Radiator Query

[Auntie_chrissie]

I bought a Monte Carlo at the end of July & on Sunday, driving on the motorway, it seems that something hit the radiator & has created a nice little hole that means the whole thing needs to be replaced.

I just wanted to ask if this is something that one would expect to happen on a brand new radiator (would you not expect some kind of durability?) or if I am just EXTREMELY unlucky? I drove my old car all over the place, different road surfaces etc & haven't heard of this really happening before. Maybe I'm naive?

Any advice/reassurance would be much appreciated as this is obviously not the cheapest of repairs!

[Ootohere]

Just bad luck really.

 or good luck it hit the radiator and not the windscreen,

 the windscreen might be cheaper & insurance covers it, but its not a good experience.

 

I seem to remember only 2 stone hit posts on this section in a couple of year, AC or Intercooler hits.

One member turned a drama into a crisis.

 

george

[Auntie_chrissie]

Thanks - not what I wanted to hear but still helpful! :-)

I did have a look & couldn't find much else about stone hits either. I'm just concerned that this could be something that happens again & again, rather than "that was unlucky but I've had the same rad for years now" you know?

[Ootohere]

I do lots of miles ever year in cars, just like many others do, and never had a radiator holed by a direct hit.

I get a broken windscreen every couple of years, sometimes more often, 3 in a year being the max i think.

 

Some people need to have radiators holed or the replacement radiator businesses will be out of business if they only supply replacement when radiators corrode.

 

How much are you being quoted, to replace,

Skoda Radiator from a dealer, including labour?

 

£100-120, Antifreeze £20, 1.5 hours labour £100-120, VAT, £265-£300 max, should or could be cheaper.

 

http://www.fastrads.co.uk/Radiators

But for your cars Skoda warranty to stay valid, it needs to be an original radiator, so thats a different price.

 

george

[Auntie_chrissie]

I've been quoted just under £420, all in at a dealership. Apparently it's a top loading one so more labour is required?

Unfortunately I am not in a position to learn to do it all myself (nor would I trust that I could on such a fiddly part). I am mostly worried that this will be a recurring issue, knowing my luck. :-/

[Ootohere]

Maybe get a quote at an Independent, best possible a VW Specialist Independent.

 

'Top loading, more labour required,

i am lost there on that one, sounds very much like BS coming from someone.

It is a Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo.

You do not say Diesel or Petrol, but it hardly matters.

 

george

[Auntie_chrissie]

It's a petrol, less than 5000 miles which makes this all the more frustrating!

That's what the RAC guy said - means there's more to take out so they charge you extra labour. :-/

[rwbaldwin]

...Apparently it's a top loading one so more labour is required?...

The term 'top loading' threw me for a second, but I guess it's correct. What they're saying is that they can't just unbolt it and pull it out from the front.

[Ootohere]

No, you do not just unbolt and remove,

 but dismantling the front of a Fabia, doing it with care, and replacing with care is no major job.

Fitting a Radiator to a Fabia Diesel or Petrol is no big job, so if they Quote on 

45 minutes & 45 Minutes, & 45 Minutes to Bleed & check the system, you can get to 2.5 hours max.  

& then its down to parts, Radiator and new fluid & Hourly charge, VAT.

 

Why its worth getting a quote from a VW Independent or a trusted Garage.

 Stretching jobs and silly hourly rates is taking the Mick.

 

If you must have the job done at a Skoda Dealer, then you need to pay their prices,

it does not mean a better or more professional job will be done, just the final bill might be higher.

 

george

[Auntie_chrissie]

Thanks George, I will call my old garage and see what they say!

[rwbaldwin]

IIRC, book time for a petrol is less than 2 hours.

[Auntie_chrissie]

Garage I used for my old car quoted £290 with proper parts, all in. Is it worth asking the dealership that currently has it if they can/will match that?

[rwbaldwin]

It never hurts to ask. Remember that all garages make profit on both the time and the cost of parts. If you can get the dealer to match the price, then go with the dealer as it will help if you ever have to make an out of warranty ('good will') claim.

To keep your warranty you must use a VAT registered garage and the correct Skoda parts must be used. If you go the indy route, make sure this is the case.

[Ootohere]

For replacement parts the correct parts need to be used.

I have never seen where it says anything about replacement being done at a Garage or Vat Registered establishment,

by a qualified professional holding Certificates in Motor Vehicle Engineering (mechanic/technician).

 

I can replace myself if i want to, my Discs, My Brake pads, my pollen filter, Air Filter or Spark Plugs etc,

i am not invalidating the Warranty, why should i by replacing my Radiator with the Correct Radiator bought from a Skoda Parts desk possibly, and using the correct coolant, keep the receipts.

 

For a Service it is an 'EU Open/Free Market' & correct parts & a VAT registered garage must do to the Guidelines,

that can be found in writing. Manufacturers will say that is the case.

They often try to argue that a Warranty is invalidated if the servicing is not done as such.

Pity their own Franchised Dealerships workshops are not always that hot or to be trusted or always following VAG guidlines.

 

george

[Auntie_chrissie]

That is a quote with a Skoda part, I made sure of that. Just wondering how likely it is that the dealership will agree to do it at that price? I did want to use them as my servicing garage and they have had good press on here.