At "only" 169,750 miles, my radiator appears to leaking along the top seam between the plastic top & the aluminum core section.

No leakage or wet spot where the car sits, only starts steaming & leaking a little when up to temp and pressure. Already replaced the cap with an Acura OEM Denso cap since the leakage looks like it's coming from that area.

New cap didn't help, I'm gonna put a better ladder-type clamp on the upper hose as it seems a little loose, but I think I see where it's leaking along the top seam.

Anyone have any tips on new radiators? I see several on Amazon from $75 to $150. Any experiences good or bad? Any brands to stay away from , etc?
Thanks!!

 

Denso is the OEM manufacture for our Radiators.

if you can find a denso one for at or under $100, it would be a GREAT DEAL!
try
amazon
rockauto
ebay
etc.

 

x2 for what justnspace reccommended

I ended up just snagging the autozone brand due to being out of town and rad cracked, so no time to shop around. So far so good with it in the car for a year coming this Thanksgiving. Keep your OEM cap! The aftermarket cap was worthless and the car was leaking rad fluid from it. I put the OEM one on and all is well.

 

No Denso radiators on Amazon. Seriously doubt I'll find a OEM Denso for under $200 or more. Probably won't have this car but for another 2 or maybe 3 years, so thinking of going cheaper. Plus I don't put but about 5000 miles a year or less on the car.

I could conceivably go through 2 $80 radiators and still be less money than a Denso.

 

*raises hand wildly like a 4th grader*
"pick me Pick me pick me!"

$113
http://www.jcwhitney.com/2002-2003-a...02-2003j1.jcwx


also, the cheap aftermarket ones for 80 bucks look great.

 

Yeah, any replacement rad should give ya a couple years.
But beware of some of the generic brands as they cut corners. Usually no drain petcock, no cap and cheaper materials. Ya get what ya pay for. Installation is an easy DIY, saving ya money for the extras: coolant, T-stat & hoses.

 

Get a good radiator, replacing it is nearly child's play. But if you need to go cheap, there shouldn't be a huge issue so long as you have always done a 50/50 fill.

I've tossed straight water in an emergency before.. Not recommended.

 

I'm still on my junkyard radiator original and its been 2 years it only cost $50 6month warranty. Installed it myself and flushed it saved some cash for the antifreeze.

I was on a budget when I took this route, also did this for a family member on his 99 tl and its been a year now no issues he had an aftermarket one that gave up as soon as he bought the car.


Just sharing my experience not recommending this but its another option.

 

^i also used a junk yard radiator from a wrecked TL.

I was in a pinch and wasnt willing to spend the 350 at the dealer, so i picked up one from a junk yard for 100.

it held coolant fine, until I wrecked my car and they put a brand new one in

 

good reminder to ck whats now called `automobile dismantling and recylers`
and compare to sites as suggested above,,,good ol jcwhit often comes thru for you

many let the `105` water pump timing belt job go long overdue
One of the risk is coolant age and its additives turning acidic,,,in an aluminum environment....
change oe coolant at 5 years MAX and aftermarket coolant ~3 years
it got done with the 105....

remember the engine block drain point, see owner manual

 

I bought Spectrum brand radiator from RockAuto ($90). it has been good with 15k miles on it already.

 

I just bought a 2gen and its now spraying out of a crack in the gasket on the OEM cap. After reading this thread I think I'm gonna get a cheap replacement from O'reilly's and just swap the gaskets. I didn't realize the OEM caps were so expensive! Never heard of a $100 radiator cap before, but its one of those "$2 part taking out you motor." Think I'll stick with the factory one