HEATER CONTROL VALVE
Last night my engine overheated. No fluids were spewing. But steam was rising. The fluid in the plastic overflow container was boiling. The engine was hot. I let it cool down before I drove it back to my motel on 84th Street. I searched for mechanics last night and found three. Redline Automotive on Melody opened at 7:30am, so I decided to take my car there. The guy at the counter, named Travis, was quite friendly. It was early, and I was not in the best of moods having to spend money, fix a problem that I thought had already been fixed last summer with Richard's mechanic Hi when he replaced my thermostat. So here I was at the behest once more of a mechanic. Initially, Travis ordered a pump test to see where and what, if anything was leaking. It cost $28 something, and I agreed. So the mechanics took my car into the mechanic's well, put it up on the hydraulic jack to check for leaks. Travis came back out with an iPad with photos of my engine, the leak, and the heater control valve. The diagnosis came back that the heater control valve was cracked and leaking anti-freeze. For the part alone, Redline charged me $66.71. You can find them online at Amazon for $20 to $30 tops. But I was at the mercy of the mechanics. So here I was paying 3 times the standard price. Labor to swap it out cost me $76, bringing the total to $142.71. Travis did waive the diagnostic fee of $28. That was pretty cool.
As part of their service, Redline checked other parts and fluids and left me with a prognosis sheet that told me what was low and so forth. So I kind of appreciated this. Richard, my regular mechanic, would tell me what else needed to be fixed, how much, and whether it was urgent or could wait until next time. But the guys at Redline left me with a helpful sheet. What it said was that my engine oil was low, which I kind of expected because I am due for an oil change here right around 166, 000 miles. The mechanics also indicated that my brake fluid was low with only 3% remaining. And what bothered me the most was the check mark for visible fluid leak from my valve cover. Leif just changed the valve cover gasket back on July 22, 2014. I called Redline and spoke with Shawn, who explained that the valve cover leak would cost $123. Not bad. So I will call in this week and have that done.
Searching the web this morning, I did find a unique website. It's a Honda parts store at Amazon. Good to know.
Try not to think of the engine and its parts as parts, but think in terms of systems. There are several different systems that coordinate to make your engine fire, go, stop, cool down, heat up, and so forth. Cooling system, Exhaust, Emission Control Systems, Electrical Systems, Fuel Injection Systems, Intake System, Valve Train, Braking System, Transmission System, and so forth. Find more here, here, and here. Here is a good diagram of how a 4-stroke engine works.
Last night my engine overheated. No fluids were spewing. But steam was rising. The fluid in the plastic overflow container was boiling. The engine was hot. I let it cool down before I drove it back to my motel on 84th Street. I searched for mechanics last night and found three. Redline Automotive on Melody opened at 7:30am, so I decided to take my car there. The guy at the counter, named Travis, was quite friendly. It was early, and I was not in the best of moods having to spend money, fix a problem that I thought had already been fixed last summer with Richard's mechanic Hi when he replaced my thermostat. So here I was at the behest once more of a mechanic. Initially, Travis ordered a pump test to see where and what, if anything was leaking. It cost $28 something, and I agreed. So the mechanics took my car into the mechanic's well, put it up on the hydraulic jack to check for leaks. Travis came back out with an iPad with photos of my engine, the leak, and the heater control valve. The diagnosis came back that the heater control valve was cracked and leaking anti-freeze. For the part alone, Redline charged me $66.71. You can find them online at Amazon for $20 to $30 tops. But I was at the mercy of the mechanics. So here I was paying 3 times the standard price. Labor to swap it out cost me $76, bringing the total to $142.71. Travis did waive the diagnostic fee of $28. That was pretty cool.
As part of their service, Redline checked other parts and fluids and left me with a prognosis sheet that told me what was low and so forth. So I kind of appreciated this. Richard, my regular mechanic, would tell me what else needed to be fixed, how much, and whether it was urgent or could wait until next time. But the guys at Redline left me with a helpful sheet. What it said was that my engine oil was low, which I kind of expected because I am due for an oil change here right around 166, 000 miles. The mechanics also indicated that my brake fluid was low with only 3% remaining. And what bothered me the most was the check mark for visible fluid leak from my valve cover. Leif just changed the valve cover gasket back on July 22, 2014. I called Redline and spoke with Shawn, who explained that the valve cover leak would cost $123. Not bad. So I will call in this week and have that done.
Searching the web this morning, I did find a unique website. It's a Honda parts store at Amazon. Good to know.
Try not to think of the engine and its parts as parts, but think in terms of systems. There are several different systems that coordinate to make your engine fire, go, stop, cool down, heat up, and so forth. Cooling system, Exhaust, Emission Control Systems, Electrical Systems, Fuel Injection Systems, Intake System, Valve Train, Braking System, Transmission System, and so forth. Find more here, here, and here. Here is a good diagram of how a 4-stroke engine works.
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