resharoo

Single female with 05' RX330, not completely ignorant or educated about the mechanics of my car. Well, maintained. There is a small hole in the radiator and the mechanic recommends replacing the radiator and say the "long upper coolant plate is leaking". The repair on the radiator is almost $1,100 and the plate is over $1k. My research finds nothing called "long upper coolant plate." I see the small plate round plate right next to the oil filter, that is secured with two bolts. I need input about how to proceed with this recommendation. Thanks in advance, guys.

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

welcome. moving thread to the right forum. best of luck.

JoeInHNL

There is a plate underneath the intake manifold that has been known to leak coolant. That is likely what your mechanic is talking about. Discussed in this thread, the first post has a link to a photo.

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-...eak-found.html

resharoo

@joeInHNL, thanks for your reply. This sounds more like maybe what it is. Would they know this for sure without taking it apart? So, what you are referring to is not the same as this?

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-...ver-plate.html

resharoo

The picture in the above thread looks as if it's near the oil filter, and so would not be too difficult to repair. The repair you refer to, @JoeInHNL, seems more complicated. Am I understanding this right?

JoeInHNL

That is correct, it is not the same. The plate I am referring to is under the intake manifold and requires removing the intake manifold to repair. The $1000 repair estimate is not out to lunch for that repair, although if you plan on repairing it you might want to shop around.

The area this plate is in is hard to see, if the leak was bad enough they might be able to see it or they could probably work a boroscope in there to diagnose. I would ask them how they determined there was a leak.

resharoo

Thanks, Joe, I will ask them. Yesterday when they first estimated the repair, I asked them to show me what they saw, and they put the car on the lift. He could point to where it was slightly puddled on the bottom of the area, right before it would drip. I could also see a dried drip line down on the inside from above, but he could not pinpoint exactly where it was leaking FROM to me. I will definitely ask how they determined this. Thanks for your input.