Denso condenser discontinued... next best option?

[Brandon Ryder]

In in need of an a/c condenser for my 100. Dealer is pretty spendy at over 300. Denso #477-0603 with rear A/C is discontinued.
Of the many aftermarket brands remaining, does anyone have a recommendation? Anything to avoid?

I typically do oem or denso but more and more parts are going out of production and I have to make compromises.

 

[andrewderrick]

I’d buy a dealer one, in my experience most aftermarket condensers don’t last super long

 

[excessive]

if you actually want it to fit and work, buy the OEM one

 

[Brandon Ryder]

I’d buy a dealer one, in my experience most aftermarket condensers don’t last super long

What aftermarket condensers have you witnessed fail. Like which brands?

if you actually want it to fit and work, buy the OEM one

Have you replaced your a/c condenser?

 

[NE Snowman]

What aftermarket {insert almost anything} have you witnessed fail.

There has been plenty of documented aftermarket parts in this 100 series forum that will not hold up. FDS, windshields, control arms, radiators, idlers, pullies, belts, etc.

If the original part worked for 150k+ miles or 20+ years…Why switch?

Also had some minor A/C work done and yes the Toyo price hurts up front, but I don’t worry about it going to crap in 3-5 years.

 

[Brandon Ryder]

There has been plenty of documented aftermarket parts in this 100 series forum that will not hold up. FDS, windshields, control arms, radiators, idlers, pullies, belts, etc.

If the original part worked for 150k+ miles or 20+ years…Why switch?

Also had some minor A/C work done and yes the Toyo price hurts up front, but I don’t worry about it going to crap in 3-5 years.

I'm a Toyota guy too i just want to entertain the idea of an aftermarket condenser. It's pretty expensive(it's actually over 500, i was wrong) and after i was forced to buy aftermarket when Toyota discontinued its radiators, I'm willing to consider things like it ( a condenser).

Looking for actual experience, positive or negative with aftermarket.

Edit to add: I once bought aftermarket charcoal canister for much less than Toyota because I needed it, and Toyota had it discontinued. It was actually a Toyota factory CC! Even branded the same inside the package.

 

[NE Snowman]

I paid $380 or something just for one of the rear lines lol. Apart from a specialist AC guy chiming in I’ll stay with Toyo.

 

[Bisho]

I replaced my ac compressor and condenser with a UAC kit from Rock Auto several years ago. Its held up great (probably 50k miles). I'd highly recommend. There is nothing cosmic about a condenser to pay too much for it.

I think some folks undying devotion to Toyota parts can be blind to logic. I wish Toyota stood behind their parts to back up their reputation (only 12mo/12k warranty). There are many stories on this forum of folks that had issues with new Toyota parts, so they aren't immune. I try to weigh the pros and cons of each part I put on the truck.

 

[excessive]

yall do whatever you want, but i've learned the lesson enough times, buy once, cry once. Aftermarket parts probably sometimes work, but they usually dont fit correctly, and they're made of vastly inferior materials. If you're going to dump the truck off on FB marketplace next week, i guess they're perfect for that.

There's a reason the Toyota OEM one costs so much, its actually made to last 20+ years

 

[Chronicle]

I bought a VDO/Continental HVAC blower and not long after that started getting a knock sound whenever going over bumps. I tore half the passenger side dash apart and turned out it was the blower. The shaft was not fully seated inside the blower. Could do nothing about it at that point as it was too long past the return window.

 

[andrewderrick]

What aftermarket condensers have you witnessed fail. Like which brands?

Have you replaced your a/c condenser?

I’m the service manager for an auto repair shop, been at it for 12 years now, so yes I’ve seen quite a few leak.

For Japanese vehicles OE, Denso, and Koyorad are good, the rest seem to last 2-3 years often don’t fit well.

 

[Brandon Ryder]

Well denso is the OEM for Toyota on these condensers, and if they really are discontinued, that means whatever stock is with Toyota is it. Koyorad doesn't seem to make a condenser for these, at least not anymore.

I did end up ordering one from the dealer. Mine has an extremely small leak. Just wanted to have one on hand when I decide to swap it out. I'll probably buy a compressor from denso before they are gone too.

People are going to have to start making other decisions as the genuine parts dry up. It's already happened with radiators, charcoal canisters, brake boosters and it's likely happening with cv axles and steering racks.

 

[andrewderrick]

Well denso is the OEM for Toyota on these condensers, and if they really are discontinued, that means whatever stock is with Toyota is it. Koyorad doesn't seem to make a condenser for these, at least not anymore.

