Radiator replaced - where should temp fall?

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Apr 16, 2013 | 09:43 PM

JLeffler

Thread Starter

Rookie

Joined: Apr 2013

Posts: 68

Likes: 0

From: CO

Radiator replaced - where should temp fall?

As part of the purchase of our Rx, the selling dealership replaced the radiator. For some reason I thought the radiator included the fan, or actually was the fan....all I know is I made a mark on the fan to see if it had been touched. It's still there so I don't know. This is one of those repairs I can't tell for certain was done or not.

Anyway, the temp on the gauges reads just right over the half tick mark. Most if not all cars I've driven have been below the half tick mark.

Should I take this back to the dealer, or as long as it isn't in the red are we ok? Don't wanna get stranded if they cheated me out of a radiator. We are looking at a 2,000 mile trip in June.

Last edited by JLeffler; Apr 16, 2013 at 09:44 PM. Reason: Autocorrect typos

Apr 16, 2013 | 09:54 PM

JLeffler

Thread Starter

Rookie

Joined: Apr 2013

Posts: 68

Likes: 0

From: CO

Correction, i made my mark on the tank where the coolant goes. I thought it was all part of the radiator. Should I be going back to them? The receipt thy gave me showed they zeroed out a $897.00 charge.

Apr 17, 2013 | 06:34 AM

Carver

Lexus Champion

Joined: Oct 2006

Posts: 1,717

Likes: 11

From: Dallas, Texas

Normal position for the temp gauge is as you describe yours is now. The fan and fill tank are not part of the radiator. Very few dealers would risk their Lexus franchise by screwing you out of 900 bucks.

Apr 17, 2013 | 07:30 AM

draco

Lexus Test Driver

Joined: Aug 2007

Posts: 1,254

Likes: 22

From: Western Australia (Australia)

They all work together as part of your engine cooling management. The radiator itself is a component, much like the fan and the coolant reservoir.

Apr 17, 2013 | 09:30 AM

JLeffler

Thread Starter

Rookie

Joined: Apr 2013

Posts: 68

Likes: 0

From: CO

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carver

That's what I was hoping to hear. I'm usually not one to mark my tires with chalk before requesting a rotation, but the radiator thing was new territory and because it was conditional on the sale of the vehicle, I was skeptical it would be replaced. Furthermore to my concern was the day I dropped off the car, the radiator they ordered was not functional. When I took the car home (to bring back the next day) I initialed the side of the tank assuming that would be replaced as part of the unit. The day they did the repairs, they had it all day...much to my dismay, when getting home, I found my mark still there.

I guess I also never looked at where the needle was on the gauge to know what was 'normal' range. So then to see that it was just over the half mark, paired with seeing my mark on the tank still there, I wondered if they actually performed the work.

This makes me feel a lot better and appreciate your assistance. Glad to know there are several pieces to a radiator.

Apr 17, 2013 | 05:11 PM

katzjamr

Driver

Joined: Aug 2005

Posts: 155

Likes: 0

From: WA

my rx 400h had a radiator replacement at 85,000 miles, the tanks and fan are not part of that service, the temp gauge reads the same before and after right at the halfway mark,

Apr 17, 2013 | 09:00 PM

JLeffler

Thread Starter

Rookie

Joined: Apr 2013

Posts: 68

Likes: 0

From: CO

Quote:

Originally Posted by katzjamr

my rx 400h had a radiator replacement at 85,000 miles, the tanks and fan are not part of that service, the temp gauge reads the same before and after right at the halfway mark,

Replaced ours at 81k. Should hopefully not be a problem again for another 80k+