[bige1083]

Quoted From EricTheCarGuy:

That is NOT a valid test and tells you virtually nothing but I show a proper test in this video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUzOTnsWImI

Thanks, Eric, for confirming my suspicions. I did my research after the diagnosis and more than $2600 estimate (that includes a 10% discount that mechanic offers to employees of my company, but it includes a lot more engine work than just the gasket). I wish I had done more research about the shop I went to beforehand, but at least I am making my friends and coworkers aware of this hastily-made diagnosis. I didn’t even suspect anything with the head gasket before going to the shop!

Stupid me didn’t fully check out the mechanic beforehand. I deferred posting these links since I wanted an opinion not prejudiced by them. However, these are what I found:

The shop is Walt’s Auto Service Plus: http://www.waltsautoserviceplus.com
Page on Google Maps: http://maps.google.com/maps/place?cid=1 … authuser=0
Better Business Bureau listing: http://www.bbb.org/wichita/business-rev … a-ks-20173
Link to the test, again (notice username): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAJLMd46ySU
YouTube linked from shop website about antifreeze (note a username in comments): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjLYtIXU1mQ

I vented on Google Maps. I tried my hardest to maintain my objectivity, though, to help lend credibility to my review. After all, Walt, the shop owner, is friendly, and his shop is quick. However, he seems to be overly eager, for whatever reason, to replace head gaskets.

What I didn’t find: ASE certification or evidence of technical training.

Stupid me. Granted, I have a cold and a sinus infection that started around the time I looked for a mechanic, so my mind has been a little cloudier than usual.

Quoted From EricTheCarGuy:
It is VERY important to bleed the air out of the cooling system anytime you open the cooling system for service or repair, if you don’t then the trapped air in the system can cause all kinds of issues in fact the most common cause of overheat problems stems from air in the cooling system. I’m also wondering since you said that YOU did the work after the collision if you bled the air out after you were done. If you suspect a head gasket issue use the method outlined in the above video but first bleed the cooling system out before you have any repairs done in the future.

Just to make sure we’re on the same page – the drain and fill I did was three years after the collision. So yes, I did coolant service myself after the collision, but not the work immediately after.

However, I did not bleed the air. In fact, I skipped the flushing, too. It was about me being lazy and justifying myself by the shop manual (a) saying to deaerate the system by driving since the air gathers under the radiator cap which causes it to flow into the recovery tank and out of the system and (b) presenting the sections of the coolant service procedure in drain, fill, clean order. Plus that was way before I knew of Eric the Car Guy…before the enlightened days.

When I get well, I’ll have to do a drain/flush/fill and I’ll refer to http://www.youtube.com/user/EricTheCarG … UpXgAJ1gjU but ignore the use of the bleeder valve that my car doesn’t have.

One question, though: To flush/clean (but not to refill) is it okay to use tap water?

Quoted From EricTheCarGuy:
That said tires are often the cause of the other problem you encountered so I’m not surprised to hear that. BTW it has nothing to do with the wheel, I suspect it’s the tires themselves based on your description.

Walt’s replaced the tires, which reduced the intensity of the thud, but it wasn’t a complete fix. The bearing eliminated the thud. Perhaps it was already bad, and the heat from the stop along with having the bad tire on it for a few miles killed it.

Granted, I wouldn’t have been so hard on Walt about not noticing that had he not tried to sell me a new head gasket. Even Rod, the mechanic who gave me a second opinion, didn’t notice the right rear bearing until he test-drove the car with me as a passenger. He almost told me “no problem, no charge,” chalking all the noise up to being normal for a 7-year-old car with cheapy, low-profile tires.

Fortunately, Rod’s lack of business sense clued me in to insist he test my car with a passenger. You see, he said he offers rides to work, but I had to drive one of the other guys from the shop to my workplace in my car (or be late), and he drove my car back to the shop. The thud, sporadic when I was driving alone, became loud and clear on that ride to work.

Speaking of bearings, I suspect the others to be bad. They kind of whine like http://www.youtube.com/user/EricTheCarG … dRpnK5MGQ8 but not as loudly or noticeably. The front end vibrates a little at higher speeds too. I only notice it when I’m paying close attention to sounds and feel. I’m guessing that an alignment check and front balance might be in order, and perhaps the bearing check in the video. However, it’s kinda scary and my car is manual shift.

Thanks everyone for your replies – I really appreciate them. Big thanks to Eric the Car Guy for all the time and money he’s invested in his Internet presence – you rock!

[bige1083]

I’ve been thinking about that software for myself. It looks very nice. I like the idea of using a laptop as opposed to needing several tools to do the same work. It’s a bit pricey for my tastes, though, especially since I’d use it mostly on my own vehicle – perhaps occasionally on vehicles for family and friends.

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