Overheated After a Repair

[Abarine]

I've got a 2007 PT cruiser with about 24k miles on it. A couple weeks ago I hit something on the freeway; I have no idea what it was, but it screwed up my radiator and I had to have it repaired (some minor body work to the front of the vehicle meant I had to turn it in to insurance, too, which isn't thrilling). So I'm without a car for a week, but insurance at least covered the rental, so no harm no foul.

Now, I just got the car back Thursday; Friday driving home, I get off the freeway and smoke's coming out of the hood. I'm about three blocks from that point, so I drove it home and it hasn't been driven since. The "engine overheating" idiot light came on, and when I checked under the hood yesterday I could visually see that there's no coolant in the reservoir.

Two questions. First, this sounds like I should take it to the shop that did the repair; is that right?

Second, how long should this repair take (and I realize that you don't know what needs to be repaired, but if you don't mind humoring me... ).

Thanks!

[Hooligan]

To me, it sounds as if they didn't bleed the air out or didn't fill it all of the way!
Hopefully by overheating the engine didn't get screwed up.

You need to take it back, call them and see if they want it towed rather than driven back to their shop. If towed, make sure they will pay. I believe that you have the Chrysler towing protection to the nearest dealer. There should be a 800 number in your owners manual packet. Good Luck

[Abarine]

If it's engine damage caused by their faulty repair, is that something they pay for? I'm good with a lot of things, but unfortunately cars just aren't one of them.
Thanks!

[CREWZIN]

Originally Posted by Abarine

If it's engine damage caused by their faulty repair, is that something they pay for?
Thanks!

Is sure is something they should pay for, BUT, you can bet they will try and say you traveled too far after the gage read "hot" and it's your fault if it caused damage. Tricky situation. Hopefully no damage was done.

Whatever, don't let them tell you it wasn't their fault that it overheated in the first place. They screwed up!

[Hooligan]

Originally Posted by CREWZIN

Is sure is something they should pay for, BUT, you can bet they will try and say you traveled too far after the gage read "hot" and it's your fault if it caused damage. Tricky situation. Hopefully no damage was done.

Whatever, don't let them tell you it wasn't their fault that it overheated in the first place. They screwed up!

Couldn't have said it better!!

[Abarine]

Cool, thanks guys.

Any idea how complicated a repair like this could be? I mean, assuming it's a negligence thing we're talking a hose or something not properly connected; that's a relatively quick fix, right?

[Hooligan]

It really depends on what and how much damage was caused. a hose + 1/2 hour or so. Warped head + 2-3 weeks, depends how soon parts can be gotten.

BTW was this done at a dealer or a local machanic?

[Abarine]

Just an update: I called the guy this morning and he said that the problem was caused by an air bubble in the coolant line; he'd mentioned this to me when I picked it up but I didn't realize this is what he meant. He drove out to my house and replaced the coolant, and it seems to be fine ATM. Ever hear of that before? I work with pumps and boilers, and it makes sense (we call it air lock), but I'd not realized it could happen in car radiators.

[CREWZIN]

Originally Posted by Abarine

Ever hear of that before? I work with pumps and boilers, and it makes sense (we call it air lock), but I'd not realized it could happen in car radiators.

Sure does, all the time. My Vette is a bear to get all the air out. Jack up the front, take off the radiator cap and let the engine idle till the thermostat opens up then hold down the throttle cable to get the revs up. The water will now be sucked into the engine lowering the water level in the radiator so while the engine is reved up, with your other hand hand pour antifreeze/water mixture into the radiator cap opening. When it's filled put the cap back on (engine still at high revs). It's about the same procedure for a lot of cars to get it filled up without any air.

I found out about the air bubble when I needed the interior heat on one cold night. NO heat. The car didn't overheat before that so I guess the air pocket was in the heater part of the system.

[quicksilverdon]

Originally Posted by Abarine

Just an update: I called the guy this morning and he said that the problem was caused by an air bubble in the coolant line; he'd mentioned this to me when I picked it up but I didn't realize this is what he meant. He drove out to my house and replaced the coolant, and it seems to be fine ATM. Ever hear of that before? I work with pumps and boilers, and it makes sense (we call it air lock), but I'd not realized it could happen in car radiators.

Yeah, but its doesn't speak well to his competence that he didn't bleed teh system properly.
There's a bleeder valve by the thermostat.