UKC

Looking for some advice from the golf owners of ukc or mechanics etc.

My radiator is leaking profusely so I'm looking to replace it, my main query is how much should it cost roughly I've done a bit of searching myself and it ranges in price quite a bit.

Being a student and too lazy to work over winter climbing time I'm hoping that I won't have to spend a fortune but I want something to last.

How much would you expect to pay for parts? Minus labor etc.

Should say that it's a 55 plate and otherwise in really good condition.

Cheers

In reply to Cameron94:

It shouldn't be a difficult job to do yourself, have a look at a few motor factors and make sure follow the recommended system filling/bleeding procedure and add the right type of coolant/antifreeze. Also, dispose of the waste coolant correctly as its very tasty and poisonous to animals like cats.

In reply to Cameron94:

have a think about the costs of doing it yourself vs getting it done at a garage vs buying a rad & getting a mechanic to fit it.

Also, does your insurance/warranty need it done by a main dealer? (i don't know if this is common or not)

Have a look online to see how easy it is;
need to buy tools?
somewhere safe to do the work?
easy to get to the bolts? skinned knuckles!
- mates to help?
- enough time to do it?

my experience of radiators is that they can be a tight fit, bolts OK to get to with a rachet spanner/socket set, additional person handy to hold things steady.

And like Gethin said, dispose of the waste properly, of course.

In reply to Cameron94:

Parts look to be somewhere between £60 and £260 depending which model + coolant/antifreeze. Labor will be from about £15/hr at your local backstreet garage to maybe £100/hr at the pricier dealers. DiY is usually simple enough if you have the tools and instructions on proper filling/bleeding.

jk

In reply to Cameron94:

I'd expect to pay around £100 for a radiator generally.
Check to see if there are variations depending on your car - eg cars with aircon may have different rads, as might cars with auto gearboxes.

Generally swapping a rad is easy - as long as access is OK - I have seen cars where you need to basically remove the entire front of the car to get at teh damn thing.
Again make sure you get the correct antifreeze.

In reply to Cameron94:

Thanks for the replies everyone. In the middle of sorting it, trust it to happen just before it needs serviced as well...

In reply to Cameron94:

For a vehicle of this age I'd consider doing basic servicing yourself, oil changes, filters, brake pads etc. Buying a Haynes manual could be a very profitable investment.

In reply to Cameron94:

I bought a BMW one from a motor factor a couple of years ago and it was £126. I can't remember the dealer price but it wasn't clever.

Expect to pay a similar price for a new one from a motor factor for what is often exactly the same radiator from the same factory as from the dealer.

The Euro Car Parts website are offering one like that but also a cheaper version for some Golfs at £56 so if it's a student budget then that might be your solution.

Take care with hoses, thermostats and coolant! Now is the time to look at the rest of the system as well.

In reply to Cameron94:

Take the rad out and take it along to a radiator reconditioner. It will come back rebuilt like new at half the cost of a new one.

In reply to Cameron94:

Cheap enough to get 2nd hand one from a breakers - look for something that's not had any front damage, obviously. Once had a Fiesta with an Escort radiator in it, I think, so check compatibility with other models.

Worth checking/replacing the thermostat while you've got the coolant drained - shouldn't be much more than a tenner extra in parts, just get it up the right way.

When I replaced the thermostat on my old Escort, we drained the coolant into a bucket, filtered through a few layers of clean cloth, then used it to re-fill the system - not worth doing if it's very old or dirty.