.

Anyway, eventually I was able to refill the radiator with coolant, and put another layer of JB Weld on a few weeks later just to be safe.

Over the next few months, I noticed that the coolant level was rapidly decreasing, but I could never find any other evidence of a leak. A few weeks ago I was under the truck messing with the front differential and noticed that there was a bunch of pink crusty crap on the outside of the radiator, and all around the JB Weld.

I've decided I ought to go ahead and replace the radiator, as it isn't very often that I have the money to do so. My question is ... how hard is it to uninstall the old one and install a new one? I assume it isn't too difficult ... but hm.

My even bigger question is: Where is the best place to buy a replacement radiator? I was looking around at Roger Brown's site with all the mods he's done on his 4Runner, and therein he mentioned that he had replaced his radiator with a sturdier one from some aftermarket place. Do you guys recommend buying a Toyota OEM radiator exactly the same as my current one, or trying to find an aftermarket one that might be a bit more robust??

Thanks for the help, guys!

ebay had a brand new 2005 radiator for sale for like $20. Should jump on that.

thanks, James.

I would vote OEM for the new 4Runner. $20 is a real nice deal for the core, and make sure you use Toyota antifreeze/coolant. I would not use any other on the V8 as it has a iron block with aluminum heads. Corrosion can spread quick on those with the wrong coolants. I think the radiator core is aluminum on the new ones too.

BTW the radiator assembly at the dealer is like $550. See Toyotapartsales.com

I missed it. Looks like it's gone, and the only one left is for $100 and just says "good working condition". I'll keep my eyes out for another on ebay ... I hadn't thought of that, so thanks for the suggestion guys.

Yeah looks like it sold for $25. Didn't think about it until you just posted... timing I guess.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...spagename=WDVW

The radiator is pretty easy to change. Usually just removal of the fan shroud, then a couple of 10 MM bolts in the corners of the radiator and it slides out. If the radiator is in good shape besides the saw hole, a decent radiator shop should be able to weld/braise/solder it shut. Unless it's a plastic radiator. I've had good luck with Performance Radiator for OEM applications.

http://www.performanceradiator.com/

I got a lifetime warranty on my aftermarket radiator, which was easy to replace. OEM was more than double the cost.

Troy

radiatorbarn.com

Great service, but they don't have 4th gen parts yet.

ÅÅÅÅ. Well, overnight all the coolant leaked out and was sitting in a nice little puddle under my truck. I emailed some places and so far have only heard back from Toyota of Dallas / trdparts4u.com: $ 534.26

Ouch... not cool... TTR is just a phone call away... Let us know what we can do to help.... Wouldn't be the first emergency WAT we had to do...

Planning on patching it until a better deal comes along, or replacing it??

It's already "patched up" ... the problem is now that it's leaking around the patch. I'll probably take it to my dealership and have it replaced. At the moment I don't have the money to do so, and won't for another two months. So, that's that.

Ah well!

Thanks though, George. :)

Call Dan, at American Toyota might be able to get a discount on a new OEM Rad

A friend has PM'd me about some deals he's found ... when I have the money, I will be going with one of the places he's suggested ... then having it installed at my dealership probably. Thanks for the recommendation, Victor ... I may well check with them too.

if your radiator is empty, take it off and take it to a radiator shop. have them replace it.

that's the easiest way.

it shouldn't cost ya 500 bones... yellow pages for radiator shop :) good luck

Why not take it to a radiator shop and let them FIX it instead of just getting a new one? :dunno: I'd try that first if it were mine.

:guitar:

it's leaking around the JB Weld, as well as out the bottom near a bracket for no apparent reason. I'd like to just get a new one, as this has been causing problems since January.

take it to the radiator shop since it's empty. just have them replace the bottom half and call it a day. if not, they'll just give you a replacement one.