Cooling System & Coolant Leak Repair

Signs You Need Cooling System

A warped cylinder head costs many times what a hose does, so it pays to catch these early.

• The gauge climbing above normal: overheating warps a cylinder head quickly, so treat it as urgent.
• Sweet-smelling steam or a colored puddle: that is coolant, and it went somewhere it should not.
• The reservoir needing topping up: a slow leak that often only shows under running pressure.
• Heater blowing cold when warm: low coolant, an airlock, or a failed thermostat.
• The fan running constantly, or never: one of the most common causes of overheating in traffic.

What We Do

We pressure test before replacing anything, because the cheapest fix and the most expensive one look identical from the driver's seat.

• Pressure test. The system is pressurized cold to find leaks that only show under running pressure, often a hose end, the pump weep hole or a radiator seam.
• Check the thermostat and fan. Overheating with a full system is usually a stuck thermostat or a fan that isn't commanded on. Both are cheaper than the head gasket people fear.
• Repair and refill correctly. The right coolant specification for your engine, and a proper bleed. Trapped air causes overheating that looks exactly like a failed pump.
• Run it up to temperature. We watch a full warm-up and fan cycle before returning the car.

How We Quote It

We inspect before quoting, because recommending parts from a description is how people end up paying for the wrong ones. Once we know what your vehicle needs, you get a written estimate covering parts and labor.

If we find something extra mid-job, we stop and call you with the measurement and the cost. Nothing gets done without your approval.

Every repair carries a 1, 2 or 3 year warranty, capped at 12,000, 24,000 or 36,000 miles respectively, whichever comes first. Ask us which one covers your repair; it is printed on the invoice either way.

Common Questions