another huge bill

[michaelb]

Hi all

Need your comments

I had a tiny leak somewhere and needed to fill the system with half a glass of water every 4 days.

Wednesday I went to Rotechnics and the said that to find a hole they need to pressurise the system. They did that and the rad went pop ****ing water.
I mean the water was pouring down while the car was up.  It certainly did not pour like it for the past 4 months.

I almost feel like they may have damaged the rad..I could be incorrect as I am still recovering from the shock of the bill.  Is that the normal procedure to look for a whole by increasing pressure in the cooling system?  Does it increase the chances of blowing the rad?

I have always got a very good service from them and also always left with a bill for over £500…

This time round it was also £500.

What is your thought re above?

Regards,
Michaelb

[Ada7]

I had a water leak in my car for a while and the garage i took it to also pressurised the system to find out where the leak was. It wasn\'t much pressure they put in, but i guess you could of just been really unlucky and the rad might of been near to blowing anyway and that little extra they put in just made it pop

Adam

[Rixio]

£500 for a pressure test...i got one done for free from a reputable garage that usually charges £75 an hour...

[Ada7]

Think i missed something here, you paid £500 for a pressure test?
Thats MAD! Mine was free too!

Adam

[michaelb]

Hi Rixio

Sorry again about the tools, as you can see I did have a “big bill”

I have had so much bad dealings with so called specialists that I now only go to reworks and rotechnics if problem is not easily solvable.  I really could not find the leak my self.  The only reason I went to get it sorted is that the winter is on it way and I wanted to make sure all was OK.  Apart from that it did not really bother me.  The temps stayed fine in traffic and there was no visible water any where.  

Regards,
Michaelb

Adam

No, they have put in a new rad and some hoses and belts.

Regards,
Michaelb

[John Yorke]

Try a positive spin: the £500 bill might have saved you a rebuild, factor in the cost of the rad and the bits and bobs [labour and parts] it sounds OKish, I do know Rotechnics are on the dear side, but they tend to get the results.
Without labouring the point, going to a specialist tends to extract the \'ol folding from the wallet:2eek If it has cured the problem you have done well, rebuild would have been ££££\'s

[Ada7]

Ah, ok that make a bit more sense now

Adam

[oldone]

Take the cost and labour off of the bits and bobs.....then see what the rad testing and replacement cost !! personally ,if the rad popped under pressure it was due for replacement.All the testing equipment have safety valves plumbed in and also the pressure is not that high you induce into a rad !!!!!!!
So the cost sounds fair to me....:cheers :guinness

[Mark Ide]

Michael
Rotechniks aren\'t cheap but they do deliver: I\'ve used them for a long time.
I know how you feel, but these are expensive toys and they must have overheads etc
Hope it\'s ok now
Mark

[michaelb]

John Yorke
I suppose you are right, the actual cost of the job and the parts does sound OK.

Oldone
How are you mate?  The rad probably was on its way out â€" 10 years is a long time for any rad….in a strange way its good it popped in the garage not on the street..

Mark Ide
I generally have no problem with Rotechnics but I think they are the most expensive in the country.  I remember that the difference between getting a clutch fitted by them and reworks was as much as £100.  but I do also thing that David at Rotechnics knows his stuff…

[Mark Ide]

Michael
Did you buy a black miniature car when you were there as well?
M

[Oedipus Rex]

To be honest I think if the rad blew when pressurised it was wrecked anyhow and needed replacing. There is no way they could have known what was going to happen and this is the standard way to look for leaks in a coolant system. Can\'t see how any blame can be attached, its just bad look I guess.

[michaelb]

Mark
I should have had the little black car for free….

Oedipus Rex
I feel better since everyone has said that pressurising the rad is a standard procedure – as you say bad luck

[Martiny]

Our cap is rated at 9 PSi.

The Mazda manual says that to test the system, it should be pressurised to 20 PSi!!!!

[Martiny]

Oh, and... if the car is fixed, and if theres no more leaking......WHEW !!! Thank goodness its not the engine!!!