I did end up ordering one from the dealer. Mine has an extremely small leak. Just wanted to have one on hand when I decide to swap it out. I'll probably buy a compressor from denso before they are gone too.

People are going to have to start making other decisions as the genuine parts dry up. It's already happened with radiators, charcoal canisters, brake boosters and it's likely happening with cv axles and steering racks.

Are radiators and racks getting discontinued? If so I’ll have to start looking

 

[OGBeno]

Are radiators and racks getting discontinued? If so I’ll have to start looking

No.

 

[Brandon Ryder]

Are radiators and racks getting discontinued? If so I’ll have to start looking

Radiators for sure. TRAD was oem. You can still get denso last I checked but some where displeased with them. Had leaks. I went with an all aluminum aftermarket. Moshimoto i think. It's been good.

Racks was my fear. I bought one years ago just in case. Mine is leaking but I'm dealing with it for now.

Brake booster i bought years ago on sale before i needed it and now some variants aren't available.

 

[OGBeno]

Well denso is the OEM for Toyota on these condensers, and if they really are discontinued, that means whatever stock is with Toyota is it. Koyorad doesn't seem to make a condenser for these, at least not anymore.

I did end up ordering one from the dealer. Mine has an extremely small leak. Just wanted to have one on hand when I decide to swap it out. I'll probably buy a compressor from denso before they are gone too.

People are going to have to start making other decisions as the genuine parts dry up. It's already happened with radiators, charcoal canisters, brake boosters and it's likely happening with cv axles and steering racks.

Just because they are discontinued in the aftermarket does not mean that Denso is not continuing to manufacture these for OEM service parts support. It just doesn't work the way that you are presenting.

 

[Brandon Ryder]

Will they make them forever?
I can understand that Toyota has the influence to ask denso to do a run of whatever. And maybe my experiences are colored by the years under covid when things were harder to produce and replace. But I have already run into many parts that have been marked discontinued in Toyota's website. Not all for 100 series but also my Tacoma. Some have come back, superceded by another part number, maybe another manufacturer? Can you buy a T-RAD radiator today?

 

[OGBeno]

Will they make them forever?
I can understand that Toyota has the influence to ask denso to do a run of whatever. And maybe my experiences are colored by the years under covid when things were harder to produce and replace. But I have already run into many parts that have been marked discontinued in Toyota's website. Not all for 100 series but also my Tacoma. Some have come back, superceded by another part number, maybe another manufacturer? Can you buy a T-RAD radiator today?

To answer your last question: yes, I absolutely can.

Everything else is gibberish with regards to Toyota Group procurement systems.

 

[Brandon Ryder]

savage. Thanks for your help

L

Thread 'Can't find T-rad radiator'

Dec 12, 2024

2001 100 series.
I am at the point where I need to replace my radiator and as per recommendations from previous posts I am trying to go OEM.
From everything I read OEM is T-Rad (part no-16400-50210) which I can't seem to find at any of the OEM parts websites and it pushes me to part number 16400-50360. To which the parts specialist mentioned in response to a question that it's a Denso.
Now given all that should I go with 16400-50360? If not, a link to the T-rad OEM part would be greatly appreciated. If yes to Denso, should I go with Rock Auto's parts as it's almost half the price or...

• letstryagain
• 100 series 2001 radiator
• Replies: 9
• Forum: 100-Series Cruisers

 

[OGBeno]

savage. Thanks for your help

L

Thread 'Can't find T-rad radiator'

Dec 12, 2024

2001 100 series.
I am at the point where I need to replace my radiator and as per recommendations from previous posts I am trying to go OEM.
From everything I read OEM is T-Rad (part no-16400-50210) which I can't seem to find at any of the OEM parts websites and it pushes me to part number 16400-50360. To which the parts specialist mentioned in response to a question that it's a Denso.
Now given all that should I go with 16400-50360? If not, a link to the T-rad OEM part would be greatly appreciated. If yes to Denso, should I go with Rock Auto's parts as it's almost half the price or...

• letstryagain
• 100 series 2001 radiator
• Replies: 9
• Forum: 100-Series Cruisers

What does this response mean?

Speak in complete sentences.

What part numbers are you referencing? Where are you buying them from? What are your data points for making the claims you are making.

This isn’t the rest of the internet where you can post BS;

Many of us here on MUD do Toyota parts professionally: IE: we live this stuff day-in, day-out.

So: again: what part numbers are discontinued and how have you verified your information? Who have you talked to at Toyota that have verified the veracity of the information that you are just throwing out there because you looked at a part number on a website?