Attention Lexus owners: Need some help...

[ExplorerXLT95]

My wife's 1996 Lexus GS300 w/ 182,000 miles on it needs a new radiator, thermostat and thermostat gasket. I have 2 questions:

1) Does ANYONE have any experience with replacing the radiator on a Lexus of any type, especially a 1996 GS300?
2) Does anyone know anywhere to get the radiator, thermostat and thermostat gasket for cheap? (found some "wholesale" places online but never used them before: Lexus Parts Online and The Parts Bin)

The shop she just got her oil changed at (and who found that coolant was leaking through the thermostat, aside from the apparently rotted radiator core) wants an arm and a leg for both the labor and the parts for this. I'm guessing it's not that hard, just never messed with anything significantly other than Fords before...

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks everyone :beer:

[black97snake]

Originally Posted by ExplorerXLT95

My wife's 1996 Lexus GS300 w/ 182,000 miles on it needs a new radiator, thermostat and thermostat gasket. I have 2 questions:

1) Does ANYONE have any experience with replacing the radiator on a Lexus of any type, especially a 1996 GS300?
2) Does anyone know anywhere to get the radiator, thermostat and thermostat gasket for cheap? (found some "wholesale" places online but never used them before: Lexus Parts Online and The Parts Bin)

The shop she just got her oil changed at (and who found that coolant was leaking through the thermostat, aside from the apparently rotted radiator core) wants an arm and a leg for both the labor and the parts for this. I'm guessing it's not that hard, just never messed with anything significantly other than Fords before...

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks everyone :beer:

Radiator -

$139.99 + shipping (1 Year Warrenty)
$223.10 + shipping (Lifetime Warrenty)

Thermostat and Gasket

$10.08 + shipping

Let me know if your interested. These are brand new parts I can get

[ExplorerXLT95]

Originally Posted by black97snake

Radiator -

$139.99 + shipping (1 Year Warrenty)
$223.10 + shipping (Lifetime Warrenty)

Thermostat and Gasket

$10.08 + shipping

Let me know if your interested. These are brand new parts I can get

Radiator - $162.70 shipped
Thermostat - $17.22 shipped
Thermostat Gasket - $5.66 shipped

Can you match/beat those prices, black97snake? And where are you offering the parts from? Do you own a shop or something?

[medic]

Check out http://www.radiators.com/

I bought the raditor for my nissan maxima from there and it's great. OEM replacements and a few upgraded versions as well. Raditor installs are really easy to do, with a few basic tools. It took me about 2 hrs on a Sunday just becasue I forgot to buy distilled water and had to (literally) run to the store.

I was in Sacramento at the time so I just drove to their wharehouse to pick it up - I'm not sure what shipping will be.

Doing it again, I would go for the 1 year warrenty instead of the lifetime. Unless you plan on keeping your lexus for another 10 years, a lifetime probably isn't worth it.

[missam]

Originally Posted by ExplorerXLT95

My wife's 1996 Lexus GS300 w/ 182,000 miles on it needs a new radiator, thermostat and thermostat gasket. I have 2 questions:

guess i'll have to add more choice for you. had purchased some quality parts on autopartsgo.com and partstrain.com. hope you find a good deal for your wife's lexus.

[Asonyexec]

had the same problem with my '94 GS300 at about 175,000 miles. cracked radiator (because i didn't listen to the service rep and went for a full radiator back flush - bad idea when ur radiator hasnt been serviced regularly). and a leaky thermostat housing.

I didn't mess with it myself, I had my lexus svc ctr tackle that one. whole thing ran me $375. Looking at those posted prices I see I didn't get a bad deal after all once you throw in the warranty on parts & labor. Traded the thing in 6 months later.