Leaking Radiator

[Bassdude2K]

So.... I'm stuck in NOVA with an over heating engine. I take it to Merchant's and they do a pressure test and tell me that there is a leak in my radiator. I had been adding coolant to it for a while so I'm not that surprised yet, It was replaced along with a new water pump just a year and a half ago. might the radiator still be under warranty? Anyways, the guy tells me it will be like $660 to replace the radiator (340 radiator, 180labor, 109 for flush). Do I even need a flush? My coolant should be good for 100,000 miles.... btw this is my 1996 Buick Riviera S/C. I heard from another person that I should be able to just get the leak welded or even saudered and that should work just fine. I am not lookin to spend a crap loada money so any help with the questions or recommending a place to go would be much appreciated... Thanks.

[WRXtranceformed]

Metal tape the leak until you can get it to a welding shop? Heh I dunno.

[BLINGMW]

radiator is pretty easy to replace in most cars, considered DIY? Where is it leaking? If it's plastic end tanks, sometimes rad shops can replace those, if it's metal, sometimes they can weld it. It's at least worth finding out if there's a cheaper option, but if you're not willing to pull it and take it to them, you might not be saving much $. And yes, you're right, skip the flush.

[ViPER1313]

Radiator for Buick from Rockauto.com = $168.86 shipped to your door
Coolant and Distilled Water = $11
Tools from Walmart if you dont have them = $20

Total: About $200

Go buy the radiator, some coolant and any tools you need and do it yourself. You can get 5% off your order from Rockauto if you use this discount code:

454113418747

Good Luck

[Sijray21]

another one for doing it yourself.

i had to replace mine about 6 months ago and it wasn't that bad at all. I ordered my radiator from <!-- w --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.radiatorbarn.com">www.radiatorbarn.com</a><!-- w --> and it arrived at my door after only 2 days. replacing it took about an hour and it only cost me about $150 in parts.

[Bassdude2K]

I was told the best way would be to take it to a radiator shop and just get it welded... i looked on yellowbook.com and found a couple radiator suppliers not servicers....where can i find one?

[Bassdude2K]

Alright.... So I take it to this guy in Alexandria and he does another pressure test and finds NO leak in my radiator!.... He found the leak and its in a small hose next to the engine block. He can fix it for about $200. NEVER GO TO MERCHANT'S! I'm going back there to get my money back. It really sucks cause when I left merchant the guy said right to my face again that "the radiator is leaking and can't be repaired, it must be replaced." Make sure to pass along the word about Merchants.... And thanks for all your replies.

[Maengelito]

merchants has always sucked. i've been to a few and every single one of them sucks. as for a radiator hose, those are even cheaper and easier to replace. you can probably get a hose from a parts store for like $20

[ScottyB]

yeah merchant's borders on criminals. my old roomate took his cavalier wagon there because of a "thump" when turning one direction. they sold him a used steering rack, then when he came back again they tried to sell him a transmission.

finally he had me look at it out of desperation in between classes. i slide under the car, look around for 3 minutes and boom: the sway bar linkage had come off the lower arm and was hitting the driveshaft. total cost to actually fix it: one nut, $2.00.

thankfully i wasn't there to see him go off on the manager at merchants. no way could a mechanic miss something that easy. bunch of sneaky chumps.

[BLINGMW]

yeah.... that's why I asked you WHERE it was leaking. On something like that, there's no reason to take any shop's word for it.

[Sijray21]

merchants has always sucked. i've been to a few and every single one of them sucks. as for a radiator hose, those are even cheaper and easier to replace. you can probably get a hose from a parts store for like $20

+1 - i definitely still wouldn't pay $200 for someone to fix my hose. it's probably just a couple of clamps and a little elbow grease. hell you could possibly even cut the hose after the tear in the hose and reapply the clamp. i did that to my ex's saab once.

[BLINGMW]

heh, I just did that to my Dad's van, this hose was so soft, the rubber extruded out the little holes in the hose clamp. Really neat! I gave it a little tug and it just ripped right at the clamp. geee.... I think this might be where it's leaking Dad..... :roll: Cut, clamp, good as "new". Oh, the coolant still looks like mud though. :lol: