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| - After my car overheated on the parkway in January 2014 with temperatures in single digits, I was grateful to make it to a GetGo store in Robinson Township. I was fortunate when another customer in the store was able to get my hood open, which had previously been frozen shut during earlier attempts. This allowed more antifreeze to be added, which allowed me to make it home, much to my relief.
A month earlier, I had gotten the radiator flushed and new antifreeze added at Tyke's on Greensburg Pike, where I had previously been taking my car for the past few years on advice from a friend. I did this when I the car was there for a tune up, as part of my ongoing efforts to maintain my 1998 Subaru Forester in good working condition. I knew I would be driving between Pittsburgh and New Castle in the middle of winter and didn't want any surprises. I had read an article recently that said if you haven't had your radiator flushed in many years that sediment can build up over time. So, I THOUGHT I was doing a good thing. But, SURPRISE! There I was with an overheated an engine one MONTH after having the radiator flushed and refilled.
I was really annoyed that this happened so soon after having the radiator flushed and refilled, and so I decided to take my car to a different garage this time. Many years ago I had taken my car to Ventrice Auto Service, and I don't even remember why I stopped going. I think it was mostly because a friend had raved about Tyke's. Oh, the power of a good reference! Right?
First off I have to say that I LOVE the hours of Ventrice Auto! They are open from noon-9 PM. I'm a night owl, and I love that I can drop my car off AND talk to a real person AFTER 5 PM. These hours are unusual and wonderful from my perspective. :-)
Well, I had them check the radiator to make sure there were no leaks. Perhaps this was simply a COINCIDENCE that this happened right after having the radiator work done. Maybe there was something wrong. But, the mechanic from Ventrice who worked on my car found my radiator to be just fine.
His conclusion was that when the OTHER GARAGE flushed and refilled the radiator with new antifreeze, they were supposed to let the engine run for 30-45 minutes, but probably did not. Of course, there is no way of knowing this for sure, but I was told that there was probably an AIR POCKET caught in the radiator, and that's why my car overheated. And apparently that happens when you add new antifreeze to the radiator, but don't let the engine run long enough to allow any air bubbles to work their way out. It seems like a good hypothesis to me.
Now, I have a new problem. The "Check Engine" light just came on the other day. A few months ago I paid over $500 for a new part (and labor) that was supposed to fix this problem. At least that's what the mechanics at Tyke's had told me. They could find no other reason for the light to keep going off, except for this part, which would fix the problem. (I can't remember the name of the part, but I will look for the receipt and update this review.) The other problem I had with Tyke's is that the last time I picked up my car, it REEKED OF CIGARETTE SMOKE! I'm allergic to cigarette smoke, and this is unacceptable and unprofessional to smoke inside a customer's car!!! I don't have a garage, so how am I supposed to air my car out in the middle of winter? The odor has fortunately dissipated over time, but I can still smell it. Gross.
Between the car overheating, the engine light going on again, and the smoke, I am not going back to my old garage. I was treated very well at Ventrice, and they even gave me a ride home when it was single-digit temperatures outside. They are friendly, knowledgeable and professional. They treated me with respect and answered all of my questions. I have found my new favorite garage for all my future car repairs. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND Ventrice Auto Service.
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