Coolant Reservoir Replacement Cost

The coolant reservoir is where excess engine coolant resides. It is pumped into the engine as needed, but once it malfunctions, it can cause a number of problems for the engine and your car in general.

On average, it costs about $130 to replace the coolant reservoir. That’s about $80 for labor and $60 for parts, but the price can vary based on the kind of car you drive and the fees charged by the mechanic.

Coolant Reservoir Replacement Cost Comparison

Your Mechanic

Work	Warranty	Price
Parts & Labour	12 months	$104-$368

 

Midas

Work	Warranty	Price
Parts & Labour	12 months	$114-$355

 

Mr. Tire

Work	Warranty	Price
Parts & Labour	12 months	$102-$379

 

NAPA

Work	Warranty	Price
Parts & Labour	24 months	$100-$362

 

Walmart

Work	Warranty	Price
Parts	Limited	$42-$260

 

Amazon

Work	Warranty	Price
Parts	Limited	$45-$276

 

What Is Coolant Reservoir Replacement?

This is a fairly simple replacement operation, and it shouldn’t take long or cost very much. In most cases, when you catch the problem early enough, you will only have to pay for the cost of the reservoir. However, long-term damage can be more severe, and you may end up replacing a number of parts or at least having them cleaned or repaired. You may or may not need a coolant flush. This is an operation that is often recommended when it isn’t necessary, so you may want to get a second opinion on it before you pay for that part of the repairs.

Benefits of Coolant Reservoir Replacement

Once you get the coolant reservoir taken care of, you can drive once more. It’s not advisable to drive the car when you have a problem with the coolant, so you’ll have your car back and be able to drive without worrying about it overheating, stalling out or experiencing further damage from this problem. The sooner you get the issue fixed, the less the repairs should cost you.

What Is Done during Coolant Reservoir Replacement?

This should be a simple and quick process, and the coolant should not need to be drained, in most cases. However, the specifications of each vehicle will vary, and it can become a larger and more involved process due to a number of factors.

Contaminated coolant will need to be flushed and replaced. If the reservoir is empty because it has a crack, though, then no flushing will be necessary. To replace the reservoir, the mechanic will need to clamp the hoses that are connected to it, take out the old reservoir and replace it with a new one. The pressure relief valve hose will have to be replaced as well. Then the coolant hose will be unclamped, and the mechanic will test the vehicle.

When to Get Coolant Reservoir Replacement

You really don’t want to keep driving the car when the engine is having problems, and a busted coolant reservoir can make the engine overheat and damage it to the point where you need a new engine. If you realize that your coolant reservoir is having trouble, you should get this fixed right away before driving your car anymore. It may be safe to drive the car to a nearby mechanic, but you definitely don’t want to go on driving the car like nothing is wrong while this problem persists.

You may notice the engine light or coolant level indicators come on when there is an issue with the coolant reservoir. You may also see the car overheat or smoke, and the engine may stall out if the problem is very serious. Don’t ignore these signs, and get your car to a mechanic right away.

How to Save Money on Coolant Reservoir Replacement

Are you looking to save a bit of money on repairs? There are a few ways you can do that. The most obvious ones to compare the prices from a few different mechanics nearby. You can get some quotes from them and see who has the best offer. If you would rather just do the repairs yourself, then you can attempt this job without much trouble, but you need to make sure to diagnose the problem correctly. You have to determine the extent of the damage and make sure that you aren’t replacing something that is only a peripheral issue. If you don’t have any experience in this type of problem, it may be best to have a professional do it for you or at least have one look over your work when you are done.

Sample Coolant Reservoir Replacement Costs

Model	Labor	Parts	Total
Ford F-Series	$63-$80	$206-$271	$269-$351
Chevrolet Silverado	$108-$138	$71-$99	$179-$237
Ford Focus	$72-$92	$56-$74	$128-$166
Toyota Camry	$45-$57	$63-$101	$108-$158
Toyota Corolla	$45-$57	$58-$89	$103-$146
Nissan Altima	$45-$57	$58-$89	$103-$146
Honda CR-V	$45-$57	$56-$79	$101-$136
Honda Civic	$45-$57	$56-$79	$101-$136
Honda Accord	$45-$57	$49-$58	$94-$115
Ford Fusion	$54-$69	$45-$61	$99-$130