I have a '94 Dodge Caravan with 150,000 miles on it. It's run like a top until yesterday. Last Sunday, 90 miles ago, I had it in for routine service at Jiffy Lube. They told me that the coolant was a little low and that they topped it off. Yesteday, I was driving up to the mountains for a hike, and all of a sudden the heater stopped working, and the 'check gauges" light went on. I immediately turned around and came home but there was no where to stop in between. I checked under the hood and they coolant reservoir was bone dry. I called Jiffy Lube, they came over and filled the radiator, but the coolant started pouring out all over the garage floor. I took it to Firestone, and got the bad news that I have a blown head gasket. Could this be Jiffy Lube's fault? There was previously no leaking or any overheating problems.
2006-12-03 03:22:11 · 8 answers · asked by Audrey H 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
There was a reason that the coolant was low. It could have been a leak in the radiator, a bad water pump, or a leak in a hose. Jiffy Lube refilled the coolant, but they did not search for the source of the leak.
When you were driving, the van lost more coolant, which is why the heat quit working. Instead of stopping immediately, you continued to drive the van when it was overheating, and the head gasket blew.
The problem with quick service places is that they do not have highly trained mechanics. They train their employees to do certain services, but do not look at the overall condition of the vehicle!
If you had taken the car to a qualified mechanic, he most likely would have found the coolant leak, and saved you money in the long run. The best thing to do is find a single qualified honest mechanic, or shop, and let them do all your work. Quick service and tire shops usually do not offer full mechanical service, with top of the line mechanics!!
With 150,000 miles, I would not replace the head gasket, unless the entire motor was rebuilt. You might look into a used engine instead!
2006-12-03 03:37:19 · answer #1 · answered by fire4511 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No, it's not Jiffy Lube's fault. The fact that someone from Jiffy Lube was willing to come and refill your radiator for free, was a kind gesture on their part. If it is equipped with the 3.3L V6, those engines were pretty common to fail head gaskets, causing the coolant leak you describe. It was probably leaking for a while, but not enough to cause a noticeable problem. Sorry to hear about your problem.
2006-12-03 11:30:51 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would re-fill and run the vehicle to get up to operating temperature and then on a clean area open the hood with the vehicle running and look for leaks. You could try a new Radiator Cap. If, you not see a leak and back the vehicle up and not see where it leak on the ground. Then it could possibly be a Head Gasket. Check your oil and see if it getting a whitish look. When the vehicle cool again, you could try draining the radiator in a pan and see if there oil in it. Usually white oil or oil in radiator is a blown gasket for sure. It not always show, but, that two areas that can help; white oil/oil in radiator.
2006-12-03 11:36:55 · answer #3 · answered by Snaglefritz 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its probably coincidence with that car and mileage, but you run those risk everytime you take a car to Jiffy Lube or Firestone. Most of those guys are high school drop outs with no training whatsoever.
2006-12-03 11:29:18 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
sounds as if you may have got a split hose which may have caused coolant loss which has resulted in head gasket failure, but check the oil cap and see if its mayonase consistancy and colour, this happens when the oil and water get mixed up.refil the water coolant in the rad and see if any hoses leak also.
as for blaming anybody its bit early to say so but you may of had a hoses which was wearing a bit thin and gave way.good luck anyway.
2006-12-03 11:30:27 · answer #5 · answered by jules t 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If Jiffy Lube filled the expansion tank right up to the top without leaving space for the water to expand when it gets hot then this will blow a head gasket.
2006-12-03 13:00:23 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
Generaly, a blown head gasket will not leak out on the floor.
You've probably got a bad water pump seal, or leaking hose.
Get it checked out by an INDEPENDENT mechanic.
2006-12-03 11:38:02 · answer #7 · answered by Mr. KnowItAll 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you drive the car with no water then try to blame some else.. 150000 miles is more then most of the thingss get. my friend has a shop and is always replacing heads and gasgets.
2006-12-03 12:16:51 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