Cracked Radiator

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Softride62

Softride62

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
Dec 26, 2007
Threads
30
Messages
282
Location
Austin, TX
Wow, so had the pink fluid on the garage floor, at first I was hoping it was one of the kid's melted Popsicle, then thought must be the water pump...opened hood and whoa! what a mess, there appears to be a crack in the crappy plastic radiator these 200s have.

Anyone else experience this? I did find somewhere else on the interwebs that the Tundras have a similar issue, but different location (and its a slightly different radiator) BTW kinda hate that the 200 shares an engine with the Tundra :confused:, I believe the 5.7L is made in Alabama? This makes me miss the Hundy.
I'm also disappointed that this is happening at 108K miles :mad:

IMG_1141.webp
 
Well the 100 shared an engine with the Tundra too. The 5.7s in the LC are built in Japan, the ones for the Tundra, Sequoia, etc...are built stateside. I hear you, though, it kinda bums me out too the cooling deal. Now that I think about it though, the 80, 100 and 200 series have all had issues with different parts of the cooling system.
 
Well I called Toyota US and the offered to pay to replace the radiator! Thanks Toyota, I explained to them I had owned about 5 other LCs, and and FJCs, basically let them know I'm no amateur LC owner and never had this type of issue (except with the 1987 LC that was 23 yrs old, it needed a new radiator :) ) They called the dealer to verify what was done, then once they received details of the repair, they said they would pay for the entire bill! Bottom line its amazing what you can get with honey vs vinegar and I guess there is some loyalty !!
 
Softride62 said:
Well I called Toyota US and the offered to pay to replace the radiator! Thanks Toyota, I explained to them I had owned about 5 other LCs, and and FJCs, basically let them know I'm no amateur LC owner and never had this type of issue (except with the 1987 LC that was 23 yrs old, it needed a new radiator :) ) They called the dealer to verify what was done, then once they received details of the repair, they said they would pay for the entire bill! Bottom line its amazing what you can get with honey vs vinegar and I guess there is some loyalty !!
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Was this out of warranty???

If so, did they give any explanation of why they were willing to pay for it??
 
My advice is to look into possible reasons the radiator broke. Overheating, old age, poor build quality, bad head gasket, etc...

As cheap insurance, go ahead and have your radiator cap replaced as well in case there was a pressure related problem.
 
I had to replace the head of the radiator. apparently its a known issue for the LC200 here in the UAE. I might just customize a radiator from better materials that can handle our weather

(technician's thought was that due to heat and cheap material used for the radiator head it cracks every 5-6 years and it happened to both my 2008 and 2009 LC within a year >.<
 
thechief24 said:
Just happened to me, same exact spot. Can you replace just the top "head" of the radiator?
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Mine split on the front edge of the raised square area to the left of the radiator cap where the part number is stamped. I believe it is a design defect. I tried patching with JB weld, but that didnt work. I have a new one coming from Amazon today.
 
I have had 5 BMW's with plastic radiator housings and I have had 4 radiators fail. The fifth one was replaced as preventative maintenance as I figured it was a matter of time until the plastic cracked. The two we currently own have have all alloy radiators built by Zionsville Autosport. They are like a work of art and are built to last. Fahad is on the right path in my opinion for looking at an all alloy design.
 
Mine just cracked as well on Christmas Eve, Merry Christmas!
2008 with 100K miles. It looks just like Softride's picture, what a mess. Pretty frustrating to have this happen, when I just replaced the water pump earlier this year. Of the 7 toyotas I have owned, this is the first radiator to go before 200k miles...seem too early to anyone else?
 
Seems very early to me. I've never had one crack. My old 80 series had one replaced earlier this month, as per my son but it has almost 300K miles! At THAT point, it does not surprise me. OTH, at 100K, I would not expect it!
 
Agreed, 300K on an 80 seems like the reputation that helped build toyota into what it is.
Toyota built their business on incomparable dependability and I would expect that dependability to be exemplified in their most expensive vehicle.
 
ToyotaLandCruiser said:
I have had 5 BMW's with plastic radiator housings and I have had 4 radiators fail. The fifth one was replaced as preventative maintenance as I figured it was a matter of time until the plastic cracked. The two we currently own have have all alloy radiators built by Zionsville Autosport. They are like a work of art and are built to last. Fahad is on the right path in my opinion for looking at an all alloy design.
Click to expand...

I was about to post something similar. You don't know coolant woes until you've owned a newer BMW, especially E46s. :) My '87 535i is rock solid though.
 
I'm a relatively new owner of a new-to-me, 2011 year model 200-series and I just found the same crack in the same spot of the radiator. Vehicle has fewer than 170k on the odometer. Reviving this old thread just to ask if anyone ever got word of this unfortunate problem being covered as a manufacturer defect, other than my lucky fellow Austinite, @Softride62.

Update - found & read through this other, exhaustive thread on the topic, repaired my 200 and am currently in discussions with Toyota Care.
 
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Once the radiator cracks and the coolant explodes, is it still safe to drive the 200 to get it repaired? Or should one get it towed?
 
How much coolant loss and how long of a drive? If it's just a weeper and a few miles I'd drive. If coolant is raining out I'd have it towed.
 
100f outside? Towing? Can't resist the temptation to drive like a bat out of hell? Get it towed. If it's just weeping I'd be fine nursing it to the house/shop/whatever. Best if you can keep coolant on hand. And needless to say.. watch the water temp gauge like a hawk.
 
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