2005RX33

I just finished a service for 80,000 km on my RX 330. My dealer told me that there was a leak at the radiator and recommended to replace it. The cost would be $ 1200 + tax in Canadian dollars. My car has been recalled to replace a radiator in 2006 by Lexus.
I found the leak (pink dries) was on the top rounded end tube (please see images). I didn't find any leakage at the radiator (real part).
Do I need to replace the entire radiator? Is there anything to fix the leakage without to replace it?

Thanks.

Allen

Dawa

iTrader: (5)

if there was a recall wouldnt lexus be replacing it for free?
im not familiar with the RX but the part in the photos you posted looks like
a cap that can screw/unscrew. if it can screw, it obviously needs to be screwed in
tighter. plastic pieces associated with radiators usually have an o-ring installed
on/with them. perhaps this o-ring has degraded.

2005RX33

I got a free radiator replacement back in fews years ago that Lexus recalled all RX 330. This time is out of their warranty.

When I saw the radiator at the first time, pink dries were covered the cap, the ended tube and dropped down to the join of flexible tube. I re-capped the cap and cleaned all pink dries off.

I re-checked it at the third day. Only found these pink dries at the ended tube (as the above pictures). It seems the leak is from the tube with a cross on it and it locates below the cap.

Can it be repaired?


Thanks.

Allen

RX330inFL

I would try another shop or two to see what they have to say. Especially one which specializes in radiator repairs. There should be several in your area of Canada. They may have other solutions other than just replacing the whole radiator like the Lexus dealer wishes to do. The other place you might try is a local Toyota shop.

gusar

Does it lose coolant? If not, you have time to find independent mechanic. I can recommend one in Brampton. Dealership is too expensive and not always most competent.

2005RX33

There is no visually leaking from the spot in the above pictures. No coolant lost. Only pink residue on the plastic tube. I found one in Markham, Ontario, Canada. The shop is called Bullock City. Here is their website at http://bullockcity.com/contactus.html. The owner was a certified pro tech from LexusI before. I showed them those pictures at the above. They gave me a cost, $ 700.00 in canadian dollars that was cheaper than the dealer (asking $ 1200.00).

To: ProperD---> I re-cap the cap, now there is no leak from the cap. Now, the only leaking place is the one showing on pictures. I also suspected there is a kind of O ring at the end plastic tube, but I don't dare to open it.

To: RX330inFL ---> thanks for your suggestion. I will try to find those auto shop which specializes in radiator repairs.

To: Gusar ---> I am at Scarborough. Brampton is kind of far from my place. I found two shops, both was run by former Lexus certified pro tech. One, T-Lex Auto service (http://www.tlex.ca) left Lexus in 1999, I am not sure he is updated with Lexus models.

Amylee2007

I had to replace mine last year as well and of course the extended warranty had expired as well.
I too would check other places. Lexus suggested that it was perhaps caused by the oil change places I have taken it to.

Rainbird

So the Lexus dealership is blaming the independent oil change shop for screwing up your radiator? These service writers at Lexus say the dumbest things. Maybe if Lexus reduced the price for routine service more owners would go there!

2005RX33

Finally, I changed the leaking radiator at T-Lex auto service (http://www.tlex.ca). Bullock City Auto and T-lex Auto service both were asking $ 700.00 plus Tax. I went with T-Lex Auto service because they was using Koyo radiator. They said it's a lifetime warranty on Koyo radiator. It's about three hours job from removing the leaking radiator to install a new koyo radiator and testing it for 15 minutes.

RX330inFL

Did they tell you exactly what was wrong with the original radiator?

2005RX33

They just said the black plastic located below the coolant cap was a part of radiator and couldn't just replaced the black plastic part alone. I asked them to find which year was the original radiator made. They said they couldn't find any mark or label about date of made. However, they did tell me that there are two different radiators using on RX330. One is full of aluminum without those black plastic part, using on 2006 and after models (and made directly from Japan). The one, I got, has those plastic parts (not fully aluminum) using on 2004 RX330 made in Canada. Both radiators can't be exchanged. They had to order the radiator with plastic parts for my RX330. Just take a look of your RX330. If you see something looks like my picture at the above, the chance you have the same radiator as mine.