Need Quality Radiator

[Richard D]

I am really happy with the 1994 Pathfinder (rear wheel drive)I bought at an auto auction last March.
However yesterday it overheated on the way home. It looks like the radiator needs to be replaced.
It is really confusing to shop for a radiator because so many cheap ones are out there. Can anyone point me to a source for a heavy duty radiator for the six cylinder engine ? I am willing to pay a little more for quality and always put oem parts on my last pickup and was never sorry.
Where can I buy a top quality radiator ?
Thanks in advance,
Richard

[ARKQX33V6]

Is your existing radiator copper brass or aluminum. In either case get it recored, the result will be a new radiator as good as the OEM because it will be an OEM.

Get pricing to repair, shop around, look at the shop, does it look prosperous?

A rebuilt rad should leave you with a good rad, make sure they offer a decent warranty on their work and get a print out of the final test results, pressure, BTU, flow.

[Richard D]

I just checked and the existing radiator has cheap plastic tanks with aluminum fins.
I have only owned this Pathfinder about six months, so I don't know if the radiator is original or not. After sixteen years I would bet that it is not. I know a lot of "good" vehicles are using the plastic tanks. Sometimes I see them beside the road.LOL
Does anyone know if the original was brass?
Is it even possible to get a quality replacement?

I took the above advice and called a radiator shop. They recommended that I let them "fix the leak," but then it could be ready to leak right away... just somewhere else.
Thanks,
Richard

[carnal_c30]

I have used Koyo OEM replacement radiators with good results on my Infiniti Q45 and I30.

[ARKQX33V6]

Richard take that rad to a rad shop or at least call them and ask if that plastic and aluminum rad can be fixed to original condition at a reasonable cost?

Forget about it being cheap, most are! Can you extend its life and use that vehicle at a reasonable cost?

[yeldogt]

The core for that unit is over $200.00 -- I don't think I would try to fix a part that old. If it is leaking from one point it will be from another soon -- unless a rock took it out. I would get an aftermarket unit ($150.00) and do a good flush and refill with quality coolant. The OE radiator was constructed with components that were compatible with the rest of the system as well as the coolant recommended at the time -- but with a car as old as we are talking about it is really not going to matter. Refreshing the coolant is a must when you replace a cooling component.