Rad cap broke apart, pieces in rad, now what!?!

2006 4.7 liter V8 213,000 miles
Help!
So I just happened to take my rad cap off tonight and noticed a spring lying inside on top of the rad core.
No idea when this happened. Looks like the rad cap plastic sleeve broke off. Assuming there are still pieces inside my rad?
What do I do now? Pull all the hoses? Not even sure what parts I'm even looking for!

 

That’s gonna be fun to fish out the broken piece. I’d have to take a look, but I thought it was a metal plate bottom the spring attached to create a good seal by forcing the cap upwards.

 

Something like this from a 4runner?



Looks like you have the plate, it’s the plastic piece as you suggest.

 

Yes, I have the metal ring/rubber seal, and the spring. It looks like the plastic tube that the metal ring fits over broke off. I guess next steps would be to take a peek with a scope... And then start pulling hoses?
Too tired to look at it tonight.. guess I'll just toss and turn thinking about it!

 

Makes sense. I just don’t know what it would take to fish it out of there if it’s even possible. At least if it was attracted to a magnet you’d have a chance.

 

Since its on top, you might be able to flush it out, but i wouldnt really worry about it, i doubt it’ll hurt anything.

 

Coolant enters the top hot and goes down to the bottom to return iirc.

That piece won't make it into/past the core (finned portion of the radiator), so I wouldn't worry about that little plastic and rubber piece.

 

Hmmm, if it's like a plastic washer like the pic that Jack attached, I wonder if it floats. Jack up the left side, pour in antifreeze, and watch for it by the cap hole?

 

If your radiator is original or the plastic has 'gone brown', you might want to think about replacing it anyway.

 

Now that you mention that, it makes sense! That's comforting!

 

This truck is new to me and my first Toyota.. how do I tell if it's original? What color was it before "gone brown"?

 

Black

 

From the master thread So ... you wanna buy / just bought a 1st Gen Tundra, eh? | Toyota Tundra Forum

• Get to a baseline on critical 1st-Gen-Killer maintenance items that needed to be done:
  • Timing belt/water pump/pulleys/tensioner needs to be done every 9yrs/90k miles.
  • Radiator should be done every 125k-150k miles.
  • OEM lower ball joints should be done every 100k-125k miles *IF* they're OEM parts (aftermarket LBJ shouldn't be used, and should be replaced immediately).

 

Basically it's to protect your tansmission. The transmission lines go through the radiator and the joints inside the radiator tend to give way after many years. Then coolant mixes with the transmission fluid and you've got pink milkshake for ATF.
But, as the plastic on top of the radiator ages, it turns brown through oxidation. That's kind of an indicator that its pretty old and probably needs to be replaced.

 

Upload a picture of your engine bay and radiator.

From the area around the cap it looks old

 

Thanks, will do tomorrow. Been oil sprayed every year for the last 14 years so everything is just dripping in oil.
I do have some service records to peruse.. I know the timing belt was replaced at Toyota and should be good for 40 k. UBJs are yotas and new, lowers where done under recall and still seem tight, but probably getting due too.
Thanks!

 

If radiatior cap came apart I'd be thinking its sign to also replace radiator.
A Denso at rock auto runs around $130.

 

The rad cap in my 96 camry came apart entirely.
I may have gotten one piece out but I just left the rest and haven't had any negative effects.

 

It should remain in the top tank. If you want to get it, remove radiator, hold inverted and shake. It should fall out. Get new OEM cap. Radiator looks brown in your photo. How many miles? Consider replacing radiator. Use only Denso which you can get from RA or Summit.

 

That radiator needs to be replaced in the near future anyway. Now would be a good time to do it. Think about why that cap fell apart. There must be some corrosive potential in your coolant. Now think about the rest of the radiator. Guessing they're the same age. It could just be the photo, but that coolant doesn't look right either. Looks like some green and pink were mixed. Don't bother trying to fish anything out. You can probably drive it temporarily, but replacement with OEM radiator and cap is the only option I would consider.

