Advice Needed on Repair - 2006 Peugeot 307 Convertible

thriver on 23/07/2019 - 17:09
Last edited 23/07/2019 - 17:37 by 1 other user

Fellow Ozbargainers.. Could use your advice on a repair decision for my car.

I own a Peugeot 307 Convertible 2006 built bought 3 years ago for $6400.

I service every 6 months, just did the service last month at Kmart Auto and they have noted in the report the radiator shows signs of leakage and need to be monitored.

Guess what, now it started leaking. I have taken to a nearby service station (NRMA Motoserve).

The quote for repairing the radiator, thermostat is $1850.

They also say that currently they are not able to do the full engine check because they cant run the engine for the required time with radiator not functioning properly. So once they repair the radiator they will be able to do further checks to see if the engine has got any damages (in the period when radiator was not functioning though i did not drive much at that time).

Considering the car price and the repair cost, what are my options?
Currently the car is with NRMA and I am afraid to drive it to any other service centre as well (with the radiator not working) to get another quote.

Automotive

Comments

  • Skramit on 23/07/2019 - 17:13
    +7

    Why does this need a thread?

    Get it repaired or get additional quotes. I’m not seeing much of a pickle here. Seems pretty straight forward.

  • DJR9000 on 23/07/2019 - 17:15

    new radiator, thermostat and flush and hopefully it is sorted. Radiator top and bottom tanks nowadays are plastic and once they crack or the seal goes you're up for a new one. you could maybe get a cheaper price if you shop around, but expensive parts and repairs is just part of owning a peugeot i'm afraid.

    did it run dry or up to the H mark on the temperature gauge? if so you could also be up for a head gasket or worse.

    probably not a bad idea to replace the water pump at the same time as doing the radiator + thermostat + hoses

    • thriver on 23/07/2019 - 17:36

      It was not used much recently. Hardly ran 2km (up and down) once for station drop when the leak was noticed. After then another 4km to the service station. The NRMA person said he will hunt around from generic parts which can be slightly cheaper but nothing significant.

  • HighAndDry on 23/07/2019 - 17:16
    +4

    They also say that currently they are not able to do the full engine check because they cant run the engine for the required time with radiator not functioning properly

    Take it to another mechanic because my (very very very) amateur mind says to me if you have a mechanic willing to put a pan under the radiator leak and top up coolant once in a while, you should be able to check the engine more comprehensively.

    And that'll let you decide if it's worth the two grand to fix the radiator, or if it might be time to move on.

    P.S. I only have third party property damage insurance.

    This is a maintenance/wear-and-tear issue, not an accident so insurance is not going to be relevant. Feel free to take it to any independent mechanic you trust.

    • thriver on 23/07/2019 - 17:37
      +1

      Thanks yeah silly me. Don't know why I mentioned about insurance here 🙈

      • Euphemistic on 23/07/2019 - 18:46
        +7

        At least you have insurance and aren’t asking how to get out of paying for a crash.

      • HighAndDry on 23/07/2019 - 22:19

        As euphemistic says, much better to have it and not need it than the other way around haha.

  • [Deactivated] on 23/07/2019 - 17:24
    -1

    Best option - cut your losses.

    Look at this way.

    Peugeot 307 Convertible 2006 built bought 3 years ago for $6400

    You'd probably get $5k for that car today assuming it was in the condition you thought it was when you first bought it.

    If you spent $1,850 on it, that would merely make the car closer to that initial condition. You still have brake wear and tire wear.

    If there were other problems, you'd be spending more. Again, all this is just to get back to the $5k value.

    So… after replacing the radiator, brakes, tires, etc. Can you really sell the car for $5k?

    • thriver on 23/07/2019 - 17:39

      You mean to put it from scrap? Any idea how how to go about it? Would I get any payment at all like for the metal etc.?

      • [Deactivated] on 23/07/2019 - 17:40

        Sell it as is. You're not a car dealer, you can sell the car without registration hence will not require a RWC.

        • thriver on 23/07/2019 - 17:47

          Oh ok. 👍🏼

        • bhubb18 on 23/07/2019 - 18:41
          +4

          And selling a 307 with a cooked radiator, you'll be lucky to get $2k for it… Terrible advice imo.

