Have I been taken advantage of by this mechanic? I paid $400.?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Kimberly R
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Kimberly R

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Sunday night, I was driving my 1999 Grand Cherokee Jeep Laredo with the heat on. After about 10 minutes of driving, I saw smoke coming from the hood area. I immediately turned into a K-Mart to see what was going on. Later, a friend of mine (he's not a mechanic) took a look at it and said that the hose is just loose, and that with the right clips and a tool like a screwdriver, he could fix it.

It was 1 degrees Sunday night, so he said he'd fix it on Monday. Well, he got busy and was unable to fix it. But, I did get on Yahoo! Answers to see did anyone else seem to agree with his diagnosis. Most people did, and said that it wouldn't be a big deal to fix.

Well, I took it to a mechanic and he said it was the radiator and that [I think] he would have to replace it. So, that cost me $400.00. When I went to pick it up, he said that the car will not give alot of heat like it use to because [whatever; I don't remember exactly]; but that if I maintain speeds of 40mph or more, then it will heat up more. One of my friends said that that is no big deal and can be fixed; but that it was more important for me to get that radiator replaced.

Hmmmm. Something is not sounding right. But, what do you all say?
See on Sunday night, my friend (once again, he's not a mechanic, but he knows about cars) said that the hose was loose, and actually brought a screwdriver to tighten it; but he was unable to becaus of the frigid temps and because he said he needed some clips and possible another tool other than a screw driver.

Now this mechanic who is a friend of a friend says it's $400 because he had to replace the radiator. So, I paid this guy $400 and the heat does NOT work?

Sounds fishy. Before all of this, the heat was working fine and it was really toasty in my car. But I went to the store this evening, and it's blowing cold air even though my trip (actual driving) was about 20 minutes and while I was in the store, I left a friend in the car and left the car running, so the car was running for about 30 minutes total. And, still as I was coming home --- COLD AIR. Certainly a stark contrast to my toasty days.
I'm so mad right now. I don't know anything about cars, but I do know that when you take it to a shop it shouldn't come back worse. Our family mechanic friend died this year, so I was stuck with this mechanic. I am soooo mad.
 
It could have been the radiator. A leaking tank on the side could make t look like a hose is leaking. there is one way to find out, go get the old radiator and take it to a radiator shop and have it leak tested. If it has a leak.. then you have your answer.

The comment about the heat confuses me. There should have been absolutely no change in how the heat works... new radiator or not. So that statement is extrememly suspect.

If it is running cold all the time he did one of two things. he either bypassed the heater core or he took the thermostat out. Either thing is not something a real reputable mechanic would do for a permanent fix. Take it back and have them put it back right.
 
than he should have fixed that problem to. he fixed a problem but again created another problem for you. with something like that they have to fix it or you could actually take them to court for that. all u probably would have had to do is flush it 150 bucks, thermostat maybe another 60 and hoses probably run no more than 10-20 bucks each maybe 30. i never had that problem. the only tie i feel that you shoul need a new radiator is if yours has a crack and leaking or is totalled. i am wondering did he top your fluid off after taking the old one out. i think he just wanted to hustle ya for some cash.
 
Difficult question. If it was a hole in a hose it would be a simple fix. However, if it was a hole in the radiator, or heater core, it would be more costly. The vehicle should produce the same amount of heat as before. The only reason that it wouldn't produce the same amount of heat is if the mechanic by-passed the heater core. May I suggest that you take it to a different mechanic and have it checked out.
 
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