Just a Nightmare Rant!

**Beemerboy** · 01-05-2012, 01:24 PM

On Christmas eve while driving to my SIL house, our Camry started to run hot, temp gauge was running about 3/4 up...watched it for a while then it ran into the red. We where about to approach the golden gate bridge. Onto the side of the road called AAA and with in any hour or so, had the car towed to a local mechanic and my SIL two children came and picked us up, plus drove us back home that evening.

Got a call from the mechanic on Monday (surprised he was open) its the thermostat, changed that out. Picked up the car and while driving back it starts running hot AGAIN! Speaking with my neighbor retired Toyota mechanic said it could be the water pump failing. Car has 163K so I changed the water-pump and timing belt, mechanic said you should change the temp sensor..OK...go to pick up the car and he says the number one fan relay is not working and the cooling fans are not coming on..replace that relay..car is still running hot fans are not kicking on.

At this point I`m ready to light the car on fire!

Neighbor and I started checking a few other relays and switches and found the temp sensor on the bottom of the radiator was failing.We pulled the wire and the fans kicked on...however the gauge was still running at 3/4..I did a temp test, testing the water from cold to hot and found that it was at normal operating temperature..

I know have the car at a local radiator place I`ve used many times before. He said upon his first inspection that the thermostat appears to be not open, stuck or not installed right. The upper hose is hot but the lower one where the T-stat is was cool.

I hope he`s right because I`m ready to trade this car off next!

Thanks for letting me rant!

**Blacktruckowner** · 01-05-2012, 01:32 PM

Well at least you got lucky and didn`t blow a head gasket.

**Beemerboy** · 01-05-2012, 01:38 PM

car would have been towed to a junk yard at that point

**Todd@RUPES** · 01-05-2012, 01:59 PM

I hope you get that figured out Dave. I have been on the endless search to repair parts on a car, each problem only exposing the next. Hopefully you will get it sorted out and have the benefit of having all new parts (what you replaced). I`m glad to hear your family and you made it back safely during the holidays. As long as the family is okay the rest is just headaches.

**NoleFan** · 01-05-2012, 02:11 PM

I feel for you. It will probably be some time before you can "trust" that car again.

The last time I changed a radiator, the new one from the parts store already had a leak in the bottom of it. Good luck!

**Beemerboy** · 01-05-2012, 02:35 PM

Originally Posted by Todd Helme

I hope you get that figured out Dave. I have been on the endless search to repair parts on a car, each problem only exposing the next. Hopefully you will get it sorted out and have the benefit of having all new parts (what you replaced). I`m glad to hear your family and you made it back safely during the holidays. As long as the family is okay the rest is just headaches.

with out any doubt!

Originally Posted by NoleFan

I feel for you. It will probably be some time before you can "trust" that car again.

The last time I changed a radiator, the new one from the parts store already had a leak in the bottom of it. Good luck!

Trust is going to be a big issue with me. I watch the gauges and lights like a hawk anyway

**Rocket** · 01-05-2012, 02:48 PM

Well hopefully you get it all sorted out. Like Todd said at least you have new parts on the car once it`s all done.

I once had my fuel gauge go out on me. I didn`t realize it until I ran out of gas. Since then every car I own I track mileage rather than looking at the gauge. Never will trust them again.

**Old Pirate** · 01-05-2012, 04:48 PM

Get a Mazda next time.............

**Beemerboy** · 01-05-2012, 05:30 PM

Originally Posted by zoomzoom mazda5

Get a Mazda next time.............

This car was giving to me, it was my father in laws car, passed to us after his death. up to this point I`ve not had a single issue

Update, just talked to the shop and it was a faulty thermostat. That was the first part I replaced! What a joke

**Parrothead** · 01-05-2012, 05:35 PM

Getting a car worked on today is a nitemare. Its all trial and error or address the first error code that comes up, which leads to another and another. There are no real mechanics today. Hope its sorted out for you.

**theamcguy** · 01-05-2012, 06:31 PM

In any repair the most important step is diagnosis, the second most important step is checking the repair to ensure the problem was corrected. At the first repair shop it sounds like neither was accomplished.

**Concours.John** · 01-05-2012, 06:48 PM

These tend to be bullet proof vehicles. But once sensors or little things happen it all depends on the mechanic. Some people will just throw parts at it till it is fixed. That`s not cost effective nor does it put trust in the owner of the vehicle. Hope it gets figured out.

**Mr. Gloss** · 01-05-2012, 07:25 PM

Good troubleshooters are hard to find

**TLMitchell** · 01-05-2012, 08:47 PM

Originally Posted by Blacktruckowner

Well at least you got lucky and didn`t blow a head gasket.

"Naw, that`s just ice cream."

TL <--- a punchline without a joke

**Nth Degree** · 01-05-2012, 09:37 PM

Originally Posted by Blacktruckowner

Well at least you got lucky and didn`t blow a head gasket.

Yes. I`d say very lucky. And you may not be completely out of the woods on that. If the head was warped by the heat it could cause a problem in the near future.

If you notice your temp gauge rising it is best to stop the car before it climbs to the red. A small problem can easily be turned into a big one.

I would have some issues with the mechanic who replaced the thermostat and didn`t spend 10 minutes to verify it was installed correctly and operating properly.