          • brendanm on 23/07/2019 - 19:52
            +14

            @bhubb18: You won't get $2k. There are plenty of these for sale with various issues. Plenty of Peugeot's and citroens for under a grand. I'm a mechanic and I won't buy them, even though I can fix them relatively cheaply, they are worth nothing going, and almost impossible to sell until you find someone who wants a weird french car for some reason.

            • thriver on 24/07/2019 - 06:57
              +1

              @brendanm: Yeah that's my thinking too.. to get it ready for drive and sell it.

    • cameldownunder on 25/07/2019 - 11:43

      Isn't there something you can put in the water of the radiator, that seals it?
      like this
      https://www.repco.com.au/en/brands/repco/repco-radiator-stop…
      Then you hope that it fixes the issue.

  • aussieprepper on 23/07/2019 - 17:30

    Did the car overheat? You can do simple checks like check the oil to see if it has coolant in it? Even checking the dipstick should be okay but do it a few times. Is it blowing white smoke when warm?
    You can always buy an Ebay special if they make them for your car! (dodgy aftermarket parts). I would search around for better quotes maybe a Euro specialist might have similiar parts in stock that will fit from a different car/engine?

    • thriver on 23/07/2019 - 17:41

      No smoke. The car is currently with NRMA. Couldn't check much. I don't think it has overheated bcos and the drive was very minimal since the leak happened

      • aussieprepper on 23/07/2019 - 17:52
        +1

        Well if you take it home you can always get second hand parts and sell it once its fixed? There are a few scrap cars about but you won't know the condition of the parts till you buy them. Some spares shops will "test" or offer a warranty before selling you the part but most are buy as is.
        You can DIY it fairly easy but being a Euro car you will have to pull a bunch of covers of first and when you refill the coolant you will need to bleed the air out of the system. It would only be a few pipes and one connector for the radiator.
        https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/smithfield/wrecking/peugeot-…
        https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/yennora/wrecking/wrecking-pe…

        • altomic on 23/07/2019 - 18:56

          ^this .

          DIY repair. not terribly hard

        • thriver on 24/07/2019 - 07:00

          Thank you for the links. DIY is a bit far fetched for me as of now :(

  • [Deactivated] on 23/07/2019 - 17:30
    +8

    This thread is a world of wrong: Peugeot 307 convertible, Kmart tyre and auto service, what could possibly go wrong. The obvious answer is burn it with fire, which coincidently happened to most of the other 307 convertibles already.

    • poboy on 23/07/2019 - 20:06
      +2

      European cars - you only make the mistake once.

      • brad1-8tsi on 24/07/2019 - 08:45

        I've had a few Europeans and would do it again.

        1972 VW bug - Hell yeah!

        1970s Lancia Beta - fun to drive but never again

        1998 VW Golf Cabrio Mk3.5 (Mk4 panels on Mk3 body) - great car bought from the wrong previous owner (they'd neglected it). Sold because i didn't have enough knowledge about where to get parts at a good price.

        2007 Skoda Octavia - One of the best, most reliable cars I've ever owned ((Have owned ~20 cars and had another 20 company cars in the driveway)

        • TEER3X on 24/07/2019 - 11:13
          +1

          Not sure what year the skoda Octavia was when I was in Europe in 2011, but the taxi driver had racked up almost 1 million kms. Probably a 2007, what a beast!

          • brad1-8tsi on 24/07/2019 - 14:10

            @TEER3X: Probably a MK1 with the 1.9 diesel & manual

            I have a distant relative in Austria and last time I saw him his Octy 1.9tdi had done 550,000km

  • brendanm on 23/07/2019 - 17:39
    +3

    A radiator and thermostat should coat nowhere near that, even for a Peugeot. In saying that, it's a Peugeot 307 convertible, so once you fix the radiator something else will go wrong anyway, better to sell it now.

    • thriver on 23/07/2019 - 17:48
      +1

      Hmm till now in last 3 years no issues.

      • brendanm on 23/07/2019 - 17:58
        +1

        Just wait…

  • yogihogi on 23/07/2019 - 18:28
    +5

    Ouch parts would cast $300 max off eBay ( radiator, thermostat, radiator flush and new coolant) it would take me and hour max. The quote is extremely expensive

    • dcep on 23/07/2019 - 21:15
      +3

      well, OP is in Sydney

      i bet he's willing to pay you 1k to do it , saving him 850, while you earn 700 an hour

      • pegaxs on 25/07/2019 - 19:10

        I agree… LOL @ all of these jobs taking an hour. It's not a complex set of job, but it isnt an hour either…

    • altomic on 23/07/2019 - 18:59
      +2

      ^ this

      new from $145 delivered

      just buy it.

