Dealership double switch
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 193
Likes: 16
From: Orange Tex
Dealership double switch
Does this sound right. Took my car to the local Chevy Dealership after i saw some small patches of light oil on garage floor.
When they called me about it they said that the oil filter had a bad gasket on it and would have to be replaced along with a quart of oil. ok so far so good. Then he tells me the radiator has a very small leak and the skid plate is cracked. Both would have to be replaced. at the price of 1600.00
I drove the car for 2 full days in 90 degree weather and it showed no signs of over heating. Any ideas or something i should do about this mess.......
When they called me about it they said that the oil filter had a bad gasket on it and would have to be replaced along with a quart of oil. ok so far so good. Then he tells me the radiator has a very small leak and the skid plate is cracked. Both would have to be replaced. at the price of 1600.00
I drove the car for 2 full days in 90 degree weather and it showed no signs of over heating. Any ideas or something i should do about this mess.......
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,206
Likes: 66
From: Orlando Florida
Have the dealer show you exactly where the leak is, and keep an eye on your coolant level for the next few weeks to see how bad it is. I would be doing a search on how to do this repair myself, and save a bunch of money.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 193
Likes: 16
From: Orange Tex
Sorry i've got 5 thumbs. Would i check from the radiator or the reservoir.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,206
Likes: 66
From: Orlando Florida
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 2,321
Likes: 220
From: Woodbridge, Virginia
You said that they said it was from the radiator, so I would star there. Drain petcock, were hoses attach, then the actual metal cooling lines if all else is dry. The dealer should have marked the spot and then show it to you. Cracked skid plate, well is a skid plate, source one elsewhere, remove and replace.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 193
Likes: 16
From: Orange Tex
You said that they said it was from the radiator, so I would star there. Drain petcock, were hoses attach, then the actual metal cooling lines if all else is dry. The dealer should have marked the spot and then show it to you. Cracked skid plate, well is a skid plate, source one elsewhere, remove and replace.
Thanks for the advice i'll check into that. At the least i'm going to have them show me where the leak is at. Wish i hadn't left my car there over night. I don't trust them.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
it would help if you had at least a town or state where you live in your profile. plus, you really need to find some good indie shops in your area that can, and do work on Corvettes. talk to (but you don't necessarily have to join) your local Corvette club via phone not email. going back to a dealer you don't trust is not smart. the "old"method was to spray some fluid on where the "leak" was---not saying it isn't there because it's possible that breaking the "skid plate" DID cause a leak or crack that is leaking.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 5,187
Likes: 1,216
From: Las Vegas Nevada
THANK YOU!! Why all the work of draining fluid, checking lines, etc.? Take it to a really good shop and tell them you might have a leak, see what they say. You might also just say, "Could you look at the skid plate also? My wife says she thinks she ran over something in the road." A good shop will be glad to check it out, and will charge you less for the repair, if it is confirmed.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 193
Likes: 16
From: Orange Tex
Thanks for the advice. I'll pickup my car tomorrow and drive it a little. If it's not over heating and I see no signs of leaks. I'll still head to a shop I trust put it on a lift and check it out.
I wanna see how this turns out. Hopefully you can find some type of resolution or piece of mind at least. 
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,019
Likes: 2,712
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
The "Full Cold" mark is on the front of your coolant tank where hardly anyone ever finds it. That also makes it sensitive to any up/down slope when you park. Great engineering. 
Park the car in the same place each evening and let it sit overnight. Eyeball the level in the morning, before starting.
The "skid bars" don't skid if you hit something, they are aluminum and just crack. That's unfortunately common. So the dealer may be correct, but a second opinion would be worthwhile.
Usually the impact doesn't damage the radiator but there are exceptions and sometimes radiators leak "just because."
Good luck with yours.
Park the car in the same place each evening and let it sit overnight. Eyeball the level in the morning, before starting.
The "skid bars" don't skid if you hit something, they are aluminum and just crack. That's unfortunately common. So the dealer may be correct, but a second opinion would be worthwhile.
Usually the impact doesn't damage the radiator but there are exceptions and sometimes radiators leak "just because."
Good luck with yours.
Last edited by Gearhead Jim; Oct 25, 2016 at 01:05 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 193
Likes: 16
From: Orange Tex
When I discovered the oil leak I took it back to where I bought it. There was not evidence of a water leak. Out of the blue they tell me I need a radiator. I will get second opinion on radiator. I put 105 miles on the car today never got above 204 degrees. Over flow reservoir was right where it needs to be. Ran A/C also. Thanks for all the advice. I'll find a different mechanic and watch the radiator for awhile.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 109
Likes: 1
From: Jacksonville Fl
Radiator leak
Get a pressure tester (Auto Zone) maybe they will test it for you.
If not take it home let the car cool down!! remove the cap put the tester on pump it up to about 30PSI and see it it holds pressure. That's the sure way to find out.
If it doesn't hold pressure check the gasket!
You can buy a cover for the skid plate on this forum.
Good luck.
If not take it home let the car cool down!! remove the cap put the tester on pump it up to about 30PSI and see it it holds pressure. That's the sure way to find out.
If it doesn't hold pressure check the gasket!
You can buy a cover for the skid plate on this forum.
Good luck.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 109
Likes: 1
From: Jacksonville Fl
Get a pressure tester (Auto Zone) maybe they will test it for you.
If not take it home let the car cool down!! remove the cap put the tester on pump it up to about 30PSI and see it it holds pressure. That's the sure way to find out.
If it doesn't hold pressure check the gasket!
You can buy a cover for the skid plate on this forum.
Good luck.
If not take it home let the car cool down!! remove the cap put the tester on pump it up to about 30PSI and see it it holds pressure. That's the sure way to find out.
If it doesn't hold pressure check the gasket!
You can buy a cover for the skid plate on this forum.
Good luck.
If your not mechanically inclined take it to a reputable radiator shop.