Radiator needing replacement at 39,581 miles?!?

Any GEN3's here had to replace their radiator?

As the title states, 22 Tundra SR5 Off Road edition, just under 40k miles.
Yesterday my check water temp indicator sounded and sure enough, no fluid in the reservoir. Took off the skid plate and I can see fluid blew out sometime in the last 24 hours, much of the red 50/50 was already dried with small wet spots. Most of my miles are highway/pavement princess, haven't been off-road in at least 8k miles, I don't think I caused a crack or anything...

The Toyota dealer is quoting almost $2k for the repair/replacement. "The warranty of the radiator expired at 36k miles."

1) I searched the 3GEN forums didn't see too many of my cases. Has this happened to anyone else with the 3GEN?

2) Do you think my dealership will play ball or should I just suck it up and eat $2k? Any experiences?

Thanks in advance,

 

I'd contact Toyota Cust Serv dept (not through your dealership), explain the trouble and ask if they can assist in any way; perhaps they'll authorize a "courtesy out of warranty repair."
If not, are you sure you're not handy enough to drop $2000 at your dealership for a radiator replacement which can be routinely found for $300-400 though any real Toyota dealership?
If Toy won't help, I'd take care of this on my own.

Story:
A long time ago I had a new F150, which decided to blow it's rear end gears at exactly 36, 400 miles.
Ford would NOT do anything for me; "sorry, out of warranty..."
I got so pissed off a them that I took it to a real "4x shop," fixed the gears for $1600.....then promptly sold that effin thing 2 weeks later.

 

Toyota cooling systems suck for some reason. The amount of radiator failures I have come across in the GX and LandCruiser/LX groups and forums I am in is amazing. This doesn't surprise me in the slightest.

$2000 for a replacement is absolutely ridiculous.

 

Plastic radiators do not do well in extreme heat like Arizona, Nevada and Texas and tend to crack. Plus, I have seen sooooo many “mechanics” put their hand on and lean on the radiator or a knee or sit on the damn thing. Not a resting bench!

 

Mishimototo or CSF and be done with it.

 

It can and does happen. Keep your receipts in the event a recall or class action lawsuit comes out down the road. If that occurs Toyota may compensate to some extent.

 

That is low mileage for a failure like that.

I too would be pissed about it especially the prices these 1/2 Ton Trucks were going for.

 

It is important to thoroughly inspect the failure point and determine if it is indeed due to seam separation. Otherwise, the dealership may use the excuse of a rock strike to avoid taking responsibility for the issue.

 

My 2015 Tundra radiator failed at 47,000 miles...

 

In 2019 GM offered me free OnStar for "assistance with future towing needs" for a vehicle 1k out of warranty that blew a turbo and engine seals. The customer service person even remarked on the long list of GM vehicles I had owned including a few higher end stuff

I have not looked at another GM since

 

Why does a radiator replacement cost $2k?

 

probably mostly labor

 

I got one replaced in my mother car at the dealer last year for $1k. $2k even for a truck sounds high

 

All new cars with plastic end cap radiators will fail, its just a matter of when. This is definitely early though, I'd order the parts, do it myself or take it some someone else.

 

Does anyone have the procedure/time for a radiator replacement?

I bet they call for all new coolant too...thats expensive stuff and theres lots of it

 

To my inexperienced eye, the first photo is taken from the bottom. All the red stuff seems like a drip from some other source way up, if that's correct. Did you track where it is coming from? Is it from the hose, joint, or maybe a rock hole? One thing to keep in mind is that if it's at the joint, it might suggest that the primary issue was excessive overheating and increased pressure that blew coolant out. That could potentially mean another primary failure (pump, possibly?).

In my former car, I also had radiator damage (in my case, it was the rock), and the dealer wanted somewhere around $1k - $2k for the replacement. It was off the warranty anyway, so I picked an aftermarket one from Autozone (for $100-$200, I think) and replaced it myself - it took most of the afternoon. The main problem was access design - I had to remove the whole front end, a bunch of brackets, etc, to get good access. One thing I could have underestimated at the time was that I never got that vacuum filler kit and assumed it would purge itself. Luckily no issues afterward, but now that I think about it, I should have gotten one to get it right (it's around $50-$100 on Amazon; maybe you can rent one from a local auto store).

