If your jeep’s radiator is beyond repair, the only solution you are left with is replacing it. On average, a jeep wrangler radiator replacement cost around $1000-$3500. Tap to know more!
Is your Jeep Wrangler getting overheated too often? If so, the problem must be in your jeep’s radiator. Most jeeps come pre-equipped with a factory-made radiator which soon loses its efficiency to keep the engine cool.
In this case, the only solution you are left with is to replace the faulty or below-standards radiator with a new one. Depending upon various factors like labor cost and parts price, the jeep wrangler radiator replacement cost may range anywhere between $1000-$3500. That’s quite a huge amount, right?
Well, there’s nothing to worry about since there are some ways with which you can perform the entire replacement job for as low as $500. All you need to do is to look for some factors and visit different repair shops for quotes.
That’s the very topic we’re going to discuss today! Read the article and find out the estimated expenses to replace a jeep’s radiator and how you can save on radiator replacement. Also, learn when you should opt for replacing a radiator and when repairing the existing radiator can do the job. So without any further ado, let’s dive in!
jeep wrangler radiator replacement cost
As mentioned before, the cost required to replace your Jeep Wrangler radiator depends upon several factors so we can’t give you a sharp estimate for it. However, it’s guaranteed that the total expenses won’t exceed the range of $3500.
Generally, a jeep radiator can be purchased for $900 but some radiators cost only around $390. Note that this range doesn’t include labor costs and other taxes. If you are thinking about replacing the radiator on your own then that would help you a lot to save huge. However, opt for DIY radiator replacement only if you know everything about what’s under your jeep’s hood.
The task of replacing a worn-out radiator with a new one requires thorough skill, knowledge, and experience so if you are doubtful about your mechanic-related expertise, you might end up damaging other parts of your Jeep too. Besides labor costs, the jeep wrangler radiator replacement cost also depends upon the radiator’s brand, manufacturing firm, material quality, model, and design.
Signs that your Jeep Wrangler’s radiator should be replaced
Coolant leakage
Coolant circulation through your Jeep’s radiator is generally of green, yellow, or red color. So if you notice any such liquid pouring from your vehicle, it indicates a worn-out or broken radiator. It’s true that this coolant doesn’t always leak through the radiator as sometimes the leakage is located in the engine block or hose. 
Whatever the point of leakage is, you should take your Jeep to a professional mechanic as soon as possible for a quick diagnosis of the problem. On not taking this leakage seriously, not only will your Jeep begin getting overheated too frequently but other impurities will also find a way inside the radiator, contaminating the coolant fluid and reducing the radiator’s service life.
Sometimes, the leakage is so minute that locating it gets too difficult. The coolant escapes through this leakage point and is also not too much to locate on the road under your Jeep. In this case, the best way to confirm a leak in your radiator is to keep an eye on the low coolant indicator. If the indicator pops on too soon and too frequently, there must be a leak.
Rust build-up
If you drive your vehicle on the coast too often, the salt water might seep through the system, resulting in corroding the radiator and other metallic parts. So if you notice rust build up on the radiator, consider either cleaning the rust or replacing the radiator. The rust buildup can hinder the coolant liquid to flow properly through the system which in turn may end up overheating the engine.
Frequent overheating
What’s the purpose of an engine’s radiator? To ensure the proper flow of coolant through the system so it won’t get heated up. So, if your car is getting overheated too soon, take immediate notice of it.
Overheating is quite a huge issue with coolant leakage as it not only lowers the quality of your car’s performance but also puts the longevity of other parts at risk. Therefore, it’s important to identify the cause as soon as possible to minimize the net damage.
To confirm whether your system is getting heated up too often or not, you need to pay attention to the temperature indicator. If the corresponding indicator lightens up too abruptly during driving, take it as a warning sign.
jeep wrangler radiator replacement guide
As stated before, the task of replacing a radiator should be better left to professionals otherwise you might end up doing more harm than good. However, if you’re still confident about your skills and persistent to replace the damaged radiator yourself, here are the steps you need to follow;
Inspect thoroughly
Before removing the entire radiator from your vehicle, you better take a minute and inspect the entire cooling system thoroughly. You basically need to search for damages in other parts of the system. For example, check belts, hoses, and wires for leaks and corrosion. Check seals and radiator caps for leakage.
Not only this but you should also check bearings and thermostat so these components could also be replaced if they’ve been destroyed due to the worn-out radiator.
Remove coolant from the radiator
As we stated earlier, the radiator contains coolant so before you unbolt it, you better remove the coolant from it. To drain the radiator, you first need to unscrew the radiator cap. After this, get a plastic container or reservoir to catch the draining coolant and place it under the radiator. Once done, you may either remove the radiator hose, located at the bottom side, or open the petcock valve. In both ways, the coolant will flow out of the radiator.
Isolate the radiator
On opening the hood and front bumper of your Jeep, you’d quickly notice that the radiator is connected to so many other components like the cooling fan, connectors, mounting bolts, lower hose, upper hose, reservoir hose, fan shroud, engine oil cooler lines, transmission cooler lines, mounting bolts, and AC condenser bolts.
So, remove these components one by one to free up your damaged radiator. However, before you begin isolating the radiator, take a photograph for future reference. Once all the connected parts are detached from your radiator, remove them manually.
Install new radiator
Position the new radiator at the same point where your old radiator was located. After this, connect all the components you disconnected before in a backward sequence. Don’t forget to see the reference photo to ensure that all the parts are being mounted at the right point or not.
Also, remember that all the bolts, connections, fasteners, etc. should be tightly installed otherwise air might get trapped in the system, reducing the output performance of your heater and overheating the engine.
Refill the coolant
After making sure that all the bolts and hoses are in their right place, check whether all the covers, valves, and petcock are closed. If so, pour the fresh coolant liquid into the new radiator. While filling the radiator, keep an eye on the transmission fluid and engine oil too.
Should you replace or repair a damaged radiator?
The answer depends upon the size and nature of damage that has been done to your radiator. If your radiator has small leakage, it’s better to repair the leak rather than replace the entire radiator.
Also, repairing the radiator will cost you much lower than replacing it. On the other hand, if your old radiator has broken down or is corroded, repairing it would be nearly impossible so you should replace it with a new radiator. Remember that leaks may appear again and you might need to take the services of a mechanic again for leakage repair so the long-term solution here is definitely replacing the damaged radiator.
How long do jeep Wrangler radiators last?
Radiators of jeep wrangler are mostly reliable and are meant to last for eight to ten years. However, some factors may reduce the overall service life of your jeep’s radiator. For example, if you don’t take your Jeep for regular service and maintenance, you won’t be able to diagnose a problem at an early stage.
In this way, a minor leak in the radiator will be caught when it would be done damaging the entire radiator. Likewise, the jeep radiator may also get damaged due to stray currents. It usually happens when some additional accessories or electronics are connected to your vehicle. Besides, a radiator may get out of functioning if you install a new engine in your Jeep.
Radiators that are pre-installed in the system are meant to bear a certain amount of load and heat. So, if you install a new, more powerful engine in your Jeep, it will produce more power and get heated up more frequently with which your old radiator won’t be able to cope.
Fortunately, there are some ways in which you can extend the service life of your radiator. For example, by reducing the mileage and sticking to a rigid maintenance schedule, you can make your jeep’s radiator last longer.
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