Cheapest way to replace radiator
G'day,
Just wondering what is the best/cheapest way to have a radiator replaced. I don't have the setup to do it at home, so I was thinking about purchasing a radiator online and taking it to a mechanic for installation.
The best deal on ebay seems to be $165 for a brand new radiator.
If anyone has any other ideas that would be great.
Cheers,
LMac
Donati..Whoa Green
From what I know, changing the radiator is a easy job that you can do at home with screwdrivers and a spanner set.
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Vx Calais / Ve Berlina
Do u not know how to do Mechanic work ? A raditator isnt that hard too do althi I did pay 480 for mine too be done coz i was lazy.... Ummm I needed mine asap which is why I didnt go off ebay. But after I got mine I looked on there an cryed lol... For the price diff.
If u dont wonna give it a go urself then it wouldnt cost too much for a mechanic to fit it for ya.. maybe no more then $250 includen the radiator u buy....
Where are u from ?
cheers
Always In Construction Mode!!!!!
Ebay ones are crap. $310 i got a NATRAD approved radiator supplied and fitted with coolant late last year.Originally Posted by LMac
yer ebay ones are rubbish there aluminium like stock ones and cant be soldered or repaired if u get the slightest hole i work for a radiatir place and know very well about them,if u want a good one buy a copper one which can be repaired then replacing whole radiatir each time u get the tiniest hole.Genuine holden ones are rubbish to!
all you need is a 10 ml socket and a screwdriver and a shifter or 2 , itll take you less than an hour , take the fan out first itll let you see what you doing easier, and take your inlet hose off so you can pull the fan assenbly out i should say
SuPaFlY -LiV3 Surviv3 Di3
just get a ebay one with warrant, should last u at least 2 yrs, copper ones arn't very good with dispersing heat, compared to aluminium.
I gotta V8 whoot whoot
As said above the EBAY ones are cheap and nasty.. Even if you do get a waranty from the seller you have to contact them and get it sorted and then the labour wont be under warranty will it so you will have to pay again to have the radiator replaced..
Where as if you get the radiator place to replace it and something happens you take it straight back and they fix it under warranty parts and labour included..
Also if you dont flush the cooling system completely they wont warrant the radiator as it has mixtures of different coolant run through it...
VT V6 wanting 300RWHP
DON'T GO TO NATRAD THEY'RE DODGY I GOT MY RADIATOR AND THERMOSTAT DONE BY THEM 7 MONTHS AGO WHEN THE RADIATOR WENT NOW AFTER THAT TIME I HAVE HAD MY WATER PUMP GO AND THE HEATER CORE AT THE SAME TIME BECAUSE THEY USE THE PRE MIXED COOLANT SHIT WHICH I HAVE READ DOES NOT CONTAINE A SPECIFIC INGREDIANT THAT HOLDEN RECOMENDS (I MAY BE WRONG) WHICH CAN CORRODE THE INSIDE OF THINGS LIKE THE WATER PUMPS/HEATER CORES WHEN I TOOK IT BACK IN THEY CHARGED ME $160 LABOUR FOR THREE HOURS WORK WHEN IT TOOK 4 HOURS TO DO THE RADIATOR AND THERMOSTAT THE FIRST TIME WICH WAS $108 LABOUR THEN I GOT TOLD THAT THE THERMOSTATS THEY SOLD WERE STICKING BUT I STILL GOT CHARGED TO REPLACE IT AND THE GUY WORKING ON MY CAR SAID "YOU COULD NOT HAVE HAD YOUR RADIATOR REPLACED BY US 6 MONTHS AGO CAUSE WE HAVE NOT SOLD THAT BRAND HERE FOR AT LEAST 3 YEARS" TO MY DISCUST.
THERE WAS A COOLANT SMELL COMING FROM THE HEATER WICH MEANS HEATER CORE IS ****ED ALL UP FOR THE DIOGNOSTICS $273 TO FIND OUT NOTHING BECAUSE THE MECHANIC COULDENT SAY WHAT WAS WRONG NEXT DAY BURNING COOLANT WAFTING INTO MY CABIN WITH HEATER ON I WAS NOT HAPPY WILL NEVER GO BACK AGAIN I DID GET A $200 REFUND BUT I HAD TO CONTACT THE REGIONAL MANAGER TO TELL HIM WHY I WAS PISSED OFF.
VXCALAIS I WOULD SUGGEST CHANGE THE COOLANT TO THE HOLDEN BRAND IT WILL WORK OUT CHEAPER IN THE LONG RUN CHECK THE INVOICE TO SEE IF IT VOIDS YOUR WARRANTY WITH NATRAD IF IT DOES THAT IS DODGEY AND THE ALARM BELLS ARE RINGING.
