Is Replacing a Car Radiator Considered a Major Repair?
2 Answers
If the car's radiator frame is detachable, then replacing the radiator is not considered a major repair; if the radiator frame is integrated with the car's body frame, then replacing the radiator is considered a major repair. Below is relevant information about replacing a car radiator: 1. Cars use water-cooled engines, which rely on coolant circulating continuously to dissipate heat. Water-cooled engines have a radiator at the front of the car, which is fixed to the radiator frame. 2. The radiator frames of most cars are detachable, while some cars have radiator frames integrated with the body frame. If the radiator frame is integrated with the body frame, replacing the radiator frame would classify the car as a salvage vehicle. 3. For cars where the radiator frame is integrated with the body, replacing the radiator frame requires cutting off the old frame and welding a new one in place, which damages the body frame. If the radiator frame is connected to the body frame with screws, replacing it will have no impact on the car.
Last time my car's radiator broke, and it only cost a few hundred bucks to replace—hardly a major repair. A major repair is something like disassembling most of the engine or transmission. The radiator is just a standalone part; the technician finished it in half an hour without even touching the engine. I was pretty worried when I drove it to the shop, but I drove it home the same day. Just check the coolant level regularly to prevent the radiator from aging too quickly—prevention is always better than repair. After the replacement, the car's cooling system worked fine, and fuel consumption stayed the same. Really no big deal.
