So I was having problems with my radiator. I have a Toyota Celica, and coming from the end of the radiator is a release hose of some kind. I have never seen that on a radiator before so I was unsure about how it was supposed to be acting. When I would drive long distance when I stopped the car I could hear the water in the radiator boiling

I put in coolant but still would hear that boiling. I would see steam coming from the release valve but as long as I checked the water I felt like it was going to be OK. Also, the needle indicating the heat never went past the half point. Well last week the steam seemed to be more constant. So I called my mechanic and asked how much to replace the radiator in my car....."$190, parts and labor"

So took my car to my mechanic to have the radiator replaced. I drove in and he asked me what the problem was. I told him about the way the radiator was acting but that I would not see leakage whenever the car was sitting overnight, only that I would see steam coming from the side hose. He said that the boiling water indicated I was having overheating problems. He pulled the radiator cap off, took a look at it, walked away, came back with a new cap and showed me both the caps and explained that was the problem.

My original cap was missing a release valve. When you compared the 2, the valve on the old cap was just completely missing. He said that because the valve was missing, the pressure was not pushed back into the radiator itself and was just escaping through that side hose. When he had me replace the cap I could tell the difference right away. The old cap would just screw on or unscrew easily. You could feel the tension on the new cap.

"You owe me $10 now get out of here and enjoy your day" Sure enough, over the weekend I have checked the coolant/water level and it has not changed, no steam is coming from the side hose and the water no longer boils when I drive long distance

I have the best mechanic in the world!!!!. First of all, I have been going to this mechanic for the last 5 years and his honesty just always astounds me. I get discounts at various businesses in the area around my job and got a quote for a brake job from a nearby shop for $650.00 I was told there was no more life in my rotors or calipers (can't remember which one) and that I needed a full brake job on the front wheels and some work on the back.

I took the car to my mechanic and told him about the suggestions from the other shop. He took a look at the brakes and then came back and told me that I still had 60% life left on the parts the other shop said needed replacing and then said he could replace everything as they suggested but that I did not need it but if that is what I wanted ,he'd do it. I told him to make the necessary repairs and the price of his parts were half the price of the other shop. Not only that but his labor was half that of the other shop. All told, I walked out of there with the necessary work for $260.00 parts and labor. That's a difference of $390.00!!!!! HELLO!

I have had many of these kinds of experiences with my mechanic. I know jack crap about cars, although I can change a tire, and so my mechanic can ride my ignorance all the way to the bank. But he never has. His parts and labor are the cheapest of any mechanic I've ever been to and I have never not once had any issue or problem with any work that he has ever done on any of my cars. NEVER! And I never needed to fix anything he's worked on within the timeframe of how long the work was supposed to last.

I cannot applaud my mechanic enough. How many mechanics live to just fleece the hell out of you? It feels great to have a mechanic that I can totally and completely trust. A mechanic who has great prices and always performs top notch quality work

For those of you in Southern California, I suggest you visit him next time you're having an issue with your car:

Tom Vo 714-530-6509

.
[Edited 4/3/06 13:03pm]

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

I may take you up on that. I need my timing belt changed. That's the kind of job that requires that they lift the damn motor out of the car.


M

Sure is nice when it works that way!

Next time post your car troubles on the message board.

It sounds to me, and I know a thing or two about fixing cars, that the trouble you were having was with the "thermostat" for the cooling system. This is a part that costs about 7 dollars, and can be replaced by a retarded blindfolded monkey in less then one hour. And that is if the monkey only had a pair of sisors and didn't run with them.

MickG said:

I'm one step below retarded monkeys when it comes to cars

The cap was the fix The water no longer boils, no steam is coming out of the side hose and the water/coolant level is stable, unlike before.

.
[Edited 4/3/06 16:13pm]

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Is this the monkey?

DiminutiveRocker said:

he needs a blindfold and a bottle of maddog.

Reply to 'Turning $10 into $180 in an instant!!! (The Greatest Mechanic on earth appreciation thread)'

Nice story. Supa. Awesome! Good for you!