Took my car to the mechanic for head gasket repair. He fixed the head gasket kit, changed oil, went to the machine shop, and a [block plane]? Less than a week later my radiator cracked! I don't believe this is just a coincidence. I think he did something wrong and just didn't change a part that was needed.

 

It's hard to say. Where did it crack?

 

Right in the front Look through the top hole of the grill

 

How many miles are on the engine/radiator?

 

Not likely the mechanics fault. When your car is getting too hot, pressure increases in the cooling system. That combined with the age and thousands of heat cycles would probably been the cause.

 

how are you sure it happened after and not before the head gasket issue ? what caused the head gasket issue ?

 

I took it to this other mechanic an he tested the head gasket by doing the coolant test. He started the cool with the radiator fool, and coolant exploded out like a volcanic eruption. That's worst than it was before I took it to the mechanic.

 

Well because when I drive it sprays the coolant all over my windshield when I'm driving. It didn't do that before.

 

That looks like old age failure to me. Trust me, I'd be the first to jump on a shitty mechanic, but from the look of the crack it appears to be from just normal old age/usage.

 

Ok but the coolant shot up out of the radiator when I started the car. doesn't that mean the head gasket is bad?

 

What is the timeline we are looking at here? Mechanic replaced head gasket, then (immediately/the next day/2 months later?) you noticed the radiator leak? Or did he replace it, then (immediately/the next day/2 months later?) it started shooting coolant out the radiator cap area?

It is possible that the crack in the radiator caused you to lose coolant and overheat, warping the head and blowing the head gasket. Then you got the gasket replaced, leaked coolant again from the crack in the radiator, and overheated again.

Regardless, the radiator needs to be replaced. Then you can troubleshoot from there.

 

Thermostat been changed? Do the fans turn on?