Overheating Issues and Associated Costs

[tanafied]

Hello,

I'm new to this forum, and I'm sooo happy to have found you. I'm having a problem with my 98 Camry, and I could really use your assistance.

My car overheated for the first time, on Thursday, July 19th. When I did get it to a gas station, I found I had a busted radiator. I had it towed to my machanic. I picked it up on Tuesday July 24, and had paid $304 for a new radiator and thermostat.

On Friday, July 27 I was driving to work and I noticed it was smoking when I pulled into my parking structure. I let it sit, and afterwork I noticed the radiator hose was not attached to the radiator. I re-attached and added coolant...but I didn't get far (around the corner), before it overheated again. So, I had to towed to the mechanic again.

I picked up my car the following Tuesday (July 31), and paid an additional $120.00. I was told that after 2 days of trying to understand what the issue could be, they found a faulty wire that was not triggering the cooling systems.

Well, my car overheated again this past Friday (seeing a pattern here?), and it was towed to the shop again. Although I haven't spoken to them yet...I'm concerned and my questions are in 2-fold.

Do I continue to pay them, every time they take my car?

Also, do you have any idea what it could be...that perhaps I can suggest? I believe they've checked all of the common sense issues, like the head gasket...and everythings looks to be working just fine.

[Kingdom934]

Was it the reserve tank that has the anti-freeze that wasn't connected?

Sounds like something isn't right. A car being in the shop 3 times with the same problem which it had been sent there to fix is not a good sign...especially when your paying every time.

[marc780]

let it sit, and afterwork I noticed the radiator hose was not attached to the radiator. I re-attached and added coolant...but I didn't get far (around the corner), before it overheated again. So, I had to towed to the mechanic again.

I wouldnt let these neanderthals touch my car again because they are either clueless, thieves, or both. Take it elsewhere.

You may have done heavy duty damage to the engine and it is not your fault either, but take it somewhere decent and just pay for a diagnosis. (I do know whats going on under the hood because i have spent 30 years learning, but its ok that everyone else doesn't ) - the point is, you need someone (that has a soul) to tell you the dollar amount and then make your decision!

that said, sounds like it could be any one or all of the following (you didnt say your milage, i assume it is over 100k):

1. Stuck thermostat (not likely as you can still drive it and the engine still runs and has not blown up - )
2. Previous owner dumped in some radiator seal compound and it needs to be flushed out
3. Blown head gasket (IMO most likely it is the problem,..Tip: ignore people who are idiots)
4. Dragging brakes (you'd feel it and smell it)
5. Timing advanced way too far
6. Dead Pterodactyl covering radiator (did i mention we're a chain?).



6.

[tanafied]

Originally Posted by marc780

I wouldnt let these neanderthals touch my car again because they are either clueless, thieves, or both. Take it elsewhere.

You may have done heavy duty damage to the engine and it is not your fault either, but take it somewhere decent and just pay for a diagnosis. (I do know whats going on under the hood because i have spent 30 years learning, but its ok that everyone else doesn't ) - the point is, you need someone (that has a soul) to tell you the dollar amount and then make your decision!

that said, sounds like it could be any one or all of the following (you didnt say your milage, i assume it is over 100k):

1. Stuck thermostat (not likely as you can still drive it and the engine still runs and has not blown up - )
2. Previous owner dumped in some radiator seal compound and it needs to be flushed out
3. Blown head gasket (IMO most likely it is the problem,..Tip: ignore people who are idiots)
4. Dragging brakes (you'd feel it and smell it)
5. Timing advanced way too far
6. Dead Pterodactyl covering radiator (did i mention we're a chain?).

Marc...I totally appreciate your help. You are correct, I have over 127,000 miles, and although I didn't buy the car brand new, I did buy it off of a 3 year lease 6 years ago. Therefore,

1. I highly doubt previous owner abuse,
2. I have a brand new thermostat, so...correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think it could be sticking,
3. Blown head gasket, that's what I've repeatedly asked them all along...that, and/or water pump. I've been told the water pump is fine, and they did "the test" (forgive me for my lack of technical terms", and they say the head gasket is fine as well.
4. Dragging brakes...I don't think I'm feeling it, and I know I'm not smelling them

Brings me to the last two, which I will point out to them. But one question...would the "dead pterodactyl" still cover the radiator, if the radiator is brand new? Would they not have seen it?

I guess, there are two reasons for my loyalty thus far... my father passed away in April, and he's always been my go-to guy for everything. He told me shortly before he died, not to go anywhere but to these people...they were his friends and he trusted them with his life. Everytime I get fed up, I remember that conversation and that's why I've tried to give them the benefit of the doubt...but I guess I'm starting to realize I'll need to move on. The other reason is because I've invested money...and at this point, I was just trying to avoid spending double the money by taking it somewhere else.

