Radiator Leak on a 84k 2005 Toyota Sienna ?

daktula1daktula1 Member Posts: 11
edited January 2016 in Toyota
Recently my 2005 Toyota Sienna with roughly around 84 K miles on it (yes that’s right – very low mileage – has basically been a “grocery store” car) was diagnosed with a radiator leak issue. That set me back by around $600 ($577 to be precise).
I am flummoxed as to what could have caused that – I would think overuse/excessive wear and tear could not be it.
The only thing I can think of it is right before it happened we were driving back from the VA beach area driving up to Northern VA, right before heading out we stopped at a gas station to fill gas – but while pulling out on to the street from the gas station the front bottom touched the pavement in those little dip thingees on the pull out ramps (if you will) that lead you on to the street. It was a very light touch but my questions are –
Could that have ruptured the radiator enough to cause the leak?
Is the radiator bottom set that low in a Toyota Sienna to have actually hit the pavement – again it touched the pavement very lightly – there was a definitely a sound but it wasn’t a crushing or crumpling kinda sound.
Is not then is it common for the Toyota Sienna to develop a radiator leak after such a low mileage – could it be simply age?

Comments

  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    It doesn't sound like anything unusual...maybe a bit premature but radiators are subject to corrosion and vibration. It has been ten years after all, in a rather inhospitable environment of heat, cold and vibration.

    Also it's a good idea to flush out the coolant every two years or so, as it tends to lose its anti-corrosive properties after that.

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