3rd & 4th Generation (1992–1996 & 1997–2001)Toyota Camry Discussion for years: 1992-1996 & 1997-2001
Topics of discussion range from fuel economy, safety, modifications, performance all involving America's favorite family car, the Toyota Camry.
So the wife was tellin' me she heard "gurgling" a couple times yesterday. So I take a look at the coolant reservoir & notice that it's bone-dry. I figure I hadn't looked at it in quite some time so who knows. Filled it up w/ Toyo Red and back to biz.
Tonight I notice some coolant on the ground when she backs up. I'm like....wtf? Open the hood, squeeze the top hose & hear the wheezing. Was expecting to see it coming from a hose, but no.......IT WAS THE TOP OF THE RADIATOR!!! Now, I'm really........WTF?!?!?
You can see the white crack in the brown portion. Suggestions?? That entire top part looks plastic. Can just that top part of the radiator be replaced??
FWIW, I've maintained my cooling system religiously.
They all do that eventually. Not worth repairing -- just replace the sucker.
Spend the extra money and get a Koyo (sometimes called Koyorad). Don't get me started on the joy I've experienced with a couple of other radiator brands (although I'm sure my expertise with replacing radiators will come in handy someday...yeah, right).
Last edited by hill8570; 02-26-2010 at 12:12 AM.
Reason: Toyo, Koyo - there's a difference boy-o
Ok, I figured that'd probably be the best way anyhow.
Never did a radiator job before. Easy enough to replace on my own???
Anything else to replace while it's out??
TIA
Easy job, just a mite messy (hard to keep all the coolant and tranny fluid where it belongs).
There's a decent DIY for the Gen3 rigs at DIY: 5S-FE Radiator Replacement (GEN3) . I don't think the Gen4 changed much in that area, but I'll let the Gen4 owners chime in on that one.
Normally I'd replace the radiator cap, upper and lower coolant hoses, thermostat, and thermostat gasket while I had the coolant drained, and inspect the ends of the transmission cooler lines for cracking. Your choice, 'tho -- it's not like draining the coolant is particularly difficult, so you can always put off the replacements until later.
Of course, if OP insists on OEM, then check prices on online dealers such as http://www.1sttoyotaparts.com/ and many others.
Quote:
Originally Posted by hill8570
Easy job, just a mite messy (hard to keep all the coolant and tranny fluid where it belongs).
There's a decent DIY for the Gen3 rigs at DIY: 5S-FE Radiator Replacement (GEN3) . I don't think the Gen4 changed much in that area, but I'll let the Gen4 owners chime in on that one.
Normally I'd replace the radiator cap, upper and lower coolant hoses, thermostat, and thermostat gasket while I had the coolant drained, and inspect the ends of the transmission cooler lines for cracking. Your choice, 'tho -- it's not like draining the coolant is particularly difficult, so you can always put off the replacements until later.
The Following User Says Thank You to JohnGD For This Useful Post:
When my radiator in my 94 Camry (auto trans) cracked sort of like yours, I called a radiator shop to get an estimate to have it welded. (I was going to take it out and put it back in). Shop said they couldn't be welded, as they were part metal and part plastic. And, that due to that, they suggested the replacement radiator be all metal - and those were available from Napa. Forgot brand but it was a name brand line.
- The replacement (of just radiator, 2 hoses, 2 clamps and some antifreeze) in my gen 3 was easy, so easy that I had to keep looking around when it was done, to see what was left, when nothing was. Kind of like, I was "saying" - Is that all you got? Come on. I'm ready for some REAL work. Ha.
Now. Only issue was with those stupid, wire-like factory radiator hose clamps. This has happened to me several times. I grab one with channel lock pliers, squeeze, and try to take it off a hose. The clamp slips some from the jaws of the pliers, and the pliers and clamp become stuck together, then I have to use a 2nd tool to force them apart. (Hard to put in words, but nonetheless, frustrating). Perhaps once on, the factory clamps work better, I don't know? But I prefer the replacment clamps (get 4 of them in case) that can be tightened with either a screwdriver from straight on, or a small socket from any side. That way, once you get the radiator hoses pushed on, you don't find a clamp needs to be taken off and turned around due to an inaccessible screw.
Obligatory But Needless Caution Statement - If you have electrical radiator fans like me, you may want to disconnect the battery before doing the radiator replacement, so the fans can't come on and irritate the skin on your pinky finger (or worse).
Good luck with your project.
Last edited by pentiuman; 02-26-2010 at 07:52 PM.
Reason: addition
#1.) Anybody ever try www.radiator.com before?? I saw it suggested on a Mustang forum & when I went there, the sucker drops you right into a "chat". Dude was on it like lightning, answering my questions, called my '98 Camry a "Tricky Fit" (no bull) said there were 2 or 3 possible radiators and could their Toyota Tech call me back??? I was like....WTF?? Felt like I was gettin' groped on a first date.....YIKES!!
Didn't know if it was legit or not so I just told him I'd call them maybe tomorrow.
#2.) I almost just ordered the Koyorad but I just started wondering....."What happens if I have to return that sucker??"
#3.) That said.........Napa confirmed to me that theirs is *not* all metal. I don't know if their is better than AutoZone, PepBoys, etc. but it looks like the Koyorad is plastic also.
I want quality but I think local support would be nice too......Of course the last thing I want to do is do this job TWICE!! I'm done doin' jobs twice!!
Same thing happened to me last October! $300.00 for new radiator including labor......
