Please help - radiator question

[SeeJayH]

I decided to do a preemptive radiator change on my 2004 Honda Pilot with 131,000 miles on it. Ordered a Koyo and received it today. The Koyo box is marked with PN 19010-RDJ-A52. That is the Honda PN for a 2005 Pilot radiator. The Honda PN for a 2004 Honda Pilot is PN 19010-PGK-A51. I am wondering whether it is going to work. Does anyone know if the 2004 and 2005 radiators are interchangeable? There must be some difference because they have different Honda PNs.

[SeeJayH]

I figured it out myself. I went to Koyorad.com. They give a Koyorad number of A2417-1 for a 2003-2004 Pilot, and that is also marked on the box. I am comfortable they sent the correct radiator. Odd that they also have the Honda PN for a 2005 Pilot on the box.

[Deererainman]

Post some pics. I've had a Denso radiator on backorder from Jegs for over a month now. I'll go with the Koyo if they don't get one to me soon.

[SeeJayH]

Originally Posted by Deererainman

Post some pics...

Visually the Koyo looks like a first class piece of work. I ordered it from Parts Geek and delivery only took 2 or 3 days. It will be about 3 weeks before it is installed. Responding to an inquiry I made, PartsGeek says that radiators for 2004 Honda Pilot is same as 2005. Could be, but Honda parts catalog has different PNs for 2004 and 2005 oem radiators.

[TomStromie]

I have a couple of items for your consideration if you replace the radiator yourself.
1. Purchase a bunch of the plastic rivets for putting everything back together. I destroyed some of them during the removal process.
2. The hardest part of the job was disconnecting a couple of the wire harnesses. Those were the ones that were in 'out of the way' locations.

Other than that the job wasn't too tough.

[P5Driver]

Originally Posted by SeeJayH

Visually the Koyo looks like a first class piece of work. I ordered it from Parts Geek and delivery only took 2 or 3 days. It will be about 3 weeks before it is installed. Responding to an inquiry I made, PartsGeek says that radiators for 2004 Honda Pilot is same as 2005. Could be, but Honda parts catalog has different PNs for 2004 and 2005 oem radiators.

That Koyo does look nice. I'll be sure to check out Parts Geek to compare prices. Did you end up changing out hoses/t-stat/rad cap too? Swapping out at 84K so I'm going to do all of them and thinking about going OEM.

[SeeJayH]

Originally Posted by P5Driver

That Koyo does look nice. I'll be sure to check out Parts Geek to compare prices. Did you end up changing out hoses/t-stat/rad cap too? Swapping out at 84K so I'm going to do all of them and thinking about going OEM.

I have a relative that owns a GM dealership, so I had them change the radiator (I bought the Pilot off their used car lot years ago with 50,000 miles on it.). I gave them the 2 main radiator hoses and Honda fluids. Did not replace any other hoses, thermostat or radiator cap. I notice they had to replace one of the radiator hose clamps with the universal type.

I am thinking this is an unusual case where the aftermarket part may be better than the OEM.

Pilot is up to 135,000 miles now. Hoping to make 200,000.