2008-2018 Radiator Failure and Public Service Announcement (1 Viewer)

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

Some dealers are known to source aftermarket parts if OE isn't available quickly enough.

It's also entirely possible your aftermarket part doesn't have the design flaw that leads to the topic of this thread, but as @kcjaz experienced often there are other QC issues with non-toyota parts.
When I tried to see the cost of a local dealer they said they can do OEM or aftermarket radiator, aftermarket was cheaper by like $300, but they tried to price gouge me last minute on the whole job so I passed using them.
 
Some dealers are known to source aftermarket parts if OE isn't available quickly enough.

It's also entirely possible your aftermarket part doesn't have the design flaw that leads to the topic of this thread, but as @kcjaz experienced often there are other QC issues with non-toyota parts.
radiator.jpg

definitely appears to have same failure point intact
 
Compiling a parts list for future replacement... anyone have the Thermostat housing gasket part number?

Or... is that not being replaced when doing the water pump/thermostat?

Here's a table you can copy/paste from...

ItemPN
Radiator16400-50384
Upper hose16571-38080
Lower hose16572-38131
Thermostat16031-0S010
Water pump16100-09491
Serp tensioner16620-0S012
Idler pulley16603-38012
Water P Gasket (Apparently not needed... WP comes with a gasket...)16271-38020 (Comes w WP)
Serp belt90916-A2033
Thermostat housing gasketComes with T-Stat
Fan support bearing16380-0S010

Updated the list as I just found out the WP comes with a WP gasket... Anyone need a WP gasket, let me know

In addition to above, I replaced these at the same time:

Fan Clutch - 16210-38071
Pulley, Fan - 16371-38010
 
In addition to above, I replaced these at the same time:

Fan Clutch - 16210-38071
Pulley, Fan - 16371-38010
Er, where is the fan pulley? I thought that would have been the fan support bearing?

*edit* found it here… there’s no bearing on the fan pulley, it looks to be bolted to the fan support bearing.
939F1CF0-5D9E-4462-B9D5-C62A7ADCECAB.jpeg
 
My Fan pulley had some of the previous serpentine belt melted/welded to its surface, as the belt runs across the top. It was not going to come off and I didn't want the new belt laying across unevenly so I swapped it for new. Otherwise, likely not necessary.
 
View attachment 3150383
definitely appears to have same failure point intact
That may not have the really thin spot in the plastic that contributes to the factory radiator failure.

Tons of radiators have raised areas for part number or production info and don’t fail. It’s a combination of the design and an apparent defect in how they are made, based on a few having been cut up.
 
08 TLC w/ about 120k. I'm not sure if the previous owner addressed this or not? Any way to tell? This radiator looks fine, even if I zoom in, I don't see any signs of a hairline fracture beginning. As such, might I be able to get away with roughing up the surface and adding several layers of JB weld soaked fiber glass to prevent, or at least meaningfully delay the inevitable? I'd really like to not spend all the time and $ to replace this unless it's absolutely necessary. Thanks fellas!

20221102_182201_HDR.jpg


20221102_182210_HDR.jpg
 
08 TLC w/ about 120k. I'm not sure if the previous owner addressed this or not? Any way to tell? This radiator looks fine, even if I zoom in, I don't see any signs of a hairline fracture beginning. As such, might I be able to get away with roughing up the surface and adding several layers of JB weld soaked fiber glass to prevent, or at least meaningfully delay the inevitable? I'd really like to not spend all the time and $ to replace this unless it's absolutely necessary. Thanks fellas!

View attachment 3163230

View attachment 3163231
The crack is starting. It’s right in the seam between the extrusion and top of the radiator.
 
08 TLC w/ about 120k. I'm not sure if the previous owner addressed this or not? Any way to tell? This radiator looks fine, even if I zoom in, I don't see any signs of a hairline fracture beginning. As such, might I be able to get away with roughing up the surface and adding several layers of JB weld soaked fiber glass to prevent, or at least meaningfully delay the inevitable? I'd really like to not spend all the time and $ to replace this unless it's absolutely necessary. Thanks fellas!

View attachment 3163230

View attachment 3163231
That was probably replaced before the new design was made available.

I agree the crack is starting, but it hasn’t extended out past the drivers side of the raised area, which is where people start to have actual issues.

Your patch plans should keep this going for a very long time based on other’s experience.. though if the crack progresses under it you won’t be able to tell.
 
I'd patch it @ekolpack . Mine was more advanced than that when I patched, and I'm still rolling that patched radiator.
 
Another victim here. After reading this thread I went out to look at mine just in case as I have planned a roadtrip for next week. Good thing I caught this! No coolant light, explosion, and definitely no overheating. Maybe I'll go buy a lottery ticket...

BE6A825E-34B9-4A38-9131-B5D1219B3A1B_1_105_c.jpeg
 
Another victim here. After reading this thread I went out to look at mine just in case as I have planned a roadtrip for next week. Good thing I caught this! No coolant light, explosion, and definitely no overheating. Maybe I'll go buy a lottery ticket...

View attachment 3173670
Year/miles? for science..
 
Year/miles? for science..

2013 LX. ~165K miles.

I'm the second owner and have all the original service records. I've combed over all of them and this appears to be the original radiator.

Good thing I'm still under warranty!
 
2008-2010 huh?
 
2008-2010 huh?

I will admit, I did not read all 76 pages...

However, correct me if I'm wrong, isn't the issue in the design of the radiator (where it cracks and leaks at the top) which affects models well past 2010?
 
I will admit, I did not read all 76 pages...

However, correct me if I'm wrong, isn't the issue in the design of the radiator (where it cracks and leaks at the top) which affects models well past 2010?
It’s been awhile since I’ve read all these pages, but I think the design changed for the 2013 year. So in theory 08-12 will be affected
 
Another victim here. After reading this thread I went out to look at mine just in case as I have planned a roadtrip for next week. Good thing I caught this! No coolant light, explosion, and definitely no overheating. Maybe I'll go buy a lottery ticket...

View attachment 3173670
That’s been leaking for a while.

Also - not sure there are low coolant alarms on the 200.
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top Bottom