Second week in March, wife's vehicle starts leaking coolant. Take day off to bring vehicle to repair. Little shop up the road that had done the water pump the spring before (late may, early june). Guy reams me on price. Claims it is the freeze plugs are rusted out from lack of coolant. Says vehicle is full of sludge, charges to flush, replace freeze plugs, over a grand. Ouch. What are you to do, it is SWMBO's vehicle and it will be kept in good condition. Fast forward to today at work. Get a call from wife. She is sitting on the side of the road, leaking coolant. Call Goodyear, will not use the last guy who did not even kiss me, and they send a wrecker. Just called an hour ago. Leaking freeze plug (which had not been replaced even though jerk charged to replace) caused damage to the water pump so that must be replaced and the system is again full of sludge (in just over 90 days) so will need to be flushed. Also wants to replace the hoses since we do not know how long they have been on.
I am going down to the jerks shop with a copy of their estimate and his receipt and either he is paying for these repairs by competent repair company or else I am going to the court house to file suit for fraud and down to JSO to swear warrant out on him for theft by taking.
Dang lying repairmen!!!!
Your case sounds solid, but FOR YOUR OWN SAKE, please remain calm when you deal with it.
Don
In other notes, anyone in Fl or GA area looking to buy a jeep wrangler? Great vehicle, but since SWMBO will not learn to drive a stick, I really need a vehicle that is an awefulmatic so I do not have to be the only one who can drive and so that all 5 of us can ride in the vehicle at the same time.
Pulled the freeze plugs on my '97 Dodge and filled my hand with the sediment that came out. If you don't pull those plugs you aren't flushing anything.
I don't really like having to do my own repairs in the busted knuckles and aggravation sense but, at least I know what has been done, what's at risk, and save what few dollars I own. Just rebuilt my alternator for $17, and have repaired two radiators for less than $10 going on three years now.
Wife and cousin got me calmed down some. Not going to the thieves lair tomorrow, no sense getting myself arrested. Instead, calling Local Napa group and Corporate tomorrow to complain about their disservice center and get them to pay for repairs. There is a goodyear/ Napa service center up the road from the goodyear who pressure tested system today. Since their non-repair caused the additional problems, they should pay for towing and the additional breakage. We will see what happens tomorrow.
> Pulled the freeze plugs on my '97 Dodge and filled my hand with the sediment that came out. If you don't pull those plugs you aren't flushing anything.
>
> I don't really like having to do my own repairs in the busted knuckles and aggravation sense but, at least I know what has been done, what's at risk, and save what few dollars I own. Just rebuilt my alternator for $17, and have repaired two radiators for less than $10 going on three years now.
Sediment is sand from the casting process. Yes you can flush the radiator without pulling the freeze plugs.
"Sediment is sand from the casting process. Yes you can flush the radiator without pulling the freeze plugs."
The freeze plugs are on the block, and yes you can flush a radiator without flushing the rest of the coolant system...I have no idea why you would do that though.
