2001 Honda CRV radiator

ESTHER PIGG

MEMBER
2001 HONDA CRV
4 CYL
AWD
AUTOMATIC
16,200 MILES

In December 2008 a deer hit my car causing damage to the left front panel. Liquids emptied to the ground but I was able to drive home and to the shop the next day. The car was repairedwith only the replacement of the reservoir over the radiator. Yesterday, I took the car in for an oil change; the second since the accident. I was informed that I had no antifreeze and that the radiator was cracked and needed to be replaced. For 8 months my car never overheated or caused me any trouble even though I did periodically notice a smell near the engine when I exited the car after a long drive. My question, is it possible for me to have driven 8 months with a cracked radiator; is it possible the repair shop overlooked the crack? Did I ignore something that could have caused the crack.

Thanks for you help!

1 Reply

TED-E-DEE

MECHANIC
109 POSTS

Yes, I would say your cracked rad. Leaked slow or I should say it developed a slow leak. Oterwise you would have noticed fluid on the ground & car would have overhetad. I wuld not say there was a problem w/gauge, if it did overheat you would have seen steam come out from under hood also. Yes it was almost surely missed by repair shop. These days most places are a "Get'em in, Get'em out" routine. Either promoted by "Greedy Auto Tech." Or a "Greedy establishment". The faster one works on a vehicle, the more they miss. I don't care how good of a Tech. They are. The only way to get a repair done in a Professional manner today is to tell them to take their time & rent yourself a car or find alternate transportation. Good Luck !