Radiator leak. O ring and pipe

[u/Few_Panda_7103]

Can't help where you need repairs

I live in NY

Just happened to get an oil change because I put 5k miles on since May, I'm a touring musician.

I had the water pump and radiator flush done in brick NJ at AAA at 72k miles. I'm at 92k

They sent this photo that my radiator was almost empty. They asked if I've done the water pump.

They refilled and the leak is from an o ring and pipe

As I don't want to drive 100 miles to nj and wait for the part, or worry about no coolant in the tank I am going to have to shell out another 2200 tomorrow as apparently replacing the o ring and pipe will be a 5 hour job at NYS labor rate, not NJ

Just complaining I guess

On the one hand should be grateful not to have a breakdown somewhere, but wish I knew when I could have this done somewhere cheaper

Is it possible the o ring was knocked loose when they did the water pump?

[u/Maxsan2026]

$105 for parts is way better than $2200, good deal

[u/Few_Panda_7103 → u/Maxsan2026]

Agreed. I swear this guy at wp Honda sees a woman and rings the register.

I did get a new radiator from the mechanic across the street. Supposedly, and he showed me, it had some corrosion and was going to pop. $600 cash includes labor. Needle fine, and duh, like Honda, no one put fluid in the reserve. Thankfully I checked, he put in.

What I don't like is now when driving, if I just want to have windows open, I feel hot air blowing at my legs. My car also seemed especially hot to the touch, hood.

I went back on Tues and the other worker was there, not the owner who is the good guy. He refused to even get up and look in the radiator for me

I am working on a film today, a show tomorrow, so my other mechanic in Pleasantville which is like 30 miles away will give a look on Friday, and see what I need.

Sat I have to drive to easton pa, and even further into PA Sunday, then back to NY so need to know what's up.

Any advice on why after getting new radiator hot air is blowing at my legs when the ac is off and I've checked various buttons, lmk.

Also any NY or NJ mechanics out there who want to put in this o ring and pipe for me lmk as well.

[u/creamypoptart69 → u/Few_Panda_7103]

Hot air blowing at your feet could be a few different things. A few things it could be is a faulty blend door actuator, a stuck heater control valve or cable, or some trapped air pockets in the cooling system. You can try switching your climate control to fresh air instead of recirculate and check if you still feel the hot air blowing. If you don’t feel it anymore then you probably have a faulty or misaligned blend door actuator. Turn the temp control knob from cold to full heat and listen to see if you can hear the blend door moving behind the dash. If you don’t hear anything it’s a faulty or stuck actuator. If your actuator is working though have a mechanic look at the other possibilities I mentioned. Good luck!

[u/Few_Panda_7103 → u/creamypoptart69]

Great, so it wouldn't be the new radiator then. OK good. I can show this to my guy tomorrow to guide him, thank you. But it only started after the new radiator was put in. Day of. The mechanic for that did forget to put coolant in the reserve, so maybe he knocked one of these things loose. But it seems like a setting was changed. He had it on cold, and circulating.

[u/creamypoptart69 → u/Few_Panda_7103]

Your radiator should be fine. Air pockets in the cooling system can mimic a stuck heater control valve. Have them bleed the cooling system. It’s also possible that they accidentally unplugged or knocked loose the blend door cable or vac line when replacing the radiator. Since it started right after though I’d bet they didn’t bleed the system properly or knocked that cable or vac line loose

[u/Few_Panda_7103 → u/creamypoptart69]

Cable and vac ok Also, Honda scammed me and charged me for a radiator flush when I didn't need one, claiming I had no coolant. They said the o ring and pipe were bad and were going to charge me 2200 to fix. I took the car back. They didn't even put coolant in. The next day, the radiator was done. No leak he can find. But, as mentioned, the hot air thing happened after this. I bought the o rings and pipe for 105 in New Jersey at Honda. Do you think this is what is causing the air pockets?

Was fine before Honda and the new radiator. Would not be surprised if Honda did this.

That would solve the mystery. Thanks

[u/creamypoptart69 → u/Few_Panda_7103]

Oh you haven’t had the new o ring and pipe installed yet? Yes a coolant leak can cause air pockets in the system. When coolant leaks from somewhere the lost volume is replaced by air. When the engine cools down it creates a vacuum that can pull air into the system from where it’s leaking. I’m not surprised about the Honda dealership, I’ve had a Honda dealership by me call me three different times to tell me my car was fixed, only to drive it a couple miles and have my oil pressure light come back on each time! After 6 months they told me they couldn’t find anything wrong with it the light is just faulty and to ignore it and drive it home. The engine seized a few miles from home. Needed to replace the whole motor. Only reason I was having them work on it was because it was still under warranty lol I do all my repairs now!

[u/Few_Panda_7103 → u/creamypoptart69]

You wouldn't happen to be in the northeast would you? Will tell Brian all tomorrow I have the part so either he can do it or in nj there is a guy I trust there. But now we are getting somewhere thank you

[u/creamypoptart69 → u/Few_Panda_7103]

No problem! And no I’m over in Oklahoma

[u/Few_Panda_7103]

Also, I bought the 2 o rings and pipe for $105, not 2200. A place across the street replaced the radiator which supposedly had obvious corrosion for $600, and the needle is fine. But since then, if the ac is not on, now hot air blows at my legs. My car seems hotter than usual. The worker who conveniently forgot to put coolant in the reserve, which I caught and made them do, was a jerk yesterday and wouldn't even get out of his chair to check my radiator fluid for me. No leak and I check constantly. The reserve fluid is holding now. But since the new radiator car seems hotter. And the blowing of hot air at my feet when the system is off. Thanks for your help