Quick answer. This Impreza was overheating. Our tech found a cracked radiator that was leaking, and a small hose on the thermostat housing that had blown out. The hose was old and weathered. The engine bay was so dirty that our tech pressure washed it to look for any other leaks. The repair was bigger than the first approved number, so work stopped for a new quote.
Key Points
- The radiator was cracked and leaking.
- A small hose on the thermostat housing was blown out, old and weathered.
- Our tech washed the engine bay to make sure no other leak was hiding.
- Work stopped twice so the owner could approve the bigger job.
- The ticket came to $781.32 across six lines.
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A Missed Call and an Overheating Car
This one started as a missed call from Moreno Valley. The owner found us on Google. Nobody picked up. Our desk drafted a quote for one hour to find the problem.
The car was a 1998 Subaru Impreza. It was overheating.
What Our Tech Found
A cracked radiator. It was leaking coolant. A radiator that leaks loses coolant every drive, and an engine low on coolant runs hot.
A blown hose at the thermostat housing. It is a small hose, easy to miss. This one was old and weathered on the outside and had blown out.
A very dirty engine bay. Old oil and dirt hide leaks. So our tech pressure washed the bay as well as possible. A clean engine shows a fresh leak. A dirty one hides it.
Two leaks were enough to explain the heat. Washing the bay was how our tech made sure there was not a third.
The Job on One Card
1998 Subaru Impreza, September 29
Came in with: overheating, after a missed call from Moreno Valley.
Tech found: cracked, leaking radiator. Blown thermostat housing hose, old and weathered.
Ticket lines: diagnosis $150, thermostat $225, radiator $300, pressure test and bleed $75, four hose clamps $13.32, RTV sealant $18.
Total: $781.32.
The first quote was one hour of diagnosis. Once the leaks were found, the job was bigger than that. So our tech stopped. Then it happened a second time when the hose turned up. Each time, a new quote went to the owner first.
Why the Last Step Matters
A cooling system with air in it can overheat even with a new radiator. That is why the ticket has a pressure test and a bleed.
The pressure test looks for leaks under pressure, like when the engine is hot. The bleed pushes trapped air out so coolant reaches every part of the engine.
Skip that step and you can pay for a radiator and still have a car that runs hot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a small hose make my car overheat?
Yes. A blown hose lets coolant out fast. On this Impreza, the thermostat housing hose was old, weathered and blown.
Why would a mechanic wash my engine?
Dirt and old oil hide leaks. A clean engine shows where fresh coolant or oil is coming from.
Why is there a pressure test after a radiator replacement?
It checks the system for leaks under pressure. The bleed then removes trapped air that can cause overheating.
Why did the mechanic stop and ask again?
Our rule is to stop when the job grows past what you approved. You get a new quote and decide.
Supercanic tip: If you add coolant every week, you have a leak somewhere. Find it before the engine gets hot enough to warp something. Call us at (951) 904-2477.
Car Overheating in Moreno Valley?
We find the leak first, then quote the fix. You approve every step.
