OK, need some advice! Took my van to a major well known national auto repair shop a year and a half ago due to some sudden jerking and hesitation in the engine. During the initial checking, they suggested that all hoses should be replaced because they said they are getting old, and I gave them permission, but, it took three visits and $1400.00 before they finally found the real problem (which I then had to pay to fix that). My wife and I was mad as hell at all the different repairs and replacements of parts they did before they finally found the real problem. Their excuse was "we are only human and we make mistakes, but those other things needed repaired and corrected!!!". OK, the problem...
Several months ago, I began to occasionally smell antifreeze (kind of a burning smell of antifreeze). About six weeks ago, I had a sudden jerk of the vehicle like it had lost power for a second, and this happened twice within a week, with a strong smell of something burning like a electrical component or wiring. A couple of days later, my battery voltage suddenly jumped up to 18 volts, and I made it home, but the next morning my battery was dead (fried). I got the vehicle towed to a mechanic friend, who found that the internal alternator regulator had gone wacky and shot the voltage up to 18 volts, which fried my battery. Here is the problem... the radiator hose that the big name company had installed a year and a half ago, was just barely sitting on top of the alternator pulley, and a hole had finally worn through, spraying antifreeze into the alternator. My mechanic friend said that was the reason the alternator went bad and destroyed the battery too.
The big name company Manager does not want to admit that somehow they put the hose on incorrectly, and he stated that he talked to four master mechanics and they all stated that antifreeze shooting into the alternator (apparently for several months) would not damage the alternator! Ok, I have talked to many people, and they said the big name company is full of crap, so, is there any knowledgable people out there on this... Who is correct?
This cost me over $200 to get that problem fixed. Maybe I need to contact the BBB and see an attorney!
Thanks for your help
B2bken
Several months ago, I began to occasionally smell antifreeze (kind of a burning smell of antifreeze). About six weeks ago, I had a sudden jerk of the vehicle like it had lost power for a second, and this happened twice within a week, with a strong smell of something burning like a electrical component or wiring. A couple of days later, my battery voltage suddenly jumped up to 18 volts, and I made it home, but the next morning my battery was dead (fried). I got the vehicle towed to a mechanic friend, who found that the internal alternator regulator had gone wacky and shot the voltage up to 18 volts, which fried my battery. Here is the problem... the radiator hose that the big name company had installed a year and a half ago, was just barely sitting on top of the alternator pulley, and a hole had finally worn through, spraying antifreeze into the alternator. My mechanic friend said that was the reason the alternator went bad and destroyed the battery too.
The big name company Manager does not want to admit that somehow they put the hose on incorrectly, and he stated that he talked to four master mechanics and they all stated that antifreeze shooting into the alternator (apparently for several months) would not damage the alternator! Ok, I have talked to many people, and they said the big name company is full of crap, so, is there any knowledgable people out there on this... Who is correct?
This cost me over $200 to get that problem fixed. Maybe I need to contact the BBB and see an attorney!
Thanks for your help
B2bken