2008-2018 Radiator Failure and Public Service Announcement (10 Viewers)

[linuxgod]

Just got a killer deal on a 2009 LX, already has leaks and the hairline crack but I used it as more negotiating ammo....dealer was clueless. No Lexus dealer in my city, but the Toyota dealer is trying to charge me $458 for the radiator and est. $700 ($140/hr) in labor. Debating on ordering a OEM for $300 or a DENSO ($250ish) one and having it installed by a trusted indy for $470 (94/hr) ish. Pretty much read through this entire post...any final verdict on the OEM (16400-50384) vs an aftermarket like a DENSO?

$700 in labor seems high. The book rate on my 2013 is 2.1 hours for the radiator, 0.1 hours for each of the hoses, and 0.8 hours for the water pump. Radiator + labor @ $700 wouldn't be unreasonable.

IMO the radiator and labor should about $600. Another $250-300 to also do the water pump. I don't know the mileage on your 2009 but if they are in there I'd do both since the water pump is known to fail in the 100-150k range, along with the hoses (which are cheap).

 

[KAScruiser]

$700 in labor seems high. The book rate on my 2013 is 2.1 hours for the radiator, 0.1 hours for each of the hoses, and 0.8 hours for the water pump. Radiator + labor @ $700 wouldn't be unreasonable.

View attachment 1684369

IMO the radiator and labor should about $600. Another $250-300 to also do the water pump. I don't know the mileage on your 2009 but if they are in there I'd do both since the water pump is known to fail in the 100-150k range, along with the hoses (which are cheap).

Its at 130k, but extensive service records at Lexus or Toyota dealerships. All major services completed. water pump was replaced at 72k.

I ended up buying a DENSO for $240 on amazon and a reputable local indy dealer (recommended to me by another local 200 series owner) to install it for 3 hrs labor at $94/hr.

 

[SWUtah]

If those revisions mean that this particular failure mechanism has been mitigated via corrective action, then the Toyota dealer/system should recommend you replace your radiator with the superseded 16400-50384 PN.
So I just called the local Toyota Parts dept and asked what radiator they recommend for my MY2008 URJ200, after using my VIN, they said "$710, oh no, wait a second, there is a superseding PN, 16400-50384, $497".

Without actually taking this new revision radiator apart one can't tell what the design change is (but that's not quite right because the engineered change could be something that is overlooked/oblivious to the human eye like pressure compensation, etc), but it LOOKS like that Toyota is directing older MY URJ200s be replaced by the newer PN radiators. And another way of proving that the mitigation was a fail, is if someone reports that the 16400-50384 has failed in the same manner, with the same failure mechanism.

Great information mine was replaced last fall, so I should have the revised latest greatest, I hope.

 

[dwai]

Its at 130k, but extensive service records at Lexus or Toyota dealerships. All major services completed. water pump was replaced at 72k.

I ended up buying a DENSO for $240 on amazon and a reputable local indy dealer (recommended to me by another local 200 series owner) to install it for 3 hrs labor at $94/hr.

Got any photos of the Denso post install?

 

[SouthStarJeff]

Here’s the one the Lexus dealer just put in mine. Definitely different then the original.

 

[SWUtah]

View attachment 1686645 View attachment 1686646 Here’s the one the Lexus dealer just put in mine. Definitely different then the original.

Why no coolant in your overflow tank?

 

[SouthStarJeff]

It was a bit low, topped it off right after the picture. Probably a little air was in system after the replacement.

 

[SWUtah]

It was a bit low, topped it off right after the picture. Probably a little air was in system after the replacement.

When it’s cool take off the radiator cap and make sure the radiator is completely full, If not top it off set the radiator overflow at the right level and then I check mine every time I get gas and check the oil. I wants had a Lexus dealer forget the put Oil in my wife’s ES300 at 90k mile service I pretty fubr the engine so you really got to follow up on these guys there is no pride in workmanship anymore

 

[TonyP]

My 200's radiator has looked like the previous picture with the forming crack, for about 18 months with no change. Lasted fine throughout multiple Moab trips and Baja. Not even sure it's actually a crack we're seeing. Either way, I have some of the radiator sealant the guy posted previously. I plan on slathering on that junk before Moab just a precaution. I'll order up a radiator since I want to swap out my tensioner (as preventive maint) anyways.

