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I'm just sharing a recent experience, requiring a new radiator. Hopefully this will add to someone else's search down the road...
A few week ago I noticed some trans fluid drips while snowblowing the driveway. It appeared from the front, and was dripping off the lowest part of the skid plate. I removed the skidplate (easily twisting off a bolt in the process, second time I've done that!) and observed leakage all around the barbs at the bottom of the radiator, where the transmission fluid lines enter the radiator. I made a couple of calls, and was urged to take it to the dealership.
Meanwhile, I thought "How the hell could it be the radiator, it's a transmission fluid leak". The trans cooler looked fine, but it was obviously the bottom of the radiator. A quick search here revealed that the trans fluid actually has a loop in the radiator that serves to warm up the fluid on the way through to the trans cooler. Good 'ol search.... I started pricing radiators.
First trip to the shop, I got a call at the end of the day. "All fixed up. Come on in". $68 later (included a skid plate bolt, old one removed), I'm on my way home. I get home and peek under the front... Now there's maticJ continuously flowing off the skid plate. Fantastic. Peeking down from the top, I see that I have some new SS worm clamps where the spring clamps were before. Problem not fixed.
Second trip to the shop, I got a call in the early afternoon. It's the radiator. I asked how much, "$650 for the radiator, about $250 for installation". So I went tot the shop to pick up my truck, without the radiator. I bought the truck when I lived in the US, and now I'm shocked every time I'm quoted a price for a part here in Canada. It's like the internet doesn't exist in dealerships in Canada.
I get to the shop, there's a pool of red fluid under my truck. The problem is getting worse FAST. The fittings had actually completely corroded, and I was fortunate that I the coolant and trans fluid didn't mix. This was a disaster waiting to happen. The shop agreed to allow me to leave my truck in the lot, and they would install an aftermarket radiator for me.
I bought a new radiator online for $180 shipped to Calais Maine. Took my wife's car and drove down and picked up my new radiator 5 days later. Dropped it off, and they installed. I would have liked to install it myself, but the weather was terrible that week, and I really didn't want to move my truck, due to the BIG RED puddle under it. To make matters worse, there were 3 big snowstorms that week, enough snow each time that required them to move all the cars at the dealership to move all the snow. There were several puddles of matic J where they had to move my truck each time. I was expecting to be very low on trans fluid by the end of the week, but apparently a little bit of trans fluid looks like a LOT on the ground. In the end, the shop installed my new radiator, new coolant, and less than 1L of maticJ. Not bad at all! I had just paid for a spill and fill the previous summer, so I really didn't want to pay for a boatload of maticJ again!
I paid about $200 for installation. (which was fine by me, given the cold weather that week). Less than their original quote.
I was pleased that the shop installed my aftermarket radiator without a fuss. I think all the boys there knew $650 was insane for a radiator, but their hands were tied. I sure wish it happened in the summertime in my driveway though. If you or someone you know needs a new radiator - DIY. The stillen instructions are incredible. Looks like a very easy job.
Keep an eye on your radiator! Those things are not very robust. If I need to replace one again, I'll go with the stillen for sure.
A few week ago I noticed some trans fluid drips while snowblowing the driveway. It appeared from the front, and was dripping off the lowest part of the skid plate. I removed the skidplate (easily twisting off a bolt in the process, second time I've done that!) and observed leakage all around the barbs at the bottom of the radiator, where the transmission fluid lines enter the radiator. I made a couple of calls, and was urged to take it to the dealership.
Meanwhile, I thought "How the hell could it be the radiator, it's a transmission fluid leak". The trans cooler looked fine, but it was obviously the bottom of the radiator. A quick search here revealed that the trans fluid actually has a loop in the radiator that serves to warm up the fluid on the way through to the trans cooler. Good 'ol search.... I started pricing radiators.
First trip to the shop, I got a call at the end of the day. "All fixed up. Come on in". $68 later (included a skid plate bolt, old one removed), I'm on my way home. I get home and peek under the front... Now there's maticJ continuously flowing off the skid plate. Fantastic. Peeking down from the top, I see that I have some new SS worm clamps where the spring clamps were before. Problem not fixed.
Second trip to the shop, I got a call in the early afternoon. It's the radiator. I asked how much, "$650 for the radiator, about $250 for installation". So I went tot the shop to pick up my truck, without the radiator. I bought the truck when I lived in the US, and now I'm shocked every time I'm quoted a price for a part here in Canada. It's like the internet doesn't exist in dealerships in Canada.
I get to the shop, there's a pool of red fluid under my truck. The problem is getting worse FAST. The fittings had actually completely corroded, and I was fortunate that I the coolant and trans fluid didn't mix. This was a disaster waiting to happen. The shop agreed to allow me to leave my truck in the lot, and they would install an aftermarket radiator for me.
I bought a new radiator online for $180 shipped to Calais Maine. Took my wife's car and drove down and picked up my new radiator 5 days later. Dropped it off, and they installed. I would have liked to install it myself, but the weather was terrible that week, and I really didn't want to move my truck, due to the BIG RED puddle under it. To make matters worse, there were 3 big snowstorms that week, enough snow each time that required them to move all the cars at the dealership to move all the snow. There were several puddles of matic J where they had to move my truck each time. I was expecting to be very low on trans fluid by the end of the week, but apparently a little bit of trans fluid looks like a LOT on the ground. In the end, the shop installed my new radiator, new coolant, and less than 1L of maticJ. Not bad at all! I had just paid for a spill and fill the previous summer, so I really didn't want to pay for a boatload of maticJ again!
I paid about $200 for installation. (which was fine by me, given the cold weather that week). Less than their original quote.
I was pleased that the shop installed my aftermarket radiator without a fuss. I think all the boys there knew $650 was insane for a radiator, but their hands were tied. I sure wish it happened in the summertime in my driveway though. If you or someone you know needs a new radiator - DIY. The stillen instructions are incredible. Looks like a very easy job.
Keep an eye on your radiator! Those things are not very robust. If I need to replace one again, I'll go with the stillen for sure.