      • aussieprepper on 23/07/2019 - 22:06

        Yea just make sure it fits!

  • HeWhoKnows on 24/07/2019 - 08:24
    -2

    Id be getting another couple of opinions.

    A radiator problem should be taken to a radiator place.
    Usually much cheaper because mechanic only takes out the radiator then sends it to the radiator place anyway

    • thriver on 24/07/2019 - 08:34

      Oh okay. Will check for that

    • brendanm on 24/07/2019 - 12:44
      +3

      No, they take out the radiator and then put a new one in, very rare to bother fixing a radiator nowadays.

      • pegaxs on 25/07/2019 - 19:13

        The only radiators we send out for fixing are truck radiators. Car ones, it's just out with old, in with new…

  • brad1-8tsi on 24/07/2019 - 08:38
    +4

    Step 1: Stop going to generalist garages that haven't a clue about French cars or where to buy parts at the right price. Even a dealership would be better.

    Step 2: Find a specialist workshop that knows French Cars.
    Northshore European at Brookvale
    AP Automotive in Carlton (He is one of the best - expect a wait to get in)
    PQ Automotive, 5 Smith Street, Chatswood

    Step 3: Get it towed to the workshop so you stop having kittens.

    I'm sure there are quite a few others spread over Sydney but They are the ones I know.

    If you really want to go to generalist retail mechanics (that's what those shops are) that will load up prices for jobs they aren't familiar with then buy something that is in the top 20 sellers so they understand it.

    • thriver on 24/07/2019 - 09:02

      Thank you

    • dec1an on 24/07/2019 - 10:22

      Yeah this. Be careful of Paul at AP though. He might be one of the best, but he'll preemptively fix things with the car then charge you for it without asking.

      • mini2 on 05/05/2021 - 10:08

        Well if he's already pulled the car apart then spotted something that should be done at the same time, he's not entirely wrong though he should give the customer a call first…

  • altomic on 24/07/2019 - 08:53
    +2

    buy the parts and get on airtasker

    • thriver on 24/07/2019 - 09:03

      That seems doable.. thank you 😄

  • PlasticSpaceman on 24/07/2019 - 09:24
    +8

    I've been looking after my own cars for decades, replacing radiators, rebuilding engines etc. It will never be cheap, but if you are happy with the car as it is and there are no other major issues then I'd definitely do it - $1,850 is about $1k too much though for it to be done at a workshop. If you allow $300 for radiator, $100 for thermostat, $50 for coolant, maybe another $50 for a replacement hose or two. Maybe even stump up for a new radiator cap (as they can also fail). So all up budget for $500 for parts plus labour and you should end up paying less than that. Assuming it takes a couple of hours to replace the radiator, say at $150 per hour, then $800 to maybe $1k is a reasonable quote (keeping in mind they have to pay wages, rent, power, etc as well as provide a warranty). Some places might match the RRP of parts to estimate repairs eg $500 RRP parts plus $500 labour = $1,000 quote. It's always possible that the mechanic has got a quote from Peugeot for a replacement radiator, been told that's $600, then added their margin on to that making it $900, and then doubled that to make it $1800 plus coolant.

    A home mechanic could probably do it for $400 or less (by sourcing parts off eBay, wreckers, etc), but assuming you don't have the knowledge or confidence then you definitely need to get another quote. It's not like replacing the radiator in your car - like some - is hard. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxESGM06kYY for an example of replacing a similar radiator.

    For those interested, car junk yards are not only great places to obtain second hand parts (keep in mind that your whole car is effectively second hand - hunt around a yard and if your car is not too rare then it's normally fairly easy to find a car that is in better condition than yours that has simply been written off due to an accident), but also a great way to practice removing parts from a car like yours without risking damaging your own.

    Anyhow, in short:
    1 - Get a large bottle of distilled water from Woolworths. Top radiator up and drive it home. Just monitor the temperature - if it starts to overheat, then pull over and wait 30 mins for it to cool down then top up with water again. If you are ten minutes away from home, then you should be fine without stopping.
    2 - Call some other garages (including Kmart) and ask for a quote to replace radiator and thermostat - possibly try to find a place that supports Peugeots as they will no doubt have access to cheaper parts
    3 - Alternatively, get a mobile mechanic to come by and do it - you can purchase and supply the parts and they should just charge the labour
    4 - Alternatively, find a friend who does home car maintenance and pay them in beer or similar

    • Euphemistic on 24/07/2019 - 11:08
      +1

      Between 1 and 2: see if you can see where the water is leaking out. This will help a mechanic diagnose the solution.

