Questions and Answers
Monte Carlo Overheated Bad
Q. I would like to thank you in advance for providing this service! I'll try not to make this question too lengthy.
I own a 1996 Chevy Monte Carlo that has around 113,000 miles on it. I realize this is not a new car so please keep that in mind when I explain my problem.
On Sept. 4th of this, year my car was overheating so I took it to my dealership to have it checked out. They replaced the thermostat, gasket, upper radiator hose, and added coolant.
On Sept. 18th of this year, my car was overheating again. The dealership checked for an air pocket, checked the thermostat and coolant.
On Oct. 14th of this year, I took my car back for the same problem. Coolant was disappearing but it was not leaking where I park my car at home or at work which are the same places each day. We added coolant at home. The dealership checked it out, sent it back to me.
On Nov. 7th of this year, the car was back in the shop. I told them it was making noise, it was overheating, and the coolant was still going somewhere, but not on the ground. They returned it to me Nov. 8th, and said they still could not find anything wrong with it.
On Nov. 16th, the car overheated on the way home and I had to stop and add water.
On Nov. 18th, after driving 1½ miles, the car overheated and started making noises as if it were out of oil. When my son checked the oil dipstick, he found that there was about three times the amount of fluid in the oil pan than what was supposed to be there. When he drained it, several gallons of fluid came out, most of which was coolant. He refilled the oil which stopped the noise.
On Nov 19th, I took it to my dealership which they now told me that I had blown an intake gasket and the engine was ruined because the coolant had got into the engine. My two choices of repair were either to have the intake gasket replaced which was a temporary fix and would cost around $550.00 or have a remanufactured engine put in my 7 year old car at an approximate cost of $3500.00. We chose to have the intake gasket replaced and are now in the process of trading my car before it blows again. We are being honest with the dealership we are trading with which lowers the value of our car considerably. We were planning to trade this car this next summer when it would be financially easier for us.
My question is, do my husband and I just have to accept the ruining of this car or should a dealership have searched and found an answer to my car's problem before giving it back to us especially with the problem going on for two months and they had checked the car 6 times?
Thank you for your time,
BonnieA. I agree with you, the dealer should have found the problem long before the engine was ruined. I know I personally check the oil level first when I have an unexplained coolant loss problem. You can sue the dealership for the new engine, but most small claims courts have a $1500.00 limit on their suits. You can check the limit in your area to see if they have a higher limit. You may be able to get a lawyer to represent you and mediate a solution, say a 50 - 50 split on the engine replacement cost. Not the ideal solution, but better than bearing the complete cost yourself.
If all else fails, there is another option to trading it in at a loss or accepting the situation as it is. Have the remanufactured engine put in. If the body is in good shape and you like the car, it would be a viable alternative. If you still want to trade it in next summer, the new engine will increase the trade in value, especially if you keep the documentation and the warranty.
Additional Information provided courtesy of ALLDATA
