YACT - What do you do if a mechanic tells you it will be $700 to fix something you've never heard of?

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Ilmater

Diamond Member
Jun 13, 2002
7,516
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So I'm having problems with my car, and it smells like burnt coolant when the engine is running. I have coolant in my oil, and when I take the radiator cap off, I get bubbles in my coolant. All of these are classic symptoms of a blown head gasket.

So I call a local place and they said that they can fix it, and gave me a quote, but then the guy said it was something else. Basically, he said, "What year is your car again? What engine? Yeah, those have problems with an intake valve and it causes the same symptoms as a blown head gasket."

He of course said he'd take a look when he gets it to make sure that's what's wrong, but what do I do if he fixes the "intake valve" and it turns out that I still need to have the head gasket replaced? Has anyone here heard of ANYTHING other than a blown head gasket that causes those symptoms? Does anyone know of a forum that's dedicated to car problems (I have a 2000 Monte Carlo) that I could post this question at?

UPDATE: Sorry, my bad. The problem he said was an intake MANIFOLD GASKET. A cousin of mine said that yes it's a common problem with a few models of cars and that once it's fixed, it'll pretty much last forever, so that's good. But the moral of the story is, this place is trying to help me by not lying to me. I'm good with that.
 
scorpmatt

scorpmatt

Diamond Member
Feb 8, 2001
7,040
97
91
your intake valve is attached to your head, so the gasket may get fixed then too
 
B

BigJ

Lifer
Nov 18, 2001
21,330
1
81
Originally posted by: Ilmater
How do I get a second opinion? Can I call the Chevrolet dealer?
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Oh I don't know...take the care to another mechanic or the dealer?
 
I

Ilmater

Diamond Member
Jun 13, 2002
7,516
1
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Originally posted by: Heisenberg
Originally posted by: Phil
I'm struggling to work out how an intake valve would dump coolant in the oil, personally.
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You aren't the only one.
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I thought the same thing, but I don't know what to do.

EDIT: Let me also say it's not easy for me to be taking this thing everywhere. I have work during the week, and I can't be driving everywhere to figure out what's wrong with it.
 
mindmaniac

mindmaniac

Senior member
Dec 30, 2003
915
1
81
Get a second opinion, funny you should mention this problem it just happened to me last week. I got my gaskets replaced plus a few other things while they were in there and now the car drives like new. Good luck
 
Q

Quixfire

Diamond Member
Jul 31, 2001
6,892
0
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Well first off this shop hasn't looked at the car yet so to quote a price for the repair is a little premature. Telling the OP to get a second opinion when the first shop he called hasn?t even looked at the car is also premature. What I know about your type of car is the 4-cylinder engines tend to develop a rear headgasket leak that can cause those systems due to poor gasket design. The V6 engines have a common rear intake manifold gasket leak issue that can cause all your systems except for the bubbles in the coolant.

Either way I wouldn't trust the first shop you called. Any garage worth it's services should never quote major repairs over the phone without looking at the garage. Find another garage that will diagnosis your concern correctly and get a written estimate before proceeding with any other action.

Good Luck,
Quixfire
 
I

Ilmater

Diamond Member
Jun 13, 2002
7,516
1
0
UPDATE: Sorry, my bad. The problem he said was an intake MANIFOLD GASKET. A cousin of mine said that yes it's a common problem with a few models of cars and that once it's fixed, it'll pretty much last forever, so that's good. But the moral of the story is, this place is trying to help me by not lying to me. I'm good with that.
 
I

Ilmater

Diamond Member
Jun 13, 2002
7,516
1
0
Originally posted by: Quixfire
Well first off this shop hasn't looked at the car yet so to quote a price for the repair is a little premature. Telling the OP to get a second opinion when the first shop he called hasn?t even looked at the car is also premature. What I know about your type of car is the 4-cylinder engines tend to develop a rear headgasket leak that can cause those systems due to poor gasket design. The V6 engines have a common rear intake manifold gasket leak issue that can cause all your systems except for the bubbles in the coolant.

Either way I wouldn't trust the first shop you called. Any garage worth it's services should never quote major repairs over the phone without looking at the garage. Find another garage that will diagnosis your concern correctly and get a written estimate before proceeding with any other action.

Good Luck,
Quixfire
Click to expand...
Wish I would have read this last night. ;)

Actually, the biggest problem was that no matter WHERE I take it, I couldn't get a real estimate until they open up the engine. There's just no way to tell what it is for sure until they get in there. So the problem is, I can get a second opinion, but this could be either problem, and NOBODY is going to take apart an engine for free. :(

I ended up just leaving it at the original place I brought it to, and we'll see how it turns out.
 
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