Hi all... any ideas on cost or difficult in replacing radiator (leaking) for 2007 ES 350 ? One shop quoted me 500 intially.. then just told me its going to be 700 as the labor may be more intensive.

Thanks as always

 

Get a second opinion. Try a shop recommended here http://www.cartalk.com/mechanics-files

 

New radiators for ES350 go from 80-150. Removal takes a bit more effort than for most other cars but no special tools are needed.

This is for 07 Camry, procedure is very similar for ES350. Same engine and radiator. He doesn't show you, but fans come off first.

 

Are you mechanically inclined in the slightest? I cracked the neck on my radiator when I was replacing the alternator. Cheap plastic that gets brittle with all the heat. Why did they make it so cheap? Anyways, it's not that hard. The radiator is $126.13 from Amazon. Figure $40 for antifreeze and you're in it for $170. Go ahead and replace the hoses while you're at it. It's pretty simple. Do not go to that mechanic. He's ripping you off. I was quoted $550 for a water pump replacement job. I did it myself. My brilliant self saved my stupid self $400. Brilliant because I figured out how to do it. Stupid because the job took me about 15 hours.

Here's a link to the radiator on Amazon's site. There's even installation videos.

 

I find this a very unprofessional of this shop especially since its just labor and not a part price they mistakenly quoted you on.

For example about five years ago in my Cadillac I needed an AC Compressor it was summer in Florida, and a Firestone shop quoted me 650 for the compressor and labor plus taxes and shop fees. I asked them if they for sure that was the correct price reason I asked is that from what I was finding the compressor alone was selling for like 450 to 500 dollars if I bought it myself at an auto store.

When I went to pick the car up i was told that they made a big mistake on the price the alternator that they got from the store they used was 790 dollars they couldn't locate one that was of a brand they would trust to work correctly and then they had another several hundred in shop fees and if they where going to do the job normal they would mark the part price up 20% for profit and there rates per hour where 140 an hour.
However they didn't charge me for this they charged me the original price they quated me.