dibbons
Well-Known Member
Driving back home in our 2001 Jeep Cherokee four-wheel drive (not Grand Cherokee) from the airport after our 10 days visiting in Juneau, Alaska, we stopped at a roadside taco stand for dinner. As soon as we came to a stop, a cloud of steam rose from under the hood.
Ending up staying at the "Hotel California" that night in Todos Santos, Baja California Sur (about $90.00 US funds). Next morning, a local "mechanic" (no shop, works in his front yard) drove us back to the car. After pouring some water in, he found the plastic radiator tank on the passenger side had cracked underneath where the top radiator hose connects.
Coincidentally (and luckily), the business immediately adjacent to the taco stand was a towing service. I contracted with the tow truck driver to load the Cherokee on his platform rig and tow it back the the mechanic's house/shop about 8 miles or so ($40.00 US funds).
The mechanic's plan was to replace the cracked radiator tank, the thermostat, and coolant. He wanted $600 pesos up front for parts, but I only had $400 pesos left in my pocket (about $23.00 US funds), which he accepted and he got to work. He thought he could have it completed around 5:00 PM. However, later he called to say they had delivered the plastic radiator side tank part for a Grand Cherokee, not the classic Cherokee. That would set us back a day, so we paid for another day at the Hotel California. Contrary to the song, there were no mirrors on the ceiling. Actually, there was no telephone and no television in the room either (see foto).
i decided to take a Mexican Bus (which runs every hour) back to our home in La Paz and retrieve my Dodge Dakota. The bus ride from Todos Santos was just a little over an hour ($8.50 US funds). I went to the local AutoZone which sold complete radiators for $125.00 US funds but they only had one with automatic transmission lines on the passenger side and our car has the lines on the driver's side.
I searched on-line and could not find the plastic tank that had split (and leaked) on sale anywhere, only found complete radiators. Drove back to Todos Santos in my pickup truck to see how the mechanic was doing. He finished everything up the second day.
I asked the mechanic if he found the plastic radiator tank at a wrecking yard? He said those at the wreckers were no good, he installed a new one. He also showed me fotos of some plugged radiator tubing and told me he rodded that crap out. I paid him the balance owed of $92.00 US funds (making total repairs = $115.00 plus the tow). I asked for a receipt but he said he did not have invoices. He finally agreed to write me out something (in pencil) on a half sheet of paper. I asked him about guaranteeing his work, he laughed and said it's good until you turn the corner. I hope he was kidding.
I still don't know how or where he found that part for the radiator. We made the 50 mile drive back to La Paz without incident, so far-so good.
Ending up staying at the "Hotel California" that night in Todos Santos, Baja California Sur (about $90.00 US funds). Next morning, a local "mechanic" (no shop, works in his front yard) drove us back to the car. After pouring some water in, he found the plastic radiator tank on the passenger side had cracked underneath where the top radiator hose connects.
Coincidentally (and luckily), the business immediately adjacent to the taco stand was a towing service. I contracted with the tow truck driver to load the Cherokee on his platform rig and tow it back the the mechanic's house/shop about 8 miles or so ($40.00 US funds).
The mechanic's plan was to replace the cracked radiator tank, the thermostat, and coolant. He wanted $600 pesos up front for parts, but I only had $400 pesos left in my pocket (about $23.00 US funds), which he accepted and he got to work. He thought he could have it completed around 5:00 PM. However, later he called to say they had delivered the plastic radiator side tank part for a Grand Cherokee, not the classic Cherokee. That would set us back a day, so we paid for another day at the Hotel California. Contrary to the song, there were no mirrors on the ceiling. Actually, there was no telephone and no television in the room either (see foto).
i decided to take a Mexican Bus (which runs every hour) back to our home in La Paz and retrieve my Dodge Dakota. The bus ride from Todos Santos was just a little over an hour ($8.50 US funds). I went to the local AutoZone which sold complete radiators for $125.00 US funds but they only had one with automatic transmission lines on the passenger side and our car has the lines on the driver's side.
I searched on-line and could not find the plastic tank that had split (and leaked) on sale anywhere, only found complete radiators. Drove back to Todos Santos in my pickup truck to see how the mechanic was doing. He finished everything up the second day.
I asked the mechanic if he found the plastic radiator tank at a wrecking yard? He said those at the wreckers were no good, he installed a new one. He also showed me fotos of some plugged radiator tubing and told me he rodded that crap out. I paid him the balance owed of $92.00 US funds (making total repairs = $115.00 plus the tow). I asked for a receipt but he said he did not have invoices. He finally agreed to write me out something (in pencil) on a half sheet of paper. I asked him about guaranteeing his work, he laughed and said it's good until you turn the corner. I hope he was kidding.
I still don't know how or where he found that part for the radiator. We made the 50 mile drive back to La Paz without incident, so far-so good.
