N
nielo
Guest
I have a 1994 VR Berlina sedan (Auto), I stop at a garage the other day, kept car running for about 2 mins, I put car in drive and go to take off - feels like handbrake is still on but its not - very gutless, I check my dash for handbrake light and see an Orange engine light, ok - not good I say. turn car off check under bonnet - My top radiator has has a big spit in it, I check radiator and there is not water... oh oh - (please not a head gasket) so i have car towed to Holden in town, cpu check revealed Gearbox is stuffed, I am stuck in 3rd or O/D gear - this explains sluggish take off.
Holden also tells me, Radiator tap is not working, themostat is stuffed and new leads are also required as signs of arcing (burn marks) are visiable, ok come to terms with these problems I tell them to:
1. replace top radiator hose
2. fix or replace the leaking radiator tap
3. replace the thermostat
4. replace spark plug leads
so Im up to $330 for the above mentioned repairs.
expecting to pick car up soon, I get a phone call from holden - A pressure check on cooling system at 15 psi or 115psi I forget which he said, above average psi pressure check reveals a coolant leak around the Intake manifold gasket, I am informed a new gasket is needed and another $239 to fix it..
so now for some reason the repairs are upto $669 including labour and my gearbox is still broken..
they wanted $2200 to replace the gearbox, I said forget I will fix the box on my own with 2nd hand one for much less...
Basically I want to know if the above coolant problems and the price is fair?
THANKS NIELO
Holden also tells me, Radiator tap is not working, themostat is stuffed and new leads are also required as signs of arcing (burn marks) are visiable, ok come to terms with these problems I tell them to:
1. replace top radiator hose
2. fix or replace the leaking radiator tap
3. replace the thermostat
4. replace spark plug leads
so Im up to $330 for the above mentioned repairs.
expecting to pick car up soon, I get a phone call from holden - A pressure check on cooling system at 15 psi or 115psi I forget which he said, above average psi pressure check reveals a coolant leak around the Intake manifold gasket, I am informed a new gasket is needed and another $239 to fix it..
so now for some reason the repairs are upto $669 including labour and my gearbox is still broken..
they wanted $2200 to replace the gearbox, I said forget I will fix the box on my own with 2nd hand one for much less...
Basically I want to know if the above coolant problems and the price is fair?
THANKS NIELO
Last edited by a moderator:
) as soon as you put it in. Holden just spent a billion dollars on the new VE. Its not going to be the cheapest place in town - never has been - no dealership is. Going to a dealer is never going to be the cheapest option - I thought that everyone knew that. Thermostat you can do yourself. In fact there is a detailed how to guide that goes over all these in detail, total cost - $80ish, a new hose is about $20. You can check the leads yourself too, a new set will cost $50. Get some plugs if you do them, for another $8. Holden employ alot more people, so thats where the cost is going to go - receptionists etc etc - but you will have a much better response if something goes wrong with their work, compared to a small workshop. If you think you can do the work yourself, do it and save the labor costs. If you cant do the coolent hoses on your own - you definatly wont be able to do the transmission. If you cant, theres not much you can do expect pay them. Thats life my friend.