[Rob K]

So I've been smelling coolant for awhile. Recently saw it on garage floor (pink). I took it in. This local place is a joke. I've had so many issues in the 3 times I've gone...but that's another story.

Anyway they can't find where the leak is coming from. They can't see or feel it by the top hose(s) so they're ASSUMING it's coming from the radiator. They ordered me one and said there is only one in the country and barring human error it should be there tomorrow (another story).

So then they tell me that they have to take the whole front end off of the car to replace the radiator.

Am I crazy, or ignorant of mechanics here....but i can't see how it's a good idea to rip the car apart to replace a part when you're not even sure if that's the problem. They go through ALL that and then find out its a lower hose or something else...all that for nothing? Will it go back together as perfect as factory?

My guess is that they're not willing to do the extra work to find the leak AND/OR they get a lot of hours from Chrysler for a job like this and it's a payday for them.

I called the woman from Chrysler who helped with my stereo. She's going to have an engineer look at it there for me before they do anything. I haven't told them that yet...I'm sure they LOVE me.

I took the car back since they weren't sure when radiator would be in. And not happy with their plans.

Please tell me your thoughts.

Dr. Buick....I'd love your opinion too!

 

[april77]

Ugh ... sorry to read this. I would look for a service department at a different dealership ... you live in a larger, urban, area than I do, so you should have other choices, unlike me ( I am just really lucky that the dealership closest to me has a fantastic service department, in spite of the small size of the dealership). I dunno if I would let them take my car apart in this situation, either! I mean, have they not heard of a boroscope (my husband is a Navy retiree, I think in the civilian world it is spelled borescope)? They would be able to do a thorough search for the leak using one of those, without ripping the car apart. Just sayin' ...

April

 

[huggytree]

Dr buickfound mine
I believe it was at the water pump to radiator hose connection and he had to dissemble things just to get to it

If they can't see the leak how can they fix it

I still have a strong smell from heater but it maybe new car smell

Look for my old post. It has apic of the leak. It was hard to find

 

[CatBurghlr]

Rad comes out the bottom. Find a level 3 tech at a different dealership. My rad was changed last month. No body panels come off!!

 

[Lord Hellcat]

Might be different on the Charger

 

[Deputydog]

If the fluid is pink, thats not coolant.

 

[Rob K]

If the fluid is pink, thats not coolant.

IT's def coolant. Lengthy thread here about that. The coolant in these cars is pink.



Is Dr. Buick on here still?

 

[TallCool1]

[WIKI]Rob K[/WIKI] Check to see if this coolant is florescent if not you could add a dye e.g. TP3900 then examine for leaks in the dark using a black light.

 

[Deputydog]

Ah ok, mine looks purple..

 

[fnkychkn]

haven't had to replace one on a hellcat charger yet but FSM states that the front fascia need to be removed, as well as A/C condenser and low temp radiator.
OAT coolant is purple.

 

[SublimeHellcatSRT]

Ah ok, mine looks purple..

Purple when looking through plastic but pink when it's out in the light

 

[B5 Blue]

haven't had to replace one on a hellcat charger yet but FSM states that the front fascia need to be removed, as well as A/C condenser and low temp radiator.
OAT coolant is purple.

Dam

 

[huggytree]

pics of my leak was pink/purple

 

[B5 Blue]

So I've been smelling coolant for awhile. Recently saw it on garage floor (pink). I took it in. This local place is a joke. I've had so many issues in the 3 times I've gone...but that's another story.

Anyway they can't find where the leak is coming from. They can't see or feel it by the top hose(s) so they're ASSUMING it's coming from the radiator. They ordered me one and said there is only one in the country and barring human error it should be there tomorrow (another story).

So then they tell me that they have to take the whole front end off of the car to replace the radiator.

Am I crazy, or ignorant of mechanics here....but i can't see how it's a good idea to rip the car apart to replace a part when you're not even sure if that's the problem. They go through ALL that and then find out its a lower hose or something else...all that for nothing? Will it go back together as perfect as factory?

My guess is that they're not willing to do the extra work to find the leak AND/OR they get a lot of hours from Chrysler for a job like this and it's a payday for them.

I called the woman from Chrysler who helped with my stereo. She's going to have an engineer look at it there for me before they do anything. I haven't told them that yet...I'm sure they LOVE me.

I took the car back since they weren't sure when radiator would be in. And not happy with their plans.

Please tell me your thoughts.

Dr. Buick....I'd love your opinion too!

Remember you asked for thoughts.

Maybe it is the radiator I don't know but you'll get a new one that's maybe better than the ones that separate. The lower rad hose hooks to the radiator so moot point. I agree not liking the car torn apart BUT you are assuming the tech will screw it up which no one knows yet. Good techs don't F up your car! On top of that at least they are trying something instead of sending you down the road. If you don't like the dealer go elsewhere it's your car.

