Quoted €500 to replace a radiator

Mr auto.ie sells radiators for your car,put it your car details etc,price will pop up
Have used them for years

mrcheez wrote: »

A loose stone got in and damaged my radiator so it has ended up with a small leak.

Car is an Opel Corsa.

I took it to the Opel dealership I purchased it from and they took it apart to find the small stone.

I was quoted circa €500 inc VAT to replace it with a new one. Is that excessive or average?

Also I spotted online that there are liquids that can be purchased to stop leaks, would one of those be worth investigating?

Don't even think of using any "Stop Leaks" additive in your engine, unless you want even bigger problems !!! It will stop leak's in the radiator, certainly, but will also block water flow in other parts too. I've seen it destroy Cylinder head's . Plenty of Radiator supplier's around.....google "Opel Corsa Radiator's " Then get a mechanic to quote for fitting it.

tuxy wrote: »

I replaced a radiator on my car before. I'm no mechanic but I know how to use a spanner!
Are newer cars more difficult? Does it mostly depend on how much room is in the engine bay?

Well they have not gotten an easier ( in most way's), access can be difficult in some cars, definitely, and some have more than 1 rad. Basically, drain radiator, disconnect the top and bottom hoses. Remove Fan (s), and electric cables, remove Radiator. Replace Radiator, Fans etc. Refit water jackets ( hose's ) replace water. (This is a good time to change the antifreeze ) Run engine until it heats up and the thermostat opens to allow the coolant to circulate. It will need to be monitored closely at this stage.This may take a while, and it's better if you know what you are doing. Also in certain cars, it may trigger fault codes which will need to be checked and cleared.
Good Luck,

My Dad kept an Anglia with a leaking rad going for a long time by pouring an egg white into it, he made a replacement fan belt another time with me Mams tights.

No word of a lie, there used to be 7 kids 2 adults and a terrier in the car and it was 117 miles to the caravan park.

How old is the car?

Amazing how some cars can go 20 years without that happening.

I’d say suck it up and pay dealer money.

Rows Grower wrote: »

My Dad kept an Anglia with a leaking rad going for a long time by pouring an egg white into it, he made a replacement fan belt another time with me Mams tights.

No word of a lie, there used to be 7 kids 2 adults and a terrier in the car and it was 117 miles to the caravan park.

Ah...the memories !!! :):):) And not a seat belt in sight !!!

colm_mcm wrote: »

If it’s in warranty and you get a cooling system issue down the road, fitting a non original part could go against you.
Also if you said you had a 01 Corsa, I’d say don’t bother spending €500

That's good advice...even getting a non-genuine part, and a mechanic to fit it, taking everything into account ( anti freeze change etc) you wont be saving that much overall. Especially as the car is 2018 model.......don't risk invalidating the guarantee.

mrcheez wrote:

Heh, ironic your name. It was on one of Cork's finest new roads where the loose chipping shot up

Roads are way below par in Cork, bloody awful in places

mrcheez wrote:

It was a good road, just loose chippings but warning sign was positioned at the END of it.

At least it was there, coming into Roberts cove they've half the road dug up,chips all over ,no sign whatsoever,got hit by chips twice in the last 3 weeks,loonies driving work vans

mrcheez wrote:

It doesn't help that people in Cork drive like it's the Monaco Grand Prix

Don't think so,some do but worst I've seen is up around the border, especially Donegal,but yes we've our idiots aswell