Topic: Strange (rad?) smell when I drive with the window open

[epicurien]

You know mdxtasy I didn't even buy it AS IS. I had the owner take it to crappy tire and have it certified. hmn? I wonder if this was something the certifier would/should have mentionned. Maybe I should have insisted on bringing it to be certification myself. Boy you sure learn lessons the hard way sometimes don't you!?

[ericthejet]

Hey D of B,
#1.  I would price a rad out from a few parts stores first.  Flip open the yellow pages and get a clean sheet of paper to write down the details of the quotes you ask for and the clerks name.  You'll be surprized at the money you may save just on the rad.
#2.  $270 for the work seems high. 4.5 hours at 60$/hour?  I would price out a few other quotes as well.  Call a shop with year , make and model,transmission with a/c or not and see what you are quoted.  It only takes a few minutes to do.
#3.  Check the back of your copy of the certifacation sheet and see if the rad falls under areas that have to be checked for a safety.  It may not be part of the inspection.  I guess a car can have a bum rad and pass the test and the tech. may not even notice.
#4.  Make sure you are not billed for a new thermo. when the work is carried out.  It would also be a good time to change the upper and lower rad hose and install fresh, properly mixed coolant. ( Honda coolant is premix'd $14 aprox. for 4 liters )If you use the Honda coolant make sure you point out that it's premix'd to the tech.  I had a flush done 2 years ago and you guessed it they mixed the already mixed coolant from Honda that I supplied. The rad hose will not add to the repair bill much if at all.

Good luck

[Roadrunner]

Both of those labor charges are out of line. Like Eric said, " 4.5 hrs? to change a rad?" If the tech knows what he's doing it shouldn't take more than 1.5-2hrs tops, (including replacing the upper and lower rad hoses/clamps and draining/replacing coolant and testing)
It's been quite some time since I had to recore or buy a new rad so I don't know how close the $200 price is.

[Roadrunner]

Oh well, maybe my long-winded post will help someone else later on.
At least you found your problem. Do what Eric suggested about shopping around.

[epicurien]

I have no doubt your long winded post will help someone Roadrunner. I'm telling you , this discussion board is a God send. I just read and read and I just keep learning soooo much. Some of us are just sick and tired of feeling like we can't trust our mechanic and it's just so much nicer to be able to do some stuff yourself or at least understand what the heck is going on. People like me who aren't mechanically inclined can avoid a lot of costly mistakes thanks to people like you  - F**KEN A

[barrie1]

I'll add to this with the price on the rad is pretty fair for to-days prices. The labour bill is way out of line for the amount of work involved. Check all the heater hoses and you should be good for up to 5 years good driving on this part of the car.

[Mdxtasy]

Duane...typically when you purchase a used car privately, the selling contract has the AS IS clause that releases the seller from all legal obligations of the vehicle being sold.  It really just means buyer beware and if something goes wrong...you've been boned.

Whoever pays for the inspection will get the official document from the garage.  There is no problem with the current owner to take it to the garage of YOUR choosing....just make sure you pay for the inspection so that you get the original documentation.  

It's all 20/20 after the fact now.  I'd just find a replacement rad and a garage you trust.  Maybe somebody here can recommend a good garage.

[epicurien]

Well the rad is replaced $300 less than the estimate that was given to me!!!!!

So, I guess I won't be going back to that garage (Firestone tire and Automative Centre of Barrie -Al's Tire on Yonge). I chose this garage after reading a survey in the paper that put them at the top for quality service and customer satisfaction. Well, I suppose it's normal that a specialized Rad place is going to be a bit cheaper but $300 - wow, that's bad!

[Roadrunner]

Duane, I'd take surveys (ANY kind) with a grain of salt. It might take awhile to find an independent shop/tech that you can be comfortable taking your vehicle to, but it will be worth the hunt due to all the knowledge you'll pick up along the way.  
You may have to look around the perimeter of town to find one that (as Barrie has pointed out on other threads and I concur with) the operator owns. Not a franchise or chain, but owns the shop AND the land it sits on.

[ericthejet]

Amen roadrunner.