Cracked radiator!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,811
Likes: 91
From: Scottsdale, AZ
Cracked radiator!
Per my trusted shop down the street that looked at my rx today; I have a cracked radiator which is why I noticed fluid on the ground last evening after dinner. This shop is saying 700 bucks to replace the radiator and do a coolant flush at the bare minimum. They also recommended to replace the thermostat and a few other things at a cost of
get this almost 1500 bucks!!!
get this almost 1500 bucks!!!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,811
Likes: 91
From: Scottsdale, AZ
I cant diy. i dont have the tools to do this!.i also dont have the knowledge to do it. mine does not have a timing belt. only the rx330 has a timing belt. mine is a rx350 which has a timing chain.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,811
Likes: 91
From: Scottsdale, AZ
actually no its not as much as u think when u consider that pretty much almost if not all of the front end needs to be removed to get the old one out, I had my contact there the manager who has always gone above and beyond to help me out show me where the old one was cracked; and sure enough it was cracked along the edge where the metal meets the plastic or whatever it is; the entire strip was cracked from top to bottom so it was only a matter of time before it would have left me stranded. I knew there had to be something up as when i was getting in and out of the vehicle i could smell that sweet coolant smell. as for 700 being too much; no its not as it took about 4 hours to do including a coolant flush.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,811
Likes: 91
From: Scottsdale, AZ
now im beginning to wonder whats next in line to fail? i doubt its the water pump or the timing chain seal as both were inspected and both were totally dry and there was no sign of any leaks.
If it's all genuine parts, 700 seems reasonable to me. But if not, rip-off. But that jump from 700 to 1500 is questionable. A tstat should not be THAT much and you didn't list what the "other things" were.
Also, really need you to stop asking what's next. If you knew, you wouldn't be driving it. Suck it up and either get another vehicle or deal with the maintenance. I think you're doing well for a 13 year old luxury SUV in heat soaked AZ although you see it otherwise.
Also, really need you to stop asking what's next. If you knew, you wouldn't be driving it. Suck it up and either get another vehicle or deal with the maintenance. I think you're doing well for a 13 year old luxury SUV in heat soaked AZ although you see it otherwise.
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Driver School Candidate
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 5
Likes: 4
From: Colorado
cracked radiator
Just wrapped up replacing my radiator on my newly acquired 09 rx350. Had just come home from a 60 miles run to the Stevinson Lexus of Frederick (Colorado) Dealer to obtain a print-out of service history for the car for work done by the Lexus dealer in Colorado Springs, Yes, this is a service offered by Lexus dealer (no charge) and as I was coming to a stop in my garage my radiator blew.
I was so happy, it could have happened on the busy interstate by no, it happened in my garage.
Ordered the dealer replacement radiator from Amazon for $150 plus tax (free delivery) and very, (very very) slowly (I'm almost 85) removed and replace said offender.
Took 3 days to get here, and a day and a half to button it up. Total cost with tax $161.80 ( had to buy a screw that I lost). Feel I could do it in a third of time now with my newly obtained experience.
If you were here we could get together and fix that bad boy, I sure enjoyed the job.
I was so happy, it could have happened on the busy interstate by no, it happened in my garage.
Ordered the dealer replacement radiator from Amazon for $150 plus tax (free delivery) and very, (very very) slowly (I'm almost 85) removed and replace said offender.
Took 3 days to get here, and a day and a half to button it up. Total cost with tax $161.80 ( had to buy a screw that I lost). Feel I could do it in a third of time now with my newly obtained experience.
If you were here we could get together and fix that bad boy, I sure enjoyed the job.
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Pole Position
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 2,993
Likes: 608
From: The Jet City
Great timing......Great you got it figured out.....How many miles? Have you replaced your oil cooler lines w/ metal ones? I'd also do the bank 1 vvti line too as for some reason its spiced w/ a rubber hose vs the (front) bank 2 vvti which is all metal.....I also changed out the trans filter & fluid as well as the rear diff & the transfer case oil.....I went w/ a gallon of Valvoline Maxlife, Wix trans filter as well as 2 qtrs of Royal Purple's 75/90 diff fluid......Dropping the trans pan gives you a chance to clean the magnets, then next time you could do a drain/fill if you wanted to.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,811
Likes: 91
From: Scottsdale, AZ
Just wrapped up replacing my radiator on my newly acquired 09 rx350. Had just come home from a 60 miles run to the Stevinson Lexus of Frederick (Colorado) Dealer to obtain a print-out of service history for the car for work done by the Lexus dealer in Colorado Springs, Yes, this is a service offered by Lexus dealer (no charge) and as I was coming to a stop in my garage my radiator blew.
I was so happy, it could have happened on the busy interstate by no, it happened in my garage.
Ordered the dealer replacement radiator from Amazon for $150 plus tax (free delivery) and very, (very very) slowly (I'm almost 85) removed and replace said offender.
Took 3 days to get here, and a day and a half to button it up. Total cost with tax $161.80 ( had to buy a screw that I lost). Feel I could do it in a third of time now with my newly obtained experience.
If you were here we could get together and fix that bad boy, I sure enjoyed the job.
I was so happy, it could have happened on the busy interstate by no, it happened in my garage.
Ordered the dealer replacement radiator from Amazon for $150 plus tax (free delivery) and very, (very very) slowly (I'm almost 85) removed and replace said offender.
Took 3 days to get here, and a day and a half to button it up. Total cost with tax $161.80 ( had to buy a screw that I lost). Feel I could do it in a third of time now with my newly obtained experience.
If you were here we could get together and fix that bad boy, I sure enjoyed the job.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,811
Likes: 91
From: Scottsdale, AZ
If it's all genuine parts, 700 seems reasonable to me. But if not, rip-off. But that jump from 700 to 1500 is questionable. A tstat should not be THAT much and you didn't list what the "other things" were.
Also, really need you to stop asking what's next. If you knew, you wouldn't be driving it. Suck it up and either get another vehicle or deal with the maintenance. I think you're doing well for a 13 year old luxury SUV in heat soaked AZ although you see it otherwise.
Also, really need you to stop asking what's next. If you knew, you wouldn't be driving it. Suck it up and either get another vehicle or deal with the maintenance. I think you're doing well for a 13 year old luxury SUV in heat soaked AZ although you see it otherwise.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 999
Likes: 228
From: NM
PS: did they ask ~$360 for the radiator and ~ $380for work?
actually no its not as much as u think when u consider that pretty much almost if not all of the front end needs to be removed to get the old one out, I had my contact there the manager who has always gone above and beyond to help me out show me where the old one was cracked; and sure enough it was cracked along the edge where the metal meets the plastic or whatever it is; the entire strip was cracked from top to bottom so it was only a matter of time before it would have left me stranded. I knew there had to be something up as when i was getting in and out of the vehicle i could smell that sweet coolant smell. as for 700 being too much; no its not as it took about 4 hours to do including a coolant flush.
The entire front end does not need to be removed this is 100% false I removed and reinstalled a new radiator in 1-1.5 hours you 100% got ripped off. Book time is not 4 hours its 2-2.5. At most that should have been $450-$500 including the flush.
Side note did you get a all aluminum radiator installed not one with the plastic end tanks high temps will make the plastic swell and stress crack over time.
This is the DIY I wrote up for the thermostat replacment its incredibly simple.
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-2nd-gen-2004-2009/938421-thermostat-diy-with-pics.html
Last edited by 05ls430518; Dec 1, 2020 at 07:55 PM.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 11,196
Likes: 1,582
From: FL