Postby McMac » Mon Feb 29, 2016 2:12 pm
I went with the original OEM #21460-9CA2E, which is the newer number after fixing the problem and had my dealership install it. If you read my link (above in the same thread) from my problem with the Stillen/CSF radiator, I was tired enough of the problem to just go with what I thought at the time to be a better radiator. Looking back I should have gone with the Value Advantage one. I wouldn't be surprised if it isn't the same radiator as the OEM. I suspect they've lowered the price to get more of the business back they lost to the aftermarket ones. If I had to do it all over again, I would do the Value Advantage and save the money. I'm sure it's a good radiator.
I paid $470 for the OEM one. I used the price quoted by Courtesy Nissan in Texas 972-231-2600 (recommended highly by other forum members for parts sourcing by the DIY'ers) to get the price down at the dealership I like so much. Labor was $275. I did have a coupon which took $75 off the total of those 2 numbers. With taxes, coolant, seals (see below), new cap, and discount it was $827 out the door.
After looking at some of the step-by-step photos to replace the radiator on these, I think you'd have to be a serious weekend mechanic to take this on. And, if I remember right, the V8 is a little trickier than the V6, due to it's additional size. Well worth the money to me to have it done right by someone who knows what they're doing. If you decide to do it yourself, there are a bunch of good posts of the experience others had in doing it. Also, others had recommended the 4 new seals (not expensive), which go around the outside of the radiator, regardless of who does it, that turned out to be a good idea:
21497-EA000
21496-ZS20A
21496-ZS22A
21496-EA000
I also had them replace the hoses in and out of the radiator while they had it open. Not expensive. They are not included on this bill because they were swapped during the Stillen/CSF fiasco.
One other thing not relating to the radiator (I should post under engine). My service advisor (who was a wrench turner for a bunch of years before moving out front), heard a slight hissing coming from my engine bay when I was last in for an oil change. I couldn't hear it. Turns out 1 of the 2 exhaust manifolds was cracked and therefore leaking. He said the catalytic converter on these V8's is bolted right to the block (something like that) and generate a bunch of heat. It was under emission warranty (8yr 80k) and they fixed it no charge to me. He said he's seen this a bit in the Titan's (which use the same engine), but never in a V8 Pathfinder. I think the V6 is altogether different. He also said there is no way to test for it and it won't show up in diagnostics. They test by just sticking their head kind of in both front wheel-wells with the engine running and listen. Another reason I have most of my work done at the dealership. They've caught a few other things as well (pinion seal, shock). A quick change oil place never would have noticed this. I signed up for my dealerships emails and they send me coupons for discounts on oil changes and service all the time. It's actually cheaper than my local quick change. Anyway, just my 2 cents.