Radiator / Transmission Lines Question

SKYWOLFX

MEMBER
FORD ESCORT

I have a 1997 Ford Escort. I was having a mechanic put in a new radiator. He told me that to take out the radiator he has to take off transmission lines? And said they were rusted and neededr eplaced. I have an issue with the mechanic now over the number of hours labor involved. Would you have to remove the trans lines to remove the radiator? Im not the brightest when it comes to repair so I want to make sure I know what I'm talking about when I call back and speak to the manager. I could have swore though that I was told by the mechanice that to rmeove the radiator he had to take out the transmission lines, and because they were rusted he really couldnt put them back on. Thanks.

Friday, February 16th, 2007 AT 8:53 AM

3 Replies

MIKE H R

MECHANIC
3,094 POSTS

On a vehicle that has aautomatic transmission the cooling lines for the transmission fluid is cooled by
the radiator. The lines would have to be disconnected to take the radiator out. These lines
like any can get rusty. Most likely they could have been goning bad where they are connected to the radiator. If you question the time for labor talk to the manager about it

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Friday, February 16th, 2007 AT 10:55 AM

SKYWOLFX

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Okay thanks for the reply. The problem I have is, I was told 2hrs labor to do the radiator. Then when I okayed them by phone to change the lines, I got my bill when I picked up my car and they charged me an additional 2 hrs for replacing those lines. Doesnt that seem absurd? So 4 hrs total.

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Friday, February 16th, 2007 AT 12:18 PM

MIKE H R

MECHANIC
3,094 POSTS

It would depend. Did they replace the line from the transmission to the radiator. If they did it could have taken the extra time. 2 hrs seems like a little to much.

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Friday, February 16th, 2007 AT 2:43 PM