Christine Repaired Again

[GAGTWI]

Well, Christine was making noises that sounded like the serpentine belt. The low coolant light was also coming on. I topped off the coolant & the light would come on 4 days later.

I decided to try a new mechanic. He said it was the water pump & the noise was due to the coolant spraying onto the serpentine belt.

He charged me for 6 containers of Dex-Cool, a new serpentine belt (existing one was less than 1 year old) and for labor. The total came to $330 USD.

When I picked up the car, the low coolant light was on. I asked him & he said it'd reset after I drove it.

I got home, let it cool down, & Popped the hood. The coolant cap was very loose. The coolant resevoir was empty. I added coolant & the light went off.

Several questions:

1. Why was I charged for 6 containers of coolant & it was still empty?

2. Why did I need a new belt when the existing one was relatively new?

3. Did I overpay for labor on a water pump?

[Brad97GS]

6 containers is definitely too much, unless those containers are small! I think my old GA took one container of antifreeze and one of water. I'm sure the newer ones have bigger coolant capacity, but not THAT much bigger! Also, it sounds like he didn't fill the coolant properly. Sounds like he filled it and that was that...when in reality you have to let the air get out of the system and add more. That's basically what you did - he should've done it though.

I don't know if antifreeze will harm the belt or not, though I don't know why it would. Did he know the belt was so new? If not, he may have just replaced it for good measure....or he just wanted to charge you more.

Sorry, I don't know what labor should be on the water pump...

[GAGTWI]

The containers were $4.50 each. A gallon of Peak 50/50 premix dexcool at Target is only $4.99 so I'm not sure what happened there. I feel better hearing that it's normal to have to add more after the air leaves the system though.

He didn't know my belt was that new. Maybe it had been damaged as it was the source of the noise I was hearing.

I guess I'm just suspicous with a new guy.

I was impressed with his timliness. I dropped the car off Tuesday night & he had called at 8:30 on Wednesday morning with the diagnosis.

He even called today to check on the coolant level.

I may give him another shot afterall.

Thanks Brad

[slam2316]

6 containters is definitely too much... WOW:eek:

[bclrk1]

i would have to say that i don't even thing our radiator system will hold more than 3 or 4 gallons, and that is at the most....but then again, i have never had to put coolant in my GA. But my old cavalier held around 3 gallons, and i have a hard time believing that a GA holds twice what my cavalier held. That is my :penny:

[GAGTWI]

I'm not sure the containers he charged $4.50 for were gallons. They were probably quarts. Either way, it doesn't sit quite right.

[02GASEdan]

Sorry to tell ya, But you got hosed ;(

[Artic]

That is alota dexcool dayum :(

[Minime]

that is too much dexcool, but the pricing ain't bad on the water pump, mine was underwarranty when i got it replaced, but they said it was about 300.00 to fix without it.

[Colin]

:rolleyes: My owners manual says the cooling system holds 13.6 quarts or 12.9 liters of Coolant ( mixed 50/50 with water i assume ). So if they put in 6 liters of dex cool that would be about right . I live in Canada so i don't know what that would be in US quarts ?

[Loopyjoe]

Hey, where did you take your car to? I know a few mechanics around here and can ask them if they've heard anything about that place.

[Grand Amer]

MY 1973 dosen't take that much coolant. I would go back and question him on the other 5 containers.

[Toyguyz]

I guess it really boils down to 2 questions... How's the car running since it was repaired?... Is having it fixed and running again worth the money you spent?

[DKOnLine]

Yeah I think that you got ripped off. Go back to the shop and confront them about it

[bclrk1]

Originally posted by DKOnLine
Yeah I think that you got ripped off. Go back to the shop and confront them about it

That is what i would do, if they don't have a good explanation for what they charged you for. i think it is major :bs:

[mikem220153]

If it was 6 QUARTS of coolant, that would be just about right for your cooling system. If it was 6 GALLONS of coolant, I would be draining my gas tank right about now!! 'Cause that is the only tank on your car large enough to hold that much liquid!! Seriously though, Something really smell fishy about this!

[GAGTWI]

Well, I think it must've been quarts, but he's charging $4.50 per quart then & I can get 1 gallon at Target for $4.99. The car's been fine since I added more dexcool myself. I'm hoping it was just air that need to work it's way out. He'll here from me if I need to add any more coolant in the next week or so.

He did actually call me to check on whether the coolant was getting low again. It's Denny's Service in Pewaukee.

I'm still on the fence as to whether I'd go back to him.

I got another chance to look at what he charged me for. I think it was $60/hour for 3 hours for the work. That's a little high as I've heard of another place that's highly recommended that charges $45/hr.

[Toyguyz]

Labor charges vary from place to place but $60 / hour sounds like a standard rate (although some places do charge less)... I'd have to go with my first response and say wait awhile, see how the car runs over time, then decide if what you got was worth what you paid.

I just put out a large chunk of change to get my motor rebuilt. Sure I could have saved some money if I tore it down myself but the bottom line is that I do have the necessary equipment or time to do a job like that and it sounds like you didn't either.

It's easy to be on the outside and say you got ripped but the bottom line is "What's it worth to you to get your car fixed and running before you lost a head gasket?" If it didn't get fixed and you lost the head gasket it would have surely cost you more than the $330 you paid. Try to look to the positive side and be happy you didn't blow the head gasket. :glasses2: