I just installed one in my friends 2008 caravan few weeks ago. 3.3 engine. I think he picked one up from Napa for around $200 out the door. Took me about 1.5-2.0 hours to install. A little tricky if you haven't done one in a caravan before. My friend would have had zero chance of installing it correctly (no skills and no tools). His was cracked in about the same location you listed. Had about the same mileage too. Might not be a bad thing to replace the thermostat and or radiator cap, at least that is what I would do. IMO, trying to repair cracks in radiators with JB weld, epoxy, silicone, etc. never seem to hold for long.
If you have okay mechanical ability, aptitude skills, and you have basic set of metric tools, you could save yourself some $ and do it yourself, otherwise just have the shop do it, they're not raping you on the price.

 

I just installed one in my friends 2008 caravan few weeks ago. 3.3 engine. I think he picked one up from Napa for around $200 out the door. Took me about 1.5-2.0 hours to install. A little tricky if you haven't done one in a caravan before. My friend would have had zero chance of installing it correctly (no skills and no tools). His was cracked in about the same location you listed. Had about the same mileage too. Might not be a bad thing to replace the thermostat and or radiator cap, at least that is what I would do. IMO, trying to repair cranks in radiators with JB weld, epoxy, silicone, etc. never seem to hold for long.
If you have okay mechanical ability, aptitude skills, and you have basic set of metric tools, you could save yourself some $ and do it yourself, otherwise just have the shop do it, they're not raping you on the price.

Thanks. Appreciate the reply. I'm just wondering if I needed to replace it, or if I could have kept it and just added fluid once in a while? The crack was about 3 inches long vertically down the side. And the fluid dripped another few inches before it dried up. So it didn't seem like that big of a leak to me. But what do I know? (Not much. )

Still, I'm also wondering about the price. The receipt showed $189 for parts and $300 for labor. I know it didn't take him more than an hour and half to do, all told. And I know their shop rate is about $100 an hour. So I'm wonder why $300 for labor.

 

After spending 40 years in the Automotive Repair Industry...
It does not matter how long the job actually takes, the more you do something the better you get at it so naturally an experienced tech may get the job done under book time, that does not translate to the customer getting a lower price.
Labor prices are from the Labor Guide (Chilton, Mitchell, Alldata) and that is the price customers are quoted before the job is started, radiator replacement for a 2003 Grand Caravan with A/C is 2.3 hours, that translates to roughly $130.00 pre hour.

What is the labor rate at this shop?

 

Thanks! Not sure what the rate is. I know a few years ago, when I first started going there, it was $80/hr. Very reasonable. So maybe they upped it to $130/hr.

BTW, does the 2.3 hrs include the flush they did? I imagine that's a standard part of the replacement.

 

Depends on the shop and what you were quoted, the only additional listed under radiator replacement in the labor guide was for A/C equipped cars.
2003 Dodge Grand Caravan 3.3L/3.8L
Replace Radiator - 1.8 Hrs.
With AC add .5 Hrs.

The shop should have given you a receipt that shows a breakdown of all expenses, Parts (Each Individual Part), Labor (Broken Down For Each Separate Repair), Shop Chemicals/Misc. Shop Fees, along with any Warranty Info for the Parts/Labor.
Labor for Drain and Refill is 0.5 Hrs.
Labor for...
"Includes: Pressure Test System For Leaks, Check Thermostat & Heater Operation, Check All Hoses & Belts, Drain & Flush System And Add Coolant." 1.4 Hrs.

Usually these charges are included in the original quote, since you cannot replace the radiator without draining and refilling the system that would be included in the "Replace Radiator" labor charge of 2.3 Hrs.
A flush is different than a drain and refill and requires additional labor/chemicals so usually additional charges.

Were you charged additional for the flush?, the only way to know for sure is to read the receipt or call the shop.

 

The shop should have given you a receipt that shows a breakdown of all expenses, Parts (Each Individual Part), Labor (Broken Down For Each Separate Repair), Shop Chemicals/Misc. Shop Fees, along with any Warranty Info for the Parts/Labor.

No, I just got a receipt that showed parts $189 and labor $300.

Keep in mind that this shop is ALWAYS disorganized! They only recently started doing things on the computer. Prior to that, they'd scribble things on a piece of paper. The owner didn't even charge tax on oil changes initially.

I like the people. Do good work. Very honest. But completely disorganized. Have to call several times just to find out what's going on with my car. And even then it's usually not accurate! LOL

(Fortunately it's near my house, so I found riding my bike over there and just talking with the mechanic directly is the best thing to do.)

So, no, no breakdown.

Labor for Drain and Refill is 0.5 Hrs.
Labor for...
"Includes: Pressure Test System For Leaks, Check Thermostat & Heater Operation, Check All Hoses & Belts, Drain & Flush System And Add Coolant." 1.4 Hrs.

I don't know if he did a pressure test. I know he said he checked all the hoses, and drove it and checked the thermostat, and that he did a flush, not just a drain, with a high-pressure machine and water.

So would the 1.4 hours be in addition to the 2.3 hours for the radiator replacement?

Usually these charges are included in the original quote, since you cannot replace the radiator without draining and refilling the system that would be included in the "Replace Radiator" labor charge of 2.3 Hrs.
A flush is different than a drain and refill and requires additional labor/chemicals so usually additional charges.

Were you charged additional for the flush?, the only way to know for sure is to read the receipt or call the shop.

I don't know how they broke it down apart from what I wrote above about the price for parts and the price for labor. But I know they did do a flush.

 

I am a professional mechanic, and I have replaced dozens of these radiators over the years. The crack you mention is, sadly, what kills most of them. Plastic and heat are a really bad combination, but that is what everybody uses today for radiator tanks. There really wasn't anything you might have done to repair it once it cracked. NOTHING sticks permanently to that plastic, and it can not be plastic welded successfully. I can do one in about an hour now, but as NAJ said, the labor in most shops is based on book time, NOT clock time. And part prices have skyrocketed lately with no really good reason other than many places have had a hard time due to COVID and are trying to make back as much money as possible in any way possible. I am seeing insane prices for repairs that used to be quite reasonable. You should count yourself lucky you didn't get stuck for a much higher price. The inflation rate is MUCH higher than what you are hearing due to this nonsense.

 

Thanks! That's helpful.

 

Also check your engine mounts. I've seen many radiators Crack due to the engine pulling on the top of the rad everytime you accelerate. And the glue almost never works. This was my Accord 5 speed.

 

Also check your engine mounts. I've seen many radiators Crack due to the engine pulling on the top of the rad everytime you accelerate. And the glue almost never works. This was my Accord 5 speed.

I had a fellow work on my car a few years ago and he told me that my front engine mount was loose and needed to be replaced. I didn't bother with it. So maybe that's what caused it.

I guess I'll give him a call and have him do the work now, before the new radiator gets busted. I imagine it probably wouldn't cost too much to do. Maybe a couple of hundred?