I put my truck in the shop recently because it was overheating & they replaced the thermostat. The mechanic told me I would need to backfluch it soon because the cooling system/radiator was rusted up. It overheated again the next time I drove it & they sent the radiator to a radiator shop to be cleaned out. They said there was alot of damage to the upper radiator and would try to solder the coils and such. A week later they said they couldnt fix the radiator and I would have to get a new one. The mechanic shop said it would be $640 for a new radiator, back flush, and thermostat.
I told them I couldnt afford it right now and I would have to think a short while abotu what I was going to do.
I guess my questions first; is this a good price, and second; if I decided not to fix it whats the ethical thing to do on the mechanics part? Should they not charge me anything since they didnt fix anything? The radiator shop isnt going to charge me, but Im wondering if the mechanic shop would charge me for removing the radiator and such? Also, I was able to drive the truck to the mechanics shop with a rusted radiator..are they obligated to re-install the rusted radiator after they took it out?

THANKS!

Lacy

well $640 is steep to pull a rad and put it back in and to install a thermastat. i do all my own work so that part wouldn't cost me a thing. the rad price i want to say is usually 100-250 and it seams every thime we have one done it needs a new core. we have had several done for trucks and many done for tractors. a block flush is a manditory if your putting a new one in, any loose rust or what not in the block can work loose and plug the new one up. and if you dont think the block can get rust inside it well it can.