How much does it cost to replace your car radiator?

Average car radiator replacement costs in the UK

How much it costs to replace your radiator in the UK varies widely depending on the make and model of your car. Average costs range from £258 to £501, although you may pay more for certain premium models.

Here are some ballpark costs for some of the UK’s most popular car models:

• Volkswagen Golf: £225 to £354
• Vauxhall Corsa: £184 to £289
• Nissan Qashqai: £204 to £321
• Toyota Yaris: £211 to £332
• Ford Fiesta: £149 to £223
• Mercedes-Benz C-Class: £310 to £487
• Audi Q5: £324 to £509
• Jaguar XE: £324 to £509
• BMW X5: £254 to £399.

Can I replace my car’s radiator myself?

If you want to save yourself some money, you can buy a new radiator for your car and install it yourself.

However, this is a complicated job that involves detaching multiple hoses and other connections to parts such as the fan and condenser. Some of the bolts and clamps that need to be unscrewed are difficult to reach. You’ll also have to drain the coolant, perform a pressure check, and bleed the air from the system.

To do the job properly, you’ll need specialist tools including:

• Wrenches, ratchets, and sockets.
• A car jack.
• A drain pan.
• Wheel chocks.

You won’t reach the level of expertise required by watching a couple of YouTube tutorials.

Unless you know exactly what you’re doing, it’s best to leave this job to the professionals, as there’s a real risk that you could make a mistake and damage your car. This could prove costly - and reduce your motor’s value when you come to sell your car. What’s more, any repairs you attempt yourself aren’t likely to be covered by your insurance.

What affects car radiator replacement costs?

The radiator is the central part of your engine’s cooling system, but there are other components, each of which could also be faulty or damaged.

Your mechanic will check the entire system (and may charge you a diagnostic fee for doing so). If any other components do need attention, your bill is likely to increase, as you’ll have to pay extra for parts and labour.

Parts that commonly need fixing or replacing include:

• Radiator, bypass, and coolant hoses

  These can wear out over time, causing leaks.

• Thermostat

  Various things can go wrong with the thermostat, including wiring problems, degraded seals, or rust. All these issues can lead to overheating - and damage to the radiator and engine.

• Cooling fan

  This essential part of the cooling system is prone to motor failure, power issues and worn bearings, all of which can cause the engine to overheat.

• Water pump

  If the belt on the water pump wears out, the pump won’t be able to circulate coolant through the engine and radiator, leading to overheating.

• Coolant

  As coolant gets old and dirty, it blocks the cooling system - and starts to damage its components. Your engine’s coolant needs to be flushed and replaced regularly to ensure it can do its job.

• Temperature sensors

  These can corrode, short circuit, or get damaged by heat, meaning they’re likely to send the wrong readings to the car’s computer.

Costs of car radiator replacement parts

Replacement costs for radiator parts can vary widely. For example, here are the average costs for a replacement water pump for some of the UK’s most popular car brands:

Labour rates and timeframes for car radiator replacement

All service providers will set their labour rates in accordance with local living and business costs. These costs are typically much higher in London (and other big cities) compared to smaller towns and rural areas:

• As a guide, the average hourly rates for a car radiator replacement in London ranges from £90 to £141.
• For the rest of the UK, the average is around £76, but costs can vary widely.
• Hourly rates in Huddersfield can be as low as £47, whilst other cities, such as Chester and Hull come in at £56 and £58 respectively.

How long does it take to replace a car radiator?

The average time it takes to replace a car radiator is between 2.4 and 4.5 hours, although again, the timeframe will vary depending on the make and model of your car. We’ve listed ballpark replacement times for some of the most popular car models on UK roads below:

• Volkswagen Tiguan: 1.1 hours
• Ford Fiesta: 1 hour
• Fiat 500: 1.3 hours
• BMW 5 Series: 1.5 hours
• Volkswagen Golf: 2.1 hours
• Audi Q5: 3.3 hours
• Audi A4: 4.5 hours
• Land Rover Range Rover: 3.3 hours
• Mercedes-Benz C-Class: 3.4 hours

Can I drive with a broken radiator?

Driving with a broken radiator will cause your engine to overheat. You’ll risk severely damaging your car, and the engine may fail altogether, causing a breakdown.

What’s more, if this happens on a busy road, your risk of being involved in an accident is significant. There’s also a possibility that your engine will catch on fire. Therefore, we would strongly advise against driving with a broken radiator.

If you’re away from home, you should call your breakdown provider to tow your car to the nearest garage.

What should I do if my radiator fails while I’m on the road?

If your radiator fails, you should pull over immediately, and turn off the engine.

Get out of your car, keep a safe distance from the vehicle, and leave it to cool for 15 to 30 minutes. Once it’s cool, open the bonnet, and check for any visible damage. If you see any, call your breakdown provider to have your car towed to the nearest garage.

However, if there is no apparent damage, the coolant may simply need to be topped up. In this case, check the coolant levels, and top up if you can.

If the coolant level is low, but above the minimum level, it’s safe to drive home to top it up. If the level is below the minimum, and you’re out of coolant, don’t attempt to drive your car. Arrange for it to be towed to a garage for a top-up.

Once you’ve topped up the coolant, drive slowly and carefully, keeping an eye on your temperature gauge. If it starts going up, pull over again - and contact a mechanic.

Signs of a faulty or broken car radiator

It’s important to catch any issues with your radiator as soon as possible to avoid damaging your engine - and potentially putting yourself at risk. Keep an eye out for the following signs:

• Coolant changes

  If you need to top up your coolant frequently, notice leaks (puddles under your car, usually red, green or yellow), or it becomes thick and dirty in the radiator, this may indicate a radiator issue.

• Overheating engine

  When the engine overheats, the temperature gauge rises, or the ‘check engine’ light comes on.

• Steam or smoke

  Steam from the bonnet or white smoke from the exhaust can mean that coolant is leaking into the engine.

• Corrosion

  Finally, if the radiator is broken, it may show signs of rust or corrosion. If you notice any of the above issues, take your car to a mechanic at the earliest opportunity.

What else could be the problem if my radiator isn’t broken?

Whilst a broken radiator is often the culprit when the engine overheats, this isn’t always the case.

Here are some other potential causes:

• The engine coolant is low, or there is a coolant leak.
• The radiator is clogged with dirt and debris.
• The seal on the radiator cap has gone.
• There is a fault with the water pump or thermostat.

Whilst any of these issues will need attention, you may be pleased to learn that they cost significantly less to put right than a broken radiator.

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