      • PlasticSpaceman on 24/07/2019 - 11:19

        True. Sometimes it can be hard though, even for an experienced mechanic, to identify where a leak might actually be coming from partly because in a 10+ year old car it can be pretty grimy. Also I'd note that frequently even if the issue is a hole/crack in the radiator, after replacing it the old hoses can fail soon after so checking or even replacing them at the same time can be a good idea.

      • cameldownunder on 25/07/2019 - 11:48

        Crank the heating up. I had a very old Ford Escort, and on the way up the mountain in Europe, on the way to the airport, I noticed the heat of the engine go dangerously hight. Lucky I had a spare bottle of water: Filled up radiator, filled up bottle for emergency, opened windows, cranked up heating, and made it safely to the airport. On return I added radiator selaer to the water and that was fixed. The car later died because of broken water pump.

    • thriver on 24/07/2019 - 12:26

      Thank you !!!

  • dec1an on 24/07/2019 - 10:20

    A humble suggestion - (something also to consider before buying your next car) get on specialty forums where you can assess how people have dealt with common issues and which mechanics are good in your area. For French cars there is Aussie Frogs, for example. Every issue you have with the car has probably happened to someone else.

  • Myone888 on 24/07/2019 - 10:52

    For Mercedes Benz which speciality forum? I am interested in particular the GLC 250D model. Ta

    • Euphemistic on 24/07/2019 - 11:10

      Try googling ‘Mercedes forum’ add ‘australia’ if you want. Then have a brigade and see which one you like.

  • 19Sandra 47 on 24/07/2019 - 11:11

    Without sounding trite installing a radiator itself is not difficult. Check your local wreckers or even ebay, and install it yourself. Take a photo of unit before disconnection of any part, to aid your memory. Radiators do not require electrical connections apart from sensor or two and very rarely require special tools.

    • brad1-8tsi on 24/07/2019 - 14:23

      That's very much an oversimplification of the process, especially if air conditioning and a turbo intercooler are involved…

      In this case though it looks fairly easy.

      https://youtu.be/yxESGM06kYY

  • thriver on 24/07/2019 - 17:25
    +1

    A mate at work suggested to check on Radiator stop leak fluids.

    https://www.autobarn.com.au/wynns-radiator-stop-leak-325ml

    Is it good to use these to check if that solves the problem before going for a radiator replacement?

    • jimbobaus on 24/07/2019 - 18:40
      +1

      Worst thing you could ever do.
      That stuff does more damage to your cooling system
      Will end up costing 10x more than replacing the radiator

      • thriver on 24/07/2019 - 18:42

        Okay noted!

  • jimbobaus on 24/07/2019 - 18:39

    As someone who works for a large branded mechanical chain
    Can tell you $1850 is very high for a radiator and thermo for that car.

    Go elsewhere

    • thriver on 24/07/2019 - 18:42

      Thank you. Appreciate your input!

  • stumo on 25/07/2019 - 12:15

    Your mechanic is having a bubble bath. At your expense.

    All they need to do is run the engine and keep it topped up with coolant while they test to see if the engine is rooted. They should run it without a cap anyway while they are testing for hydrocarbons in the coolant to check the head gasket.

    And on top of this they are trying to give you a wallet flush with the outrageous quote, that they are saying may not even fix the car.

    Take it somewhere else. Stat.

    • thriver on 25/07/2019 - 12:39

      Thanks for that 👍🏼

  • Cluster on 25/07/2019 - 12:18

    KMart tyre/auto is just a brand slapped onto independent mechanics. They probably saw a Peugeot convertible come in and thought you were loaded, hence the price.

    If you have a specialist car (anything French is 'unusual' in Australia as far as mechanics are concerned) take it to a repair shop that deals in them.

    • thriver on 25/07/2019 - 12:40

      The quote is from NRMA

  • cashless on 25/07/2019 - 13:03
    +1

    Currently the car is with NRMA

    That could be part of your problem right there. Take it to an independent

  • crashloaded on 25/07/2019 - 14:13

    Pay someone to lose it for you 😂

  • Bid Sniper on 25/07/2019 - 14:20

    Wow thats silly money

    DIY, Koyo brand radiator ($300), thermostate from Bursons ($150?), coolant ($50), new hoses Bursons ($50), slap in and away you go.