You paid WAYYYY to much.
Quote:
Originally Posted by redgtxdi
Couple more things..........
#1.) Anybody ever try www.radiator.com before?? I saw it suggested on a Mustang forum & when I went there, the sucker drops you right into a "chat". Dude was on it like lightning, answering my questions, called my '98 Camry a "Tricky Fit" (no bull) said there were 2 or 3 possible radiators and could their Toyota Tech call me back??? I was like....WTF?? Felt like I was gettin' groped on a first date.....YIKES!!
Didn't know if it was legit or not so I just told him I'd call them maybe tomorrow.
#2.) I almost just ordered the Koyorad but I just started wondering....."What happens if I have to return that sucker??"
#3.) That said.........Napa confirmed to me that theirs is *not* all metal. I don't know if their is better than AutoZone, PepBoys, etc. but it looks like the Koyorad is plastic also.
I want quality but I think local support would be nice too......Of course the last thing I want to do is do this job TWICE!! I'm done doin' jobs twice!!
What I did... Buy one with a lifetime warranty. The install is easy as hell; even if you have to do it twice, it'll be free. I bought autozone's and it was fine until it got smashed into the engine block in the wreck.
__________________
'07 Honda Ruckus Big Bore TOTALED: '03 Ford Expedition Eddie Bauer 4x4 5.4L, '96 Camry LE 5S May '10: '11 Sienna V6 XLE FWD 8-pass. July '10: '06 Matrix XR Auto FWD Oct. '09: '05 RAV-4 L 4WD
I recall a website would do something like that. Needless to say, never ordered or "chatted" with them after that. Not sure if it was the same one, but yours sounds like they take your number and give it to their local "affiliate". I'd forget them too.
Koyo makes some all metal performance rads for racing but not sure it's available for your engine. But ask NAPA to see if they still offer the lifetime warranty on their Modine, then Proliance, and now called Vista Pro rads. They change names faster than some people change underwear.
Many FleaBay rads use thinner rows or fewer rows. So be careful with them.
Larger, heavier items probably there is an advantage of ordering locally. Especially if you add in the shipping costs and wait times. Many replacement parts (alternators, radiators, axles, steering racks, struts, etc etc) come with lifetime warranty as they know most owners don't keep a car that long. But for those who do, local has its advantages.
Koyo is fine. Otherwise you can always order from an online toyota dealer. Might get Denso or GM Harrison (also OEM).
Quote:
Originally Posted by redgtxdi
#1.) Anybody ever try www.radiator.com before?? I saw it suggested on a Mustang forum & when I went there, the sucker drops you right into a "chat". Dude was on it like lightning, answering my questions, called my '98 Camry a "Tricky Fit" (no bull) said there were 2 or 3 possible radiators and could their Toyota Tech call me back??? I was like....WTF?? Felt like I was gettin' groped on a first date.....YIKES!!
Didn't know if it was legit or not so I just told him I'd call them maybe tomorrow.
#2.) I almost just ordered the Koyorad but I just started wondering....."What happens if I have to return that sucker??"
#3.) That said.........Napa confirmed to me that theirs is *not* all metal. I don't know if their is better than AutoZone, PepBoys, etc. but it looks like the Koyorad is plastic also.
I want quality but I think local support would be nice too......Of course the last thing I want to do is do this job TWICE!! I'm done doin' jobs twice!!
#1.) Anybody ever try www.radiator.com before?? I saw it suggested on a Mustang forum & when I went there, the sucker drops you right into a "chat". Dude was on it like lightning, answering my questions, called my '98 Camry a "Tricky Fit" (no bull) said there were 2 or 3 possible radiators and could their Toyota Tech call me back??? I was like....WTF?? Felt like I was gettin' groped on a first date.....YIKES!!
Didn't know if it was legit or not so I just told him I'd call them maybe tomorrow.
#2.) I almost just ordered the Koyorad but I just started wondering....."What happens if I have to return that sucker??"
#3.) That said.........Napa confirmed to me that theirs is *not* all metal. I don't know if their is better than AutoZone, PepBoys, etc. but it looks like the Koyorad is plastic also.
I want quality but I think local support would be nice too......Of course the last thing I want to do is do this job TWICE!! I'm done doin' jobs twice!!
Hey. Reading this thread again, I remembered that on my 94 Camry, it was a Modine radiator that was all metal, that I got from Napa (been about 3 years now - maybe they don't sell them anymore?).
- And, the others in this thread are right. It's a relatively easy job, so don't fret too much about the quality of the part and having to do it twice. Get a radiator local that has a lifetime warranty. Drain all of your antifreeze - not only from the radiator, but if it's dirty, also consider draining your block too. On my 96 Camry (4cyl.) there's a block drain plug on the back of the block - (firewall side), you access from below. Consider replacing your hoses, clamps, and maybe your thermastat and radiator cap too (if the new radiator doesn't come with one). Triple check your antifreeze several times after the work's done to make sure everything fine. Also, whenever I'm working on or around my radiator, I usually cut a peice of cardboard just big enough to fit in front of the radiator so that I don't poke a hole in it with a wrench. Don't forget to remove it though. Also, don't forget to plug in any electric radiator fans when you're putting everything back together. Good Luck!
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Well, I'm not drunk, so I guess it's just late. What he said...
I don't know if their is better than AutoZone, PepBoys, etc. but it looks like the Koyorad is plastic also.
Piece of Crap
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