But I needed you to tell me that Marc, and thank you again.

[toyomoho]

What engine is this 4 or V6?

$304 for radiator and T-stat is in the ballpar for repair cost.

Which hose was disconnected, the small one going to the coolant overflow tank. Was coolant coming out of this hose and causing the "smoke." Need to know if the engine ran out of coolant or it was just not making it to the overflow tank. And if this hose was required to removed when changing the radiator.

There should be one or two electric fans attached to the back of the radiator. These fans turn on/off based on coolant temp and use of A/C system. The coolant system should be able to run without the fans at hwy speeds as the air is now being forced through the radiator.

Find out what wire was disconnected. When the radiator is changed, the fans and coolant temp system also come out and are changed over to the new radiator. Was this wire required to be disconnected/reconnected as part of the radiator change?

When the first radiator problem occurred (the busted radiator) how hot and how long did you run the engine before stopping?

When does the engine overheat? Stop and go traffic, OK at highway speeds? If you have A/C, does the fan on the radiator turn on when you turn on the A/C?

This issue here is if these problems are related to the initial radiator replacement or possible engine damage that occurred from the leaking radiator or the shop screwed up when changing the radiator and left the hose loose, the wire off, etc.

See what the shop states now about this problem.

I understand loyalty, not saying this is good or bad. I have had good support from places that dealt with my close relatives and others such as banks whose support died with the person.

[tanafied]

Toyomo...

My Camry is a 4 cyl
I didn't think $304 was too much...but I'm more concerned about the $120 for nothing...and whatever else they will charge from here on out
It was the larger hose that is connected to the engine, that transports the water/coolant to the engine. It appears the pressure (perhaps from heat) is what's causing the hose to disconnect.

The fans had an issue that was corrected on the second trip, I believe this was due to faulty wires with the relay. (does that make sense?)

All three overheatings were on my drive to and fro work, with no stops between.

The first and last time, I drove about 20 miles to work in stop and go traffic, in the morning without any issues. It overheated on my way home from work...about 8 miles in stop and go freeway traffic, without air conditioning on.

The second time I overheated, I noticed the smoke as I was pulling into my parking stall at work. This was a straight 20 miles to work.

I did speak to the shop earlier today, but they STILL don't have an answer.

Do I have any recourse in the event they are the cause of the additional problems?

Again...I appreciate you over and over and over again! I just can't say it enough

[tanafied]

*Update*

My car is ready, and they determined the reason it was overheating was because the clamps that attach the hose to the radiator and engine, were no longer strong enough to hold up to the pressure that builds in the hose. Therefore, the hose would slip away from the radiator.

I guess my next question is this...would that cause the radiator to bust?

[marc780]

Brings me to the last two, which I will point out to them. But one question...would the "dead pterodactyl" still cover the radiator, if the radiator is brand new? Would they not have seen it?

I was dissing the shop that messed up your car. Sarcasm

He told me shortly before he died, not to go anywhere but to these people...they were his friends and he trusted them with his life. Everytime I get fed up, I remember that conversation and that's why I've tried to give them the benefit of the doubt...but I guess I'm starting to realize I'll need to move on. The other reason is because I've invested money...and at this point, I was just trying to avoid spending double the money by taking it somewhere else.

that may have been true for him but shops change owners and employees all the time, after all! The guys that did a good job for your dad are probably all retired now or working someplace else and it is a whole new crew of people now.

Leaving a hose off after replacing a radiator is just carelessness, stupidity, or incompetence and whatever reason they had for doing something like that, it is unacceptable. Because if the cooling system overheats bad enough it will destroy the engine in a couple minutes if you dont notice and shut it off.

(And i do mean DESTROY - i broke a piston once when i ignored my temp gauge and kept driving (my old 1985 nissan 200SX). The piston was broken and the cylinder was damaged - not even enough left for a core. That mistake cost me over $1000 to fix. On a Camry it'd probably be alot more.)

Have them fix this right for you, if they can. If they dont think the head gasket is blown, maybe it isn't - check these easy things yourself: oil in coolant, coolant in oil (oil level goes UP), coolant coming out tailpipe (not clear water dripping when cold - thats normal). Remove radiator cap (engine cold), start engine and run for a while. Sniff for exhaust fumes near the cap and look for smoke coming out. If none of these are going on with your engine hopefully the head gasket is ok like they say.

I'd get the overheating straightened out using this shop since you spent so much already, (and by rights they really cant charge you that much more since they never fixed the original problem). After that, i'd take my car elsewhere i think.

[CamNub]

How long is your drive to work? Because if it's longer than 10 minutes, I'd assume your T-stat should be ok (don't think just because it's new, it will be perfect because sometimes even those are faulty).

And just curious, how would the brakes affect the coolant system?

Otherwise, it sounds like marc knows what he's talking about. Keep us updated whether or not that's the problem.