    Go to a radiator shop, knowing the above prices

    • thriver on 25/07/2019 - 15:19

      Thank you for the prices. Very helpful!

  • Aids on 25/07/2019 - 14:56

    Just by some Bars leaks. $7.99. Just saved you $1842.01.

  • diddy50 on 25/07/2019 - 15:11
    +1

    As much as I love pugs, they are a money sink.

    Move on to a better, more reliable car where repairs are far cheaper.

    P. S. First car was a 205 gti and then a 306, and drove a 405mi16 as well.

    • aussieolfaction on 25/07/2019 - 16:02

      As much as I love pugs, they are a money sink.

      ^ This person knows what they're talking about.

    • Aids on 25/07/2019 - 19:29

      I got rid of my Mi16 last year (cracked head). I miss that car :(

  • aussieolfaction on 25/07/2019 - 15:59
    +2

    Get a good independent mechanic to look at it. I've not had good experiences with chain stores like kmart, ultra tune, etc. but your mileage may vary. I switched to availing the services of highly qualified independent mechanics years ago, and I'll never look back. I also trust my mechanic enough to get my almost brand new car serviced with him regularly. Besides, most indies will come to your home, and will service your car inside your garage unless it needs to be put on a hoist or something (which they will take care of as well).

    Of course, it's important that you should first find an indie who is skilled and trustworthy. But I personally stopped trusting $teaerships and chain auto service stores with my money many years ago. At times the indie could even be a tad more expensive, but the indie fella does use absolutely top quality parts which I could witness with my own eyes, or he lets me supply parts where I see it more suitable (I could buy penrite when it goes on sale and stock up). Finding a good mechanic who will work for you will go far beyond just fixing this radiator problem unless you're done with cars, so I'd probably start looking for one if I were you.

    As to your current predicament, I'd advise selling the car away unless you intend to keep on driving it for at least a year or so. I'd still recommend getting the basic issues fixed in a cost-effective way (that doesn't mean duck taping everything) to maximise the amount you could recoup in a sale. If you sell it with a leaking radiator, you'd be lucky to get may be $1500 for it. See if you could source and supply the parts yourself and get the mechanic to fix the radiator so you could save some $$. Just be sure you know the parts are correct, or it's going to be a lot more expensive.

    It's all my personal opinion though.

    • thriver on 25/07/2019 - 18:03

      Thanks for the advice :)

  • thriver on 25/07/2019 - 18:08
    +2

    Looking around I found a mechanic with a quote $625 for radiator, thermostat, Hoses and coolant replacement. Will take the car to him on Saturday and see how it goes. He seem to have pretty good reviews Google and other places.

    • kiitos on 25/07/2019 - 20:01

      Wow, that's a big saving!

  • Bad Company on 01/08/2019 - 08:03

    As someone whose mum used to own a 2002 Peugeot 306, my advice is: cut the loss and run before you spend $17,000 to try to "fix" a $6,000 car which only gets you less than $2,000 in trade in value.

    Exactly what my mum did. Very stupid series of decisions. I hope you don't do the same.

    • thriver on 01/08/2019 - 12:35

      Thanks mate

  • thriver on 01/08/2019 - 12:44
    +2

    Thanks everyone for the suggestions. It was of immense help. Got the job done by a local mechanic for $720. The radiator, thermostat and fan belt has been replaced. Car is back to its form now. Will look to sell it in next few weeks.

    • swapup on 04/05/2021 - 23:55

      Hi OP, could I ask which mechanic did the job done for you? I gathered that you are in Sydney and it seems that you had a reasonable quote for the job. I am looking for a reliable workshop to take my Peugeot for regular servicing. Thanks in advance!

      • thriver on 05/05/2021 - 02:34
        +1

        Hi, this is the one C & M Vas Automotive
        (02) 9630 3075
        https://goo.gl/maps/3BtEm384TvZJnhpv7

      • nubzy on 05/05/2021 - 09:41
        +1

        AP Automotive and PQ Automotive two of the top workshops in Sydney. For a mobile service, try Revive my Lion.

        • swapup on 05/05/2021 - 16:57

          Thank you both for this! Heaps appreciated

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