well my car has been overheating for the past two days, the temp. gauge has been going all the way to hot and my car starts to smoke really bad. when i opened the hood it looked like the smoke was coming from the radiator. I took it to firestone today and said that i had blown a head gasket which is causing the overheating. It's going to cost me 1g for it to get fixed. Is this right or all i have to do is replace my radiator? are they they trying to rip me off?

 

also when i opened the hood there was coolant splattered everywhere, i think i have a big leak in my radiator. not sure though

 

Well it COULD be a head gasket. Why dont you replace your radiator and thermostat on the same day. Should be like $120 if you do it yourself and if you have eyes and hands you can do it yourself.

To tell if your head gasket is gone pop off your radiator cap and see what color the coolant is. If its oily or dark in color thats going to be your problem, is a head gasket.

Back the radiator/thermo solution. If you replace this and your fluid is not oily or black it could be your water pump. These are the 3 main parts of your cooling system.

 

I would pressure test the system after you have filled it up with water and see where it leaking from. Or you could fill with water and let run and see where it leaks from, if it from around the radiator cap then the system has excess pressure which could be from a head gasket or a thermostat stuck closed. If it misses at start up then you pobably have a blown head gasket, if the oil level is high then you probably have a blown head gasket, if the oil is kind of white or creamy in color after sitting overnight then you have a blown head gasket. Firestone is probably right, they don't get a bad rep. by sellin work that doesn't need done.

 

had the same problem bro. i installed a manual fan switch and it went away. saving up for a fluidyne radiator

 

i dont think it's my head gasket hopefully not, i think it's just my radiator and thermostat need to be replaced. i looked at the coolant and it doesnt look dark and oily (like what "1 point 6" said) so maybe it could just be my radiator and thermostat. does anyone else have anymore ideas?