# Nissan Altima - Replace Radiator or Not? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** nissan, altima\ **Created:** [February 20, 2010, 3:21am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/nissan-altima-replace-radiator-or-not/44778 "2010-02-20T03:21:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![skeptical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f9ae1b/32.png) [@skeptical](https://community.cartalk.com/u/skeptical)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2010, 3:21am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/nissan-altima-replace-radiator-or-not/44778/1 "2010-02-20T03:21:57Z")
Hi. I have a question. I have a 1999 Altima with 104,000 miles. I have tried to maintain the car as I want to keep it as long as is practical. Recently I had a transmission fluid change and coolant flush. When I picked the car up, the mechanic said that I have a small leak in my radiator and that the radiator needs to be replaced. He said it could turn into a big leak with no warning and that I should replaced it. This was one month ago. Since then I have checked the coolant level weekly and can’t detect any change in the level. If the coolant is leaking it must be at a very slow pace. My question is, should I replace the radiator? Maybe part of me is annoyed that he told me this after I spent the money to flush the coolant, so part of me is skeptical. Thanks in advance! ---
**Author:** ![BustedKnuckles](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bustedknuckles/32/25_2.png) [@BustedKnuckles](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BustedKnuckles)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2010, 3:35am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/nissan-altima-replace-radiator-or-not/44778/2 "2010-02-20T03:35:39Z")
I’ll bet the radiator is plastic end jugs and an aluminum core, correct? I’ve gotten it from many sources that these radiators last about 7-10 years. Yours is on year 11, so it probably is showing signs. I just replaced mine in my 2000 Explorer, and it had a similar leak for over a year. I smelled slight wiffs of coolant over that year, and suspected a leak, but could not find it. One day, I could really smell it, and so could the wife. As I did a walk around, I noticed coolant dripping from under the bumper. Open the hood, and the leak was very apparent at the seal between the plastic and the aluminum. At that point, I just went ahead and replaced the radiator. I got lucky. A 1990 Mazda I once owned had a plastic jug just blow apart one day at about 8 years of age. I was away from home and had to have it towed. ---
**Author:** ![pleasedodgevan2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ad7895/32.png) [@pleasedodgevan2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pleasedodgevan2)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2010, 3:47am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/nissan-altima-replace-radiator-or-not/44778/3 "2010-02-20T03:47:49Z")
I usually comment about radiators and I usually say to change it. Once you do have it changed, look at the back side of it and you may be surprised at how ratty it looks. ---
**Author:** ![skeptical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f9ae1b/32.png) [@skeptical](https://community.cartalk.com/u/skeptical)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2010, 4:25am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/nissan-altima-replace-radiator-or-not/44778/4 "2010-02-20T04:25:36Z")
Yes I believe it is plastic/aluminum. Thanks for the reassurance, I wasn’t sure because even though my mechanic I think is honest, I saw no obvious sign and didn’t know whether to believe his statement that it could have problems with no warning. Thanks again. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2010, 4:32am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/nissan-altima-replace-radiator-or-not/44778/5 "2010-02-20T04:32:39Z")
If it’s leaking you need to replace it. Have him show you where the leak is.