Anyway, it's a choice. Dealer prices come with a high price tag in exchange for peace of mind (most of them are fairly competent on routine replacements, but diagnosis is a different story...) and somebody to potentially sue if things go horribly wrong later, but on average, it will be okay.

DYI path often saves you a lot of money, but diagnosis and repair are only as good as the skills and parts you sourced yourself.

The last but not most minor thing I would consider is. With the engine failure (I know I'm sorry to bring it up again, but I think it's a valid point in this case) case going on, it might be worth minimizing the number of facts that could lead Toyota to deny the claim due to fitting aftermarket parts/in-proper repair. You could probably sue them and make them prove in court that your repair caused/contributed to the failure, but it's worth considering if it would make sense not to give them ammunition - just in case. Again, if the risk is worth $2k, it is something you need to evaluate yourself.

 

I have 16k on a 2023, and just had my radiator go. Was on a road trip and noticed coolant under the truck, took it to the local dealer in Provo, UT, they said the fan had punctured the radiator. The family and I had to get a rental car back to SD and when it's fixed I have to fly back up and drive home. They also quoted just over 2k for the repair if I had to pay out of pocket.

Two months ago my wife's 2020 Highlander needed a new transmission and timing cover gasket. It had 50k so it was done under warranty. I absolutely love the truck and it's the perfect family road trip vehicle, but really not impressed with Toyota right now!!!

 

I'd get an oem part and get a radiator shop to install (most radiator shops can get you oem parts) if you don't feel comfortable diy. You'll save a lot of $.

Or research as a lot of times the oem maker has an equivalent aftermarket (Denso/Aisin) for less $.

 

That's a bummer. I'll echo what has been said above: do some investigating and try and find the source of the leak. If it's rock strike, you are SOL, in which case I'd just buy and OEM radiator or nice aftermarket unit and swap it. If it looks like a seam popped, call reach out to customer service as @99ways2die suggested and see if Toyota Corporate will do anything for you. Occasionally, they will go halvsies with you on the repair, but that's still a grand for a radiator swap. I'd still just do it myself, but I feel I'm competent enough (or lucky enough) at turning wrenches to do it myself.

In the interim, fill it up with fluid or park it. No fluid in the radiator can damage head gaskets even before you overheat the truck.

 

Will a Toyota Extended Warrant cover the cost of this? If so I'm so in.

 

Sounds like the MotherShip would like to bend you over and give you a serving of sausage!

 

Depending on the level of warranty, it should. The premium or platinum should, but it may be considered a wear item like brakes and tires, whereas the basic warranty usually only covers major issues like a ventilated engine block (and even then, you get nickeled and dimed on the accessory drive and other miscellaneous parts required to exchange the short block). You would need to read the fine print or ask specific questions and ask for the fine print reference to the answers.

 

Also keep in mind if it was a rock, your comprehensive auto insurance should cover the replacement. If it was a rock, ask your Toyota dealer to document that for your insurer (assuming you want to go through insurer). I keep $100 as the deductible on my comprehensive for issues just like this (windshields, headlights, etc. damaged by road debris).

If you decide to DIY, inspect all your hoses and replace any that have wear. Unlikely at your trucks age, but still worth checking.

 

just out of warranty, those engineers are getting good.

 

Over/under 10 times you’ve mentioned that in threads that have nothing to do with water pumps or 2nd gen’s?

 

I had to replace the fuel pump on my ‘53 Chevy business coupe at 78,000 miles.

 

I switched mine to $0 deductible awhile ago, almost no change in annual cost. I've used comprehensive claims a few different times- flying debris on the highway (felt like a metal piece hit my passenger A Pillar) and a cracked windshield on my last truck.

Edit:

 

Do they have one for the 3rd gen?

I had a Mishimoto in my F150 and it leaked after 1.5 years. Others had the same issue. It was from where the tubes met the cold side end tank.