the struggle is real, folks

[eldubb440]

I replaced the radiator in my 01 Durango 3 years ago......because, you know, it only lasted 20 years and 200K miles.......

well 3 years and 24K miles later, I'm doing it again

 

[eldubb440]

actually got lucky..... drove this to Carlisle and back, it wasn't leaking

heat is what kills these engines, dodged a bullet

 

[Daytrepper]

Had that issue in my 98 Intrepid.

Original rad lasted until 2009. Replaced again in 2013. Then in 2015, when it leaked again, I blew the cash on an OE from Mopar. Still good 8 years later just hit 250K miles LOL.

Aftermarket parts have been terrible the last 3 years. Cant seem to find anything that lasts. Even some of the OE stuff is having issues.

 

[moparedtn]

Recently replacing the one in our '12 Charger R/T, I was frankly shocked at how many different brands were
available to choose from (yes, probably half of them were bargain basement Chinesium, but still...).
They start at $72 and go up from there. $72!!

It boiled down to a simple choice for me - fork over the big bucks for a Mopar ($435!) one or take a wild
guess that the Denso ($125) brand one was probably OER - or close to it.
Yep - dead ringer for the factory one.

There really wasn't an in-between in price, either - but to be clear, the problem in any of them is the DESIGN.
Aluminum core clamped onto plastic tanks? Ridiculous.

 

[eldubb440]

I have one waiting for me at napa for 199..... could have had one shipped from rock auto for a little less, but I'd have to wait till friday...and friday could turn into monday....... I need my wheels, yo

 

[QuickBpBp]

I had to put a Radiator in my ‘17 2500 and my sons ‘06 2500 mega cab… both in a week. My sons was easier.. the ‘17 has more covers and plastic bull **** to remove.

 

[moparedtn]

I have one waiting for me at napa for 199..... could have had one shipped from rock auto for a little less, but I'd have to wait till friday...and friday could turn into monday....... I need my wheels, yo

Got mine from Summit, next day as usual...

 

[WileE]

Autos have become BIC pens. Years ago you bought a quality manufactured pen and filled it with ink. Then came the Bic use-it & throw-it-away pens. We drive around in Bic pens.

 

[eldubb440]

I had to put a Radiator in my ‘17 2500 and my sons ‘06 2500 mega cab… both in a week. My sons was easier.. the ‘17 has more covers and plastic bull **** to remove.

2017 would be very new to me, I'd be pissed if I had to do ANYTHING to a 2017 model, other than routine maintenance

I accept doing repairs to my 2001

 

[1 Wild R/T]

Back in the 90's when I worked for Ford the company slogan was "Quality is job one"... Even then the techs would say "Quality is job four or five.... Paycheck is Job One"... These days quality isn't even part of the discussion.

 

[eldubb440]

no wonder everything we buy is junk......I wonder if these guys built my radiator

 

[eldubb440]

I think we found the source of all the fuel pump push rod issues ^^^^^^^^^^^^

.......and camshafts, and lifters, and.......

 

[Nxcoupe]

no wonder everything we buy is junk......I wonder if these guys built my radiator

Wow, all by hand and no cnc, no wonder one will be right and one won't. And flip flops and pajamas, puts me back in Afghanastan.

 

[bobsgtx]

You don't even want to the the price of one for a Freightliner truck. I had to change a few back when I was still working. $2800 and up. The same construction as new cars but heavier.

 

[eldubb440]

is it just me, or does copper soldered to brass seem a whole lot better

 

[BeepBeepRR]

Osha not even in their minds. No wonder so many Indian folks I see are some sort of gimp or another. Almost always have facial scarring.

 

[1 Wild R/T]

Living in Turkey in the early 70's you would see that exact "manufacturing process" FWIW when it's all you got it's impressive that they are able to keep cars and equipment running but their QC isn't quite as good as a modern CNC equipped facility... And yeah, it wouldn't surprise me that some retailers do source parts from that sort of operation..

 

[PlymCrazy]

...could have had one shipped from rock auto for a little less...

IME if a part needs to get returned to RockAuto for some defect, they charge the customer to ship it back. I consider this now too when choosing where to buy my parts from. The extra you paid here at a local store is sometimes worth it, all things considered imo.

 

[eldubb440]

IME if a part needs to get returned to RockAuto for some defect, they charge the customer to ship it back. I consider this now too when choosing where to buy my parts from. The extra you paid here at a local store is sometimes worth it, all things considered imo.

napa had mine on my porch when I woke up......already installed....... freakin hot outside, I just have to fill it and double check for leaks

 

[Ron H]

IME if a part needs to get returned to RockAuto for some defect, they charge the customer to ship it back. I consider this now too when choosing where to buy my parts from. The extra you paid here at a local store is sometimes worth it, all things considered imo.

Ran into this more than once. If I ordered the wrong part, that’s on me. If THEY sent me the wrong part or defective one, that should be their problem. Last time I encountered this, got pretty testy insisting to talk with a person higher up the chain saying you people made your problem mine. Sent me a return pre-paid shipping label. Twice this happened. First time I did some searching for the CEO of the company and contacted him. Received an apology letter and $50 dollar coupon.

Don’t ask me though about the times this didn’t work, lol.