it's going to cost me around $1000 to fix the thing, but good part is that the shop i go to will put in my clutch for me for no additional charge... so for $1000, i`m getting my radiator fixed AND my clutch dropped in. (so Ped, you wont need to help me anymore) my main concern is, was my radiator just old, or is it due to me being hard on the car? what causes the radiator (specifically the top part where the plastic housing sits) to crack? i have 114K miles on my car now so i suppose i should be a little easier if i want to keep it until i finish college at least (for another 2 years). hopefully my stock tranny holds up :sx:
$1000 to replace the radiator sounds a bit steep, but if that includes a "free" clutch change - that is better.
Subarus have plastic radiators. it's total BS. It's fairly common for them to crack. Mine cracked on my '03 and rather than getting the crazy priced stocker again, I ordered an all aluminum KOYO for $350. I put it in myself in about 45 minus including filling it.
OEM radiator is $750ish... GET A KOYO and be done with it forever! They look pimp and hold twice as much coolant too.
Is that $750 installed at the dealer? When I thought I was going to have to replace mine, subarugenuineparts.com it was going to be about $350. Install is pretty easy - maybe 1 hr. of dealer labor.
Don't go to SOG, the dealers will rape you on labor. If you must go to a shop, take it to TopSpeed. You can do the radiator yourself, it's easy. Also, mine cracked at 37k miles. The stocker is a total POS IMO, granted I got one for free so it went back in. Too cheap for a Koyo. Now the clutch is labor intensive but I'm betting Liquidforce (Mike) will install both the radiator and clutch for you for way less than $1000. He'll do you right.