New radiator cost on Skoda

magnus500

Hello all

Just wanted to check I'm being quoted a reasonable amount by a garage for a new radiator on 05 Skoda Octavia 1.6 petrol. Coolant has been leaking, took it in today and says radiator needs replaced for €270 including labour. This sound about right?

Cheers for any feedback.

George Dalton

Sounds about right.

visual

magnus500 wrote: »

Hello all

Just wanted to check I'm being quoted a reasonable amount by a garage for a new radiator on 05 Skoda Octavia 1.6 petrol. Coolant has been leaking, took it in today and says radiator needs replaced for €270 including labour. This sound about right?

Cheers for any feedback.

Doesn't sound excessive all things considered.
But always pays to shop around get a few quotes from other garages for a comparison

biko

Just to check, you're certain it's the rad leaking and not a hose?

magnus500

I'm not but the guy fixing it seems to be, he reckoned if it was fixed I'd just get a leak somewhere else and though it best just to get a new one. I've used this garage before (Hill's in Greystones) and they seem fairly trustworthy, just wanted to check that I wouldn't be cheaper getting it done elsewhere, or even the UK as I'm up in Fermanagh quite a lot.

biko

You could ring these guys and see if they have a second hand one
http://www.traynors.co.uk/ Based in NI.

166man

OP, if you don't want to fork out big money for the new radiator there is a product you can buy, I can't for the life of me remember what it is, but it essentially plugs the hole in the radiator as a sort of temporary fix.

Might be an idea if you haven't the money for a brand new radiator.

Just my 2c...

Henry Ford III

What about a recore?

biko

166man wrote: »

I can't for the life of me remember what it is, but it essentially plugs the hole in the radiator as a sort of temporary fix.

There's a few. Novastop is supposed to be good.
Fun fact, in an emergency two raw eggs will work too.

magnus500

Thanks for the info folks, I'm OK with paying if it means that I'm not going to grind to a shuddering halt on the M50 in 6 months time. Same goes for the second hand thing although I'm not sure what the general life expectancy of a radiator would be anyway. Bit disappointed though as only bought the car second hand in May so to have to do a job like this is annoying.

visual

magnus500 wrote: »

Thanks for the info folks, I'm OK with paying if it means that I'm not going to grind to a shuddering halt on the M50 in 6 months time. Same goes for the second hand thing although I'm not sure what the general life expectancy of a radiator would be anyway. Bit disappointed though as only bought the car second hand in May so to have to do a job like this is annoying.

Don't go 2nd hand or worse some magic stop leak product that gums up the system.

You can get a new radiator cheap from ebay and fit it yourself.
Buy your coolant at local motor factors.
DIY cost about 100 euro.

Xpro

magnus500 wrote: »

Hello all

Just wanted to check I'm being quoted a reasonable amount by a garage for a new radiator on 05 Skoda Octavia 1.6 petrol. Coolant has been leaking, took it in today and says radiator needs replaced for €270 including labour. This sound about right?

Cheers for any feedback.

Thats not cheap at all.
Rad for that car will cost about 100 max non genuine , check Somora 69.95 retail ( that could be +vat, still less then 100€. )

Coolant is cheap, and the rest is labour. Must be golden hands fitting it for that price:rolleyes:

George Dalton

Xpro wrote: »

Thats not cheap at all.
Rad for that car will cost about 100 max non genuine , check Somora 69.95 retail ( that could be +vat, still less then 100€. )

Coolant is cheap, and the rest is labour. Must be golden hands fitting it for that price:rolleyes:

How long does it take to fit one would you say?

EDIT; A rad from Somora is €89.50 ex VAT btw.

Xpro

From my experience about an hour.

You are right price from somora is €89.50+, i was comparing it with mk1 octavia, so 20€ more.

magnus500

visual wrote: »

Don't go 2nd hand or worse some magic stop leak product that gums up the system.

You can get a new radiator cheap from ebay and fit it yourself.
Buy your coolant at local motor factors.
DIY cost about 100 euro.

Realistically though, as someone who doesn't have a lot of DIY experience (I can change a wheel etc) is that safe for me to do? Although I do see how it seems a bit steep now if we are talking guts of €200 for labour for an hour.

visual

magnus500 wrote: »

Realistically though, as someone who doesn't have a lot of DIY experience (I can change a wheel etc) is that safe for me to do? Although I do see how it seems a bit steep now if we are talking guts of €200 for labour for an hour.

It is well within the abilities of a novice to DIY with basic hand tools.
But expect it to take you 3 or 4 times longer until you get familiar with the spanner.

Get a Haynes manual 20 to 25 euro I think.
It will have a step by step guide.

You will need to flush out the old coolant, you can use a garden hose. And refill with coolant suitable for your car. Google is your friend when you need a little pointer.

Coolant is not dangerous to work with as long as you dont drink it. If you do spill it on the ground wash it away as it taste sweet and a kid or pet might be tempted to drink it.