Next the car is in warranty, no one makes money doing warranty work on jobs like this so you're not a cash cow.

Next you think an engineer is going to the car. That isn't how it works engineers don't go to cars unless it's a big lawsuit and some BIG Cheese sent them not some woman on the phone. If someone does go they were either a tech like me that got a job at corporate and would see if the dealer needed assistance. They are called TFM's (Technical Field Manager) and all companies call them something of that nature. The other scenario is it's some college grad that doesn't know jack about a car and got a job as a TFM and your happy he's going. Good luck with the latter.

Sorry for being coarse here but I don't like people slamming my profession that have no idea what goes on and make irrational remarks. Maybe you're right and you get a parts changer not a tech but you're ASSUMING we are all DA's which isn't correct. I'm sticking up for good techs which are out there.

My only advice is that you ask the tech to pressure test the radiator cap to make sure it's venting at roughly 19 psi or whatever it says on the cap. I tested mine today.

 

[Colorado Hellcat]

Rob, it could be the lower water pump rad hose. It's VERY hard to see. Found Huggytree coolant smell SRT Hellcat Forum

 

[Rob K]

OK. So apparently it looks like there is a QEC (Quality Engineering Center) with some of the early built radiators. Part of it wasn't clamped to the proper setting and it's causing leaks under stress. When the FCA rep spoke to them about my car, they told her what was happening before she finished.

She did say the radiator DOES need to be replaced either way since it's one of the early ones and offered to have the Dodge Field tech do it for me at the dealership. I took her up on it. It's going in tomorrow.

If this is accurate, looks like a lot of us will have radiator replacements.

 

[dodgeboy]

OK. So apparently it looks like there is a QEC (Quality Engineering Center) with some of the early built radiators. Part of it wasn't clamped to the proper setting and it's causing leaks under stress. When the FCA rep spoke to them about my car, they told her what was happening before she finished.

She did say the radiator DOES need to be replaced either way since it's one of the early ones and offered to have the Dodge Field tech do it for me at the dealership. I took her up on it. It's going in tomorrow.

If this is accurate, looks like a lot of us will have radiator replacements.

What's your build date?

 

[Rob K]

Remember you asked for thoughts.

Maybe it is the radiator I don't know but you'll get a new one that's maybe better than the ones that separate. The lower rad hose hooks to the radiator so moot point. I agree not liking the car torn apart BUT you are assuming the tech will screw it up which no one knows yet. Good techs don't F up your car! On top of that at least they are trying something instead of sending you down the road. If you don't like the dealer go elsewhere it's your car.

Next the car is in warranty, no one makes money doing warranty work on jobs like this so you're not a cash cow.

Next you think an engineer is going to the car. That isn't how it works engineers don't go to cars unless it's a big lawsuit and some BIG Cheese sent them not some woman on the phone. If someone does go they were either a tech like me that got a job at corporate and would see if the dealer needed assistance. They are called TFM's (Technical Field Manager) and all companies call them something of that nature. The other scenario is it's some college grad that doesn't know jack about a car and got a job as a TFM and your happy he's going. Good luck with the latter.

Sorry for being coarse here but I don't like people slamming my profession that have no idea what goes on and make irrational remarks. Maybe you're right and you get a parts changer not a tech but you're ASSUMING we are all DA's which isn't correct. I'm sticking up for good techs which are out there.

My only advice is that you ask the tech to pressure test the radiator cap to make sure it's venting at roughly 19 psi or whatever it says on the cap. I tested mine today.

Thanks for the reply...and YES I did ask for thoughts.

My two concerns were:
1. Without knowledge of a known radiator issue, why would they suggest replacing it before being 100% certain that that is the issue? It's a big job, removing the whole front end of the car. To me, that's a big deal and worth further investigation before taking so much apart.
2. The dealership has been bad from day one. I've had several issues with them, from VERY poor communications, to poor scheduling, to lack of knowledge. I think tech I've been using is probably a good tech, but he's got a bad taste from me from day one. They asked me if I wanted to wait since it would be quick (change tire and oil change). I decided to wait and 3.5 hours later, when my kids were at daycare I had to rush them to get my car back. He got angry cause I rushed him..I got angry cause they made me wait that long. I would've gladly dropped the car and got a ride or taken a loaner.

I did use the wrong term..it's not an engineer going to the car, it's a TFM, you were right.

 

[Rob K]

What's your build date?

I think Mid-February, I forget. Where is it listed on the car again??

 

[upnorthstar]

build date is on the door jam