 

Dude. Your radiator is brown as shit. It's supposed to be black. Browning radiator plastics is a sign you've waited waaaaaay too long to replace your radiator with a new Denso brand unit.

Please replace your radiator ASAP.

I saw a 1st gen (in really rough shape) in the display area at Caffeine & Octane this month, hood open, radiator was similarly brown. The owner was nowhere to be seen, so I couldn't chat him up. The three 1st gens there (which is unusual to even see a single truck) were really not in good shape. Made me think I should probably be showing my truck

 

Timing belt, if you use OEM parts (either Toyota direct or the

$185 Aisin TKT021 AISIN TKT-021 Engine Timing Belt Kit with Water Pump - Compatible with Select Lexus GS400, GS430, GX470, LS400, LS430, LX470, SC400, SC430 Toyota 4Runner, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Tundra

Aisin TKT021 kit), is good for 90k miles or 9yrs according to Toyota. You can no doubt skate to 100k or 10yrs, but ...

If using aftermarket parts, I wouldn't dare, but you'd be best to change every 40k miles. But I think you'd be crazy to (A) only change the belt, not the tensioners, pulleys, water pump, and (B) you'd be crazy not to use the Aisin kit, which comes with all that stuff, for way cheaper than aftermarket suppliers.

 

I can't believe people are actually showing these trucks! I'm with you, and if this is the case, mine could win best of show!

 

I need to take pics next time. Seriously. But they had an Aston Martin Valkyrie there, and a La Ferrari, kinda makes our trucks look like, "oh hey there, beater" even when polished up as mine is, so I almost feel silly snapping pics of very average-looking 20 year old, under-maintenanced 1st gens.

 

Thanks everybody!
Agreed, rad is definitely turning brown, I can see the color change from where the cap fits to the upper tank. Best price I've found so far is about 367$ Canadian from rock auto. Guessing this would be a good time to change out the thermostat too. Any favorite brands for cap and thermostat?
Coolant is pink, is that correct?
Again, thanks everyone for your help!

 

OEM, and OEM, or if Aisin makes it, then Aisin brand. Just don't make the mistake of ordering your parts on scAmazon or fleaBay, kings of counterfeit parts.

Correct, Pink SLLC.

And radiator parts, you may be able to shop around in the country. This is your OEM part: https://autoparts.toyota.com/products/product/radiator-assy-164000f040

Verify fitment before purchase, your local dealer may have it cheaper than Rock Auto. Else, you may shop around to your local auto parts stores and see if they can get it cheaper, the part number to share with them is the "CREW CAB" number here:

​

 

Color me shocked, dealer is cheaper!?!??
Looks like the 16400-0F040 is discontinued up here, but the one that seems to be called up for a double cab is like 308$ with tax.

Agree with the comment regarding the jungle website and evilbay!!

 

So in real life it doesn't look quite this brown, but I suspect it's original and will be replaced.
Thanks!

 

That is exactly how brown it is. It is time for sure. Word of caution, trying to reuse the hoses or clamps may not work out. My clamps would no longer seal the hoses after replacing them. So new radiator, hoses and clamps is the best bet. I ended up adding worm drives (not ideal) to seal my hoses so I didn't have to wait for new OEM ones or open the system again.

 

same problem on my 06 with broken cap. Drained and the spring was sitting on top of the core and came out with a magnet. Was not able to find any plastic pieces. Tried vacuuming from top and blowing from bottom (hoses removed) as well as removing radiator entirely and shaking upside down. Never found any plastic.

I'm now replacing the radiator with a new one, it was due anyways. Along with hoses and Tstat.

I can't help but wonder where those plastic pieces ended up... I'll probably cut the top off next as a last check, hoping to find the plastic so I can sleep better. Although like others have said I don't see where they could have went to cause problems.

Check/replace your caps!