HOPEFULLY THIS HELPS OTHERS TO AVOIDE THIS IN THE FUTURE
Do you realise how many radiators these guys fit ? Natrad is a affiliation and franchise, and they use radiators approved by a mechanical body, so they use quality radiators. I was comparing to the ebay ones which are from Taiwan, i know i bought one, it ballooned up due to poor construction. My father in law used to work for Natrad when they used to make radiators. He told me the taiwanese ones dont have the extra welds and enough support material between the fins so its very weak radiator. When my mechanic fitted it new he warned me as he services taxis, one guy changed 4 in 3 months on 1 taxi. When it ballooned i took it to the Radiator blokes that use approved ones and no dramas. I took the damaged one to the taiwanese guys in Clayton who import them and sell them (Kims), they gave me a new one and it now sits in the garage somewhere. I will never use it again.DON'T GO TO NATRAD THEY'RE DODGY I GOT MY RADIATOR AND THERMOSTAT DONE BY THEM 7 MONTHS AGO WHEN THE RADIATOR WENT NOW AFTER THAT TIME I HAVE HAD MY WATER PUMP GO AND THE HEATER CORE AT THE SAME TIME BECAUSE THEY USE THE PRE MIXED COOLANT SHIT WHICH I HAVE READ DOES NOT CONTAINE A SPECIFIC INGREDIANT THAT HOLDEN RECOMENDS (I MAY BE WRONG) WHICH CAN CORRODE THE INSIDE OF THINGS LIKE THE WATER PUMPS/HEATER CORES WHEN I TOOK IT BACK IN THEY CHARGED ME $160 LABOUR FOR THREE HOURS WORK WHEN IT TOOK 4 HOURS TO DO THE RADIATOR AND THERMOSTAT THE FIRST TIME WICH WAS $108 LABOUR THEN I GOT TOLD THAT THE THERMOSTATS THEY SOLD WERE STICKING BUT I STILL GOT CHARGED TO REPLACE IT AND THE GUY WORKING ON MY CAR SAID "YOU COULD NOT HAVE HAD YOUR RADIATOR REPLACED BY US 6 MONTHS AGO CAUSE WE HAVE NOT SOLD THAT BRAND HERE FOR AT LEAST 3 YEARS" TO MY DISCUST.
THERE WAS A COOLANT SMELL COMING FROM THE HEATER WICH MEANS HEATER CORE IS ****ED ALL UP FOR THE DIOGNOSTICS $273 TO FIND OUT NOTHING BECAUSE THE MECHANIC COULDENT SAY WHAT WAS WRONG NEXT DAY BURNING COOLANT WAFTING INTO MY CABIN WITH HEATER ON I WAS NOT HAPPY WILL NEVER GO BACK AGAIN I DID GET A $200 REFUND BUT I HAD TO CONTACT THE REGIONAL MANAGER TO TELL HIM WHY I WAS PISSED OFF.
VXCALAIS I WOULD SUGGEST CHANGE THE COOLANT TO THE HOLDEN BRAND IT WILL WORK OUT CHEAPER IN THE LONG RUN CHECK THE INVOICE TO SEE IF IT VOIDS YOUR WARRANTY WITH NATRAD IF IT DOES THAT IS DODGEY AND THE ALARM BELLS ARE RINGING.
HOPEFULLY THIS HELPS OTHERS TO AVOIDE THIS IN THE FUTURE
New radiator fitted cam with new Super Roo coolant. Some of the best coolant you can get. I now use Repco coolant, as it has the same ethylene glycol content as the super roo which is the highest i have seen. Premix will not kill the radiator that quick, some people just run water. Faulty thermostat can possibly kill it. Its also possible when they fitted the new one, they flushed the block as you should, dislodging some sealant in the system causing the leaks. I also add the coolant system tablets from Holden or bars stop leak, same stuff, used from factory. Another thing as it happened to me when my original radiator went, intake manifold gasket and water pump all soon followed. THey are all related.
I will not buy Genuine Holden coolant as its too expensive. Repco concentrate is very good. Holden dont even make their own coolant, its either from Fuchs like their oils or same people AC Delco get it from. Genuine Holden oil filters are made in Poland. Their electronics are made by Bosch (air bag ecu that i recently changed is). Oil is by Fuchs last time i checked, spark plugs are Delco's or Densos. After years i noticed for the 1st time Japanese writing on my power steering reservoir cap. I have no issues with any of this, just trying to prove Genuine Holden, most stuff is not even made by them when it comes to spare parts.
All cars are the same, the factory oils and fluids are not their own. Its rebottled from a major company.
Last edited by vxcalais_01; 04-10-2009 at 12:33 AM. Reason: spelling, sorry i half asleep
What about re-cores and welding end tanks etc in the Alluminium ones ?
I just want to know how i can take one out on replce with new one
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