I've become like most everyone I've known, don't like to fix my own cars anymore, despite having been very interested in cars since age 5.
2024/25 was the year of the car failures for us!
2024 broken Y pipe on 2006 Lexus
2025 cat flange leak on 2011 Buick
2025 Buick total loss
2025 Lexus radiator failure
This is not unexpected when one owns 2006, 2007, and 2011 vehicles.
The 2007 had to step up 3X and become a daily driver.
Unexpectedly and luckily, the Lexus radiator failed at age 20. It happens, where the plastic meets the metal. I happened to notice fluid on the driveway, which I would have ignored if it were summer, assuming it's AC condensate.
I went online and the OE radiator was $431.58 list, and sold for $259.46. I think I got lucky free shipping and no sales tax. Apparently in AZ the business is not required to collect sales tax (surprising with the Wayfair scotus decision). But good thing PA provides us a line item on PA-40 to declare it .
Toyota coolant is $30+ per gallon which I refuse to pay, so I got Aisin equivalent (ACT-002) on rock auto for $13.20. I bought 3 but it only used 1 1/4.
It took about 2 hours with some plastic breaking and a bolt shearing because the car is literally 20 y.o. A good portion was getting the auto transmission lines off, I was for a moment unsure they would come off. I don't like automatics, which is another pet peeve in itself. Cars should have 3 pedals, not two lol
Was it worth it? This job is about $1100 at a dealer. I don't think it was worth it, but I also don't think I have a choice. I won't spend $1000+ at any dealer, or any auto repair shop, for anything, period. Old fashioned thinking, I know, as $1000 today is not $1000 from when I was in college. But that is my threshold where I have to DIY. Like the BMW ABS was $4,200 in 2016. No way I would pay anything near that, so again, DIY for about $500. But my car was off the road for 4 months while I took my time (I did have a Takata loaner though).
Yes, I do think my time is worth more, but, I also had no choice. So luckily I went to mass at 7:30, and did the job in the driveway, and still watched the Eagles win, and then took my son to hockey at 6:45 PM.
If I could change things, our lives would be simpler. We are always trying to do so many things in a limited amount of time. But yes, first world problems... lol
p.s. imagine if the 100% tariffs applied as new OE radiator is made in China, whereas original OE was Japan. $860+ for the part would have meant game over (people online said aftermarket leaks in 2 years or so then redo the job, still gonna be a tariff)
I've become like most everyone I've known, don't like to fix my own cars anymore, despite having been very interested in cars since age 5.
2024/25 was the year of the car failures for us!
2024 broken Y pipe on 2006 Lexus
2025 cat flange leak on 2011 Buick
2025 Buick total loss
2025 Lexus radiator failure
This is not unexpected when one owns 2006, 2007, and 2011 vehicles.
The 2007 had to step up 3X and become a daily driver.
Unexpectedly and luckily, the Lexus radiator failed at age 20. It happens, where the plastic meets the metal. I happened to notice fluid on the driveway, which I would have ignored if it were summer, assuming it's AC condensate.
I went online and the OE radiator was $431.58 list, and sold for $259.46. I think I got lucky free shipping and no sales tax. Apparently in AZ the business is not required to collect sales tax (surprising with the Wayfair scotus decision). But good thing PA provides us a line item on PA-40 to declare it
.
Toyota coolant is $30+ per gallon which I refuse to pay, so I got Aisin equivalent (ACT-002) on rock auto for $13.20. I bought 3 but it only used 1 1/4.
It took about 2 hours with some plastic breaking and a bolt shearing because the car is literally 20 y.o. A good portion was getting the auto transmission lines off, I was for a moment unsure they would come off. I don't like automatics, which is another pet peeve in itself. Cars should have 3 pedals, not two lol
Was it worth it? This job is about $1100 at a dealer. I don't think it was worth it, but I also don't think I have a choice. I won't spend $1000+ at any dealer, or any auto repair shop, for anything, period. Old fashioned thinking, I know, as $1000 today is not $1000 from when I was in college. But that is my threshold where I have to DIY. Like the BMW ABS was $4,200 in 2016. No way I would pay anything near that, so again, DIY for about $500. But my car was off the road for 4 months while I took my time (I did have a Takata loaner though).
Yes, I do think my time is worth more, but, I also had no choice. So luckily I went to mass at 7:30, and did the job in the driveway, and still watched the Eagles win, and then took my son to hockey at 6:45 PM.
If I could change things, our lives would be simpler. We are always trying to do so many things in a limited amount of time. But yes, first world problems... lol
p.s. imagine if the 100% tariffs applied as new OE radiator is made in China, whereas original OE was Japan. $860+ for the part would have meant game over (people online said aftermarket leaks in 2 years or so then redo the job, still gonna be a tariff)