Lexus rx330 awd radiator replacement
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: ca
Lexus rx330 awd radiator replacement
Hi guys. I'm looking for a new radiator for my car. However, I can't tell that my car has towing package or not?.In auto zone. they have two radiator for the towing package and non towing package.
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/par...66534_0_110714
and
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/par...66534_0_110716
or
http://www.amazon.com/TYC-2688-Alumi...4003991&sr=1-1..
what is your recommend.. the one in amazon is the cheapest one?.. but I never heard of this TYC brand?
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/par...66534_0_110714
and
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/par...66534_0_110716
or
http://www.amazon.com/TYC-2688-Alumi...4003991&sr=1-1..
what is your recommend.. the one in amazon is the cheapest one?.. but I never heard of this TYC brand?
Racer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,562
Likes: 14
From: California
There is a Lexus TSB on 04 - 05 RX330 for leaking radiator. Check out this thread, maybe your VIN is one that is covered.
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-...ator-leak.html
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-...ator-leak.html
Lead Lap
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 537
Likes: 83
From: Texas
When you take the old one out.....make sure you have some adhesive handy to reattach the foam buffers on the radiator that is stock to the new one or you will likely have rattles and air flow reduction.
If your radiator is completely aluminum (no plastic sides) you likely have the NON towing package.
Also, if you look underneath your rear bumper, you will usually find the electrical hook up for a trailer PRE INSTALLED on the tow package models. Tow package models are more rare, for what its worth.
If your radiator is completely aluminum (no plastic sides) you likely have the NON towing package.
Also, if you look underneath your rear bumper, you will usually find the electrical hook up for a trailer PRE INSTALLED on the tow package models. Tow package models are more rare, for what its worth.
Lead Lap
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 537
Likes: 83
From: Texas
Also forgot to tell you you can take the radiator out without taking the condenser out or unattaching the A/C liines. You will have to take out the upper cross member and the front vertical cross brace with the horns and hood latch attached.
Go slow and remember where you take out all of your bolts etc. from. It is not a crazy hard job, just a lot of things to take apart and reattach.
Lastly - buy two large screw clamps for the radiator hoses. The spring style clamps can and will give you trouble when trying to feed them back on. They can lock open but once they have done that these deform for whatever reason and make it very difficult to get back on.
Go slow and remember where you take out all of your bolts etc. from. It is not a crazy hard job, just a lot of things to take apart and reattach.
Lastly - buy two large screw clamps for the radiator hoses. The spring style clamps can and will give you trouble when trying to feed them back on. They can lock open but once they have done that these deform for whatever reason and make it very difficult to get back on.
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Lead Lap
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,999
Likes: 37
From: FL
Is yours leaking? I believe they extended the warranty on the radiators for those affected to 90K miles. Remember getting something in the mail from Lexus. Do not believe it mentioned anything about having a tow package or not. Just about year of production. The other thread mentions about Canada built only, however, mine was Japan built and I still got the letter.
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Brett Foote
Rookie
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 75
Likes: 2
From: MI
Also forgot to tell you you can take the radiator out without taking the condenser out or unattaching the A/C liines. You will have to take out the upper cross member and the front vertical cross brace with the horns and hood latch attached.
Go slow and remember where you take out all of your bolts etc. from. It is not a crazy hard job, just a lot of things to take apart and reattach.
Lastly - buy two large screw clamps for the radiator hoses. The spring style clamps can and will give you trouble when trying to feed them back on. They can lock open but once they have done that these deform for whatever reason and make it very difficult to get back on.
Go slow and remember where you take out all of your bolts etc. from. It is not a crazy hard job, just a lot of things to take apart and reattach.
Lastly - buy two large screw clamps for the radiator hoses. The spring style clamps can and will give you trouble when trying to feed them back on. They can lock open but once they have done that these deform for whatever reason and make it very difficult to get back on.
My 2005 AWD with tow pkg had a small crystallized amount of coolant on the upper right portion (near the cap). Yesterday, I noticed that the previously dry, crystallized area now has wet noticeable trickle trail.
I think I will go ahead and order the radiator from Sewell to have on hand for replacement when I can find some time.
A couple more questons...
1)For those that have done this, is the radiator the only piece needing replacement, or are there other associated items that should / need to be replaced at the same time? At the moment, my intention is to order the radiator and probably the hoses.
2) For anyone that has experienced the fresh trickle trail, has more serious catastrophic radiator failure preventing the vehicle from being driven soon followed? I'd like to think I can get to this in the next month or so, but if there are stories of this condition quickly leading to emptying of coolant on the highway, I may do it sooner. At the moment, I've never had to add any coolant.
Thanks,
Jeff
Driver
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
From: WA
I had a trickle and was unaware of it because of all the plastic covers, and no evidence of fluid on the ground. but if it is leaking slowly it will get to a point where you do not have constant heat coming from the air vents since the heater coils are higher than the radiator, and you may hear a gurgling noise on startup from the firewall area, if it gets low enough. I never had any overheating or sign it was running warm at any speed. this was at 80,000, radiator was replaced at 83K. I should add that this happened during the winter in the pacific northwest, not sure how low fluid would work in a warmer climate
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: kansas
leak in my radiator
hi everybody im new here i just bought a 2005 rx 330 couple of months ago and ive spotted a coolant leak on the floor i cant tell if its the radiator or the hoses but its at passenger side near the belts this morning i was checking my coolant levels and the plastic backup was all empty yet the car isn't over heating also i notice that there is a white crystal like stuff build up on the side walls of the radiator any suggestions please????