 

[gatortail]

Thought I'd weigh in with what I've got. I'm new to this forum even though we've had our 200 since we bought it new in March of 2012. 2011 LX with 113k miles. Checked the radiator this morning and saw the telltale hairline crack. I'm going to do the epoxy/fiberglass patch that I saw earlier on here, and if the thing cracks (and if we decide to keep the car as its fate is an open question) I'll see about ponying up for a custom all-aluminum radiator. I used to have a 60 series and even though it had nothing but problems, the radiator was never an issue.

 

[KAScruiser]

Got any photos of the Denso post install?

Still at the shop...Good ole' FEDEX damaged the radiator en route...Have a replacement on the way. Will post a picture once she comes home.

 

[NHouston]

My 2010 has 173k, but has yet to develop any signs of failure. Decided to go ahead and swap out the radiator since this one is my wife’s daily driver. Went with a Denso radiator. Very happy with the result. Replaced the upper/lower/by-pass Hoses and Thermostat as well.

 

[GhFaris]

I went to refill the washer fluid, and what do I see when i pop the hood? Pink stalagmites!!!
Radiator cracked just like all these others. I have been watching it and checking it and the water pump for any signs for a couple years now.
157k miles.
Replaced radiator, hoses, water pump and PCV valve. Total for parts and coolant was $550...and about 3 hours of my time.
FWIW the water pump looked pristine.
I used toyotapartsdeal.com.

The only difficulty was when I decided to replace the alternator since I had all this extra space (I had a new one sitting in the garage from an earlier misdiagnosis).
That was not fun.
At.
All.

 

[TexAZ]

@GhFaris in Yuma.....at least you weren't doing it in july.
saw many days where the blacktop was measuring 145 degrees.

 

[Bloembuild]

So, I too was victim to the old radiator bull****. Toyota is putting a new one in as we speak. I really wanted to put something different in, but unfortunately there isn't really anything out there. (Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.) I also own a cummins 3500 and have had cooling issues with it, luckily, Mishimoto makes awesome stuff to take care of those issues.
I called them today and asked if they would PALEASE! make a radiator for the 200. They forwarded me to engineering where I plead my case. I told him to google it, and he did, found a bunch of threads and said "interesting". All that said Mishimoto had no idea that this was a major issue for us LC owners. He is going to present our radiator to the other engineers to see if they want to build a radiator for us. Soonest we could get one is a year from now. They are in New Castle, DE and would need a test mule, as they don't have an LC200 in their fleet.
All said, please call them (1.877.GOMISHI) and demand that they build a radiator for us! The more people bugging them, the more they will realize the demand for such a product.

 

[32cls6speedmt]

I have a 2013 lx with 86000 miles, very recent purchase. The radiator has hairline crack so I want to be prepared by having parts ready for when it goes out. I will have hoses replaced, pcv, thermostat, and water pump. I am on the fence about starter and fan clutch. What do you guys think.

 

[TonyP]

I wouldn't call a radiator lasting 100k+ a major issue.
An issue? Sure, but it's still only every 7 years you'd have to deal with it.
I think $230 every 100k/7yr isn't an enormous deal.
But you can always have a radiator shop build you a fancy one for twice the price.

 

[bloc]

I wouldn't call a radiator lasting 100k+ a major issue.
An issue? Sure, but it's still only every 7 years you'd have to deal with it.
I think $230 every 100k/7yr isn't an enormous deal.
But you can always have a radiator shop build you a fancy one for twice the price.

My thoughts exactly. Especially considering changing the radiator and pump only took me about 4 hours. That is work I'll happily do every 6+ years considering how good the rest of the vehicle is.

 

[T4Runner]

I agree with @Bloembuild — it would be nice to have an upgraded option available to us that solves a known problem and negates the need to routinely replace something that shouldn’t require routine replacement. I mean Toyota should be the one improving the radiator design, but if they ain’t gonna do it then I’m hopeful a competent aftermarket manufacturer picks up on this so we can just order it when we need one rather than planning ahead with a custom made part. I guess if your rig isn’t relied upon daily then wait time on getting something custom isn’t as much of a deal...

 

[Willy beamin]

I have a 2013 lx with 86000 miles, very recent purchase. The radiator has hairline crack so I want to be prepared by having parts ready for when it goes out. I will have hoses replaced, pcv, thermostat, and water pump. I am on the fence about starter and fan clutch. What do you guys think.

do it now or do it later - roll the dice, do it, do it