How much does it cost to replace the radiator?

ALEX STATHAS

MEMBER
2014 NISSAN VERSA
1.6L
4 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
85,000 MILES

Hi Master Technician Ken, I will make a one subject question. So, how much does it cost to replace the radiator on the vehicle listed above SV model? And are radiators on the vehicle listed above SV mode reliable or dependable? I am asking because our vehicle listed above SV mode now has 85,000 miles on it and it's 9 years old and my mother hasn't yet reported any coolant leaks. While in the long past we used to have a 1986 Mercury Lynx Wagon and a 1995 Ford Aerostar minivan, and the radiators of both vehicles were leaking very badly before reaching 50,000 miles. How long is the vehicle listed above SV mode radiator is supposed to last and how much does it cost to replace it as I heard that this particular radiator is a lot more expensive to replace than other vehicles' radiators. Thank you Mister Master Technician Ken and in this post I only requested one subject advice the radiator like you directed me in my last post.

5 Replies

STEVE W.

MECHANIC
13,003 POSTS

There really is no way to know for sure, they don't really have a known lifespan. I have a number of vehicles out on the lot with well over 100,000 on them and all original cooling systems. I have seen 200,000-mile radiators as well. If the system is serviced so the coolant doesn't become a corrosive element it usually takes physical damage to cause them to fail.
As for the cost, that depends highly on the shop you use and what parts they use. As an example, the OEM radiator for that car is Around $600.00 and takes about 3 hours to do the full replacement because you should also replace the thermostat and possibly the hoses depending on the mileage and their condition. Or you can go online and buy a cheap aftermarket unit for $95.00 and pay the same labor, I wouldn't but that is your choice.
This is the process to replace one, not your vehicle but it shows the steps involved.
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-a-car-radiator

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Monday, January 16th, 2023 AT 3:05 AM

ALEX STATHAS

MEMBER
71 POSTS

Hi Technician Steve, I just looked at the Advance Auto Parts website and they have a Carquest Premium radiator for $212 dollars which has a lifetime free replacement, the repair shop has to mark up that price to make a profit and the three hours labor would push the replacement price to over $600 dollars while before the Nissan Versa we used to have a 2000 Kia Sephia and I was given a quote for the Kia radiator as little as $220 dollars both parts and labor because the Kia Sephia radiator was less complicated to remove, you said you have vehicles with over 100,000 miles and even 200,000 miles with original cooling systems, do they include original water pumps? Am I allowed to ask a question about the water pump or do I have to start a new question and include the Versa information from the beginning starting all over again? How much does it cost to replace a water pump on a 2014 Nissan Versa SV and does the repair estimate include a water pump gasket and gasket sealant? I heard that replacing the water pump on a 2014 Nissan Versa SV is less complicated and cheaper in the Nissan Versa than in our previous car the Kia Sephia which required a timing belt removal and timing belt tensioner removal and took four hours of labor, how many hours labor does the 2014 Nissan Versa SV take to replace its water pump and what is the price range for a new water pump, water pump gasket, and water pump gasket sealant? At least it looks like they only have to remove a serpentine belt and a manual serpentine belt tensioner and not the whole timing belt components like it was on the Kia Sephia so how much is the estimated cost to replace the water pump on a 2014 Nissan Versa SV? Anyway I think that the reason the radiators in our much earlier 1986 Mercury Lynx and 1995 Ford Aerostar failed the reason was corrosive coolant which only had a 30,000 mile service interval but the service interval on the current car the 2014 Nissan Versa SV is over 100,000 miles and the coolant lasts longer and leaves less sludge and scale in the cooling system, thank you in advance for the water pump information Technician Steve, written by Alex Stathas

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Monday, January 16th, 2023 AT 6:55 AM

STEVE W.

MECHANIC
13,003 POSTS

Modern coolant still has a lifespan. The entire reason why they claim 100,000 miles is marketing. When they claim a car has "a low cost of service" it's because they like to stretch out the service intervals. For instance there are a number of vehicles that are listed as having a 10,000 mile oil change interval. What they don't say is that this is a number that gets the engine through the factory warranty but not a lot farther. So yes you saved say $200.00 on oil changes but you are also going to replace the engine or the entire car much sooner than you should need to.
The price I listed is the current dealer price on the radiator the other was an Amazon special. What your local shop quotes will likely be different.
As for the water pump, I generally just wait until they actually start to leak or if the radiator starts to fail I might change it while the engine is drained. There again I've seen 200K water pumps as well. The one in my personal vehicle is at 134K and still going strong.
Yours takes a Nissan #B10103HC0A with a book time of 1.5 hours to replace. Not a difficult one on that engine. Just remove the tire, the inner fender liner and the drive belt and you are at the pump.

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Monday, January 16th, 2023 AT 11:13 AM

ALEX STATHAS

MEMBER
71 POSTS

Thank you mechanic Steve, we do three month interval oil changes at Walmart with bulk synthetic oil and we put less than 3,000 miles in those three months, a water pump for a 2014 Nissan Versa SV is $77 dollars at Advance Auto Parts but the repair shop has to markup that price to make a profit on the water pump so let's say the water pump is priced at $200 dollars at the repair shop and 1.5 hours of labor being another $200 dollars which is $400 dollars labor, in our previous car the Kia Sephia it took four hours labor for the water pump and it was about $500 dollars for the labor alone not including the water pump, timing belt, timing belt tensioner and idler kit, and two drive belts, yes it's cheaper and easier to replace the water pump in this vehicle and thank you for informing me about the 1.5 hour labor time it takes.

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Monday, January 16th, 2023 AT 12:47 PM

STEVE W.

MECHANIC
13,003 POSTS

You are welcome. I try to use OE prices because I usually use OE parts in repairs. For instance, if the OE fuel pump lasted say 150K then I would expect another one to last the same. Never seen that with aftermarket pumps. Especially these days when parts are getting scarce and quality has dropped like a rock.