"GeorgeyBoy" (georgeyboy)
12/29/2014 at 14:30 • Filed to: None
1
20|
"GeorgeyBoy" (georgeyboy)
12/29/2014 at 14:30 • Filed to: None | 1
| 20 |
My Oldsmobile has been dribbling coolant for a few months now. I determined it needs a new radiator, but I don't really care since I never use it. My dad disagreed because every car leak just "needs a new hose".
It's now leaking worse requiring a top off every week or so, if it even gets used. My dad without asking took it to a sketchy shop to probably try and prove me wrong. Well, it needs a new radiator and was quoted in the high $500's.
Can someone please tell me how an $80 rad in a 1985 Cutlass Ciera with the Iron Duke needs 6 hours of labor? That's pretty much the worth of the car.
crowmolly
> GeorgeyBoy
12/29/2014 at 14:32 |
|
Probably includes tearing down the entire cooling system aside from the water pump and heater core. And a flush.
In the quote they said the radiator only costs $80? Is it made of balsa wood?
PS9
> GeorgeyBoy
12/29/2014 at 14:34 |
|
DIY. A radiator isn't that hard of a job, especially if you've got a second person.
If that's not gonna happen you can always just get another iron duke oldie. They're all over the place and as you admit to here, pretty much worthless.
|
GeorgeyBoy
> crowmolly
12/29/2014 at 14:37 |
|
That's how much they are.
Just still seems high to me. This isn't even a reputable shop.
|
crowmolly
> GeorgeyBoy
12/29/2014 at 14:39 |
|
Just trying to wrap my head around it I guess.
If the only things on the parts list are "radiator" and "coolant" then it could very well be a raw deal.
If they are replacing other stuff that's too old to re-use... maybe.
|
GeorgeyBoy
> PS9
12/29/2014 at 14:40 |
|
My dad has an attachment and cried last time I almost sold it. It was his mothers.
I wouldn't mind tinkering with it if I had any time. Wish my dad wasn't so inept at anything mechanical.
|
GeorgeyBoy
> crowmolly
12/29/2014 at 14:42 |
|
Most of the hoses have been replaced in the last 10 years. Can't imagine anything else that would really need to be replaced.
|
crowmolly
> GeorgeyBoy
12/29/2014 at 14:44 |
|
Isn't 10 years past the service life? Maybe the thermostat too. Either way, that's not hundreds of dollars.
|
GeorgeyBoy
> crowmolly
12/29/2014 at 14:49 |
|
I would say it was done in less than 10 or a little before it got handed to me. My grandpa also converted it to R134 and I can't imagine how much he spent on that.
Guess I shouldn't be complaining all too much about 30 year old car that has needed virtually nothing.
Jedidiah
> GeorgeyBoy
12/29/2014 at 14:52 |
|
I thought I'd be able to help when I read the words "My Oldsmobile," but I know nothing about the Pontiac motors in these things.
Check the list of parts they are going to replace. If it includes at least the radiator, water pump and fan clutch and maybe the thermostat and its housing, then their price is probably realistic.
|
GeorgeyBoy
> Jedidiah
12/29/2014 at 14:58 |
|
These are Pontiac? Really never looked at where they came from, an old GM engineer told me they make good boat motors apparently.
JGrabowMSt
> GeorgeyBoy
12/29/2014 at 14:59 |
|
Order a radiator and have him do it?
On second thought, I don't let my dad touch any of my cars, so there's that.
If you don't use it much, maybe order a new radiator and thermostat and wait for the spring to do it?
|
GeorgeyBoy
> JGrabowMSt
12/29/2014 at 15:04 |
|
Wish my dad knew anything about cars.
That's probably the route I'll end up going. Or just never get to it.
If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
> GeorgeyBoy
12/29/2014 at 15:35 |
|
Put some Windex on it.
Tohru
> GeorgeyBoy
12/29/2014 at 15:51 |
|
they make better boat anchors
|
Tohru
> crowmolly
12/29/2014 at 15:54 |
|
It's not a tig welded aluminum 4-core. It's a simple single row that they used in several different cars over dozens of years.
I could get a rad for that for $40 at the salvage yards near me.
jebusmoses
> GeorgeyBoy
12/29/2014 at 15:55 |
|
That's rough. I haven't ever worked on an iron duke, but it genuinely took me an hour last time I swapped a radiator with a friend (on a saturn), from unpacking tools to washing up at the end.
|
Tohru
> GeorgeyBoy
12/29/2014 at 15:55 |
|
it needs 6 hours labor so that the shop has the heating bill covered for the next two months
|
Jedidiah
> GeorgeyBoy
12/29/2014 at 17:08 |
|
The Iron Duke motor was manufactured by Pontiac for it's lifetime.
I don't know whether it was engineered exclusively by Pontiac, but it probably was.
|
crowmolly
> Tohru
12/29/2014 at 17:43 |
|
I get that it's cheap with plastic tanks, I just figured that the radiator + shop mark up would be well over $80 for a new part.
orcim
> GeorgeyBoy
12/30/2014 at 02:58 |
|
I could come up with multiple reasons why 6 hours and would be well spent (assuming they were needed or required.) But that's not always the case.
Here in the sub-tropics, we wear out radiator's every 10 years. They just load/corrode up, even with flushing every 3-4 years, correct fluid fill, etc. and then fail. Unfortunately, you find out about the fail when the temp gauge spikes - not good. (All my kids now know to flip the heater core on, max fan and get to safety when that happens. Saved one car I was driving.)
Older car? My advice is: replace the radiator without fail (unless exotic not really expensive) check the hoses in the most aggressive manner you can and replace as needed. For those hoses you can't tell, just replace and get some garage to flush it all (or flush then replace is probably better.)