Wrecked bumper, should I look into getting a new radiator

Hey folks,

I drive a 2006 Toyota Tacoma, and unfortunately I drove it into a barricade from some icey roads. I’m looking into getting a new bumper and reinforcement bar, but I’m not sure if the radiator should be repaired as well.

Anyone run into a similar body issue? Where’d you go about getting the parts for it?

Any information is helpful, thanks everyone.

 

Welcome to TW forums.

That front "radiator"-looking thing isn't the main engine radiator. It's the air-conditioning condenser. So your A/C will definitely be non-functional because all the A/C refrigerant liquid has leaked out through that snapped-off aluminum fitting.

It's possible that only the A/C condenser was damaged and the main engine-cooling radiator is fine.

The actual engine radiator is the larger unit behind the AC condenser. If you don't see any obvious cracking or leaks in the larger radiator, check the engine coolant level now, and if it's normal, your truck may be fine to continue driving. Start checking your coolant level regularly (like every drive) and also looking for any signs of pinhole cracks, such as small amts of crusty pink dried coolant "weeping" anywhere on any part of the radiator or attached connections.

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I'm not sure if an expert aluminum welder could fix that snapped fitting on the AC condenser by welding it back on. Even if they are able to carefully weld it I would be concerned about contamination from the welding processing getting inside the condenser, leading to problems with the AC compressor itself not too far in the future.

Probably a brand new OEM AC condenser goes for around $275-$300, plus labor charges & A/C system purge/recharge. I'm guessing a ballpark on the job might (?!) be $1,000 or so for the A/C fix alone. (Not any other damage to front end.)

Could save $150-$200 by going with an aftermarket (non-Toyota-brand) AC condenser but as with many aftermarket parts, quality & durability can be problematic.

 

Where are you located?

I have the crash bar off my 2015 (uncrashed!) if you are looking for a used OEM part.

 

Rad is likely shot too - tank is broken at the bottom passenger mount - can see it in the first picture

 

Yeah now that you point that out, it looks like it is also damaged beyond repair.

 

Why wouldn’t you want a new radiator. They’re $100 on RockAuto for a decent brand. It’s new. Yours is almost 20yo.

over time they get dirty, fins bend, debris inside, and is not hard to replace.

the pic you are showing is an AC condenser. Same shit.

 

This^^^^ Rockauto has both for less than or right around $100 each.