Thermostat replacement on a 2004 Hyundai Elantra

[glassfern53]

I just had to replace a thermostat on my Hyundai. The car started to
overheat on the way to work and I brought it to the garage next door
to my office. My oil was fine and the radiator fluid was at an ok
level. I was charged $178.00 for the replacement thermostat. In
reality, isn't this just a matter of unscrewing the old radiator cap
and installing a new one? This same repair guy told me it would cost
in the area of $200 - $400 to put my passenger-side electric window
back on its track. (The $400 is in case the motor is gone) I told the
owner that I knew it was the window coming off the track because it
happened once before and if it was the motor, the window itself
wouldn't go up and down. (The window cocks to one side sometimes when
it is opened and I have to manually re-seat it). Does this guy sound
exhorbitant to you? Thank you!

 

[hyundaitech]

I just had to replace a thermostat on my Hyundai.  The car started to
overheat on the way to work and I brought it to the garage next door
to my office. My oil was fine and the radiator fluid was at an ok
level. I was charged $178.00 for the replacement thermostat. In
reality, isn't this just a matter of unscrewing the old radiator cap
and installing a new one?  This same repair guy told me it would cost
in the area of $200 - $400 to put my passenger-side electric window
back on its track. (The $400 is in case the motor is gone) I told the
owner that I knew it was the window coming off the track because it
happened once before and if it was the motor, the window itself
wouldn't go up and down. (The window cocks to one side sometimes when
it is opened and I have to manually re-seat it). Does this guy sound
exhorbitant to you? Thank you!

Not really, but I don't know where he is, the quality/source of the
parts he uses, or the quality of his work.

To replace the thermostat, he must remove the air cleaner box, remove
the thermostat housing cover, replace the thermostat with a new
gasket, clean off any old gasket material, reinstall the housing cover
and air box, and then fill and bleed the cooling system. Consider
that you're paying for the labor to do this and the price of a
thermostat, a gasket, and the necessary coolant.

As for the window, there's something wrong with the glass or the
mechanism. If it was put back once before, it can likely be done
again, but the question to be asked for that sort if repair is whether
you'd like to keep paying someone to put the window back every time it
comes loose. There are several possibilities for the nature of the
problem. Could be one of the grips on the window glass has come
loose. If it has been reglued in place and came loose again, you may
want to consider replacing the window glass which has comes with grips
already attached. It could be that there is a problem with the
regulator.

Are there cheaper places to have your car repaired? Probably so.
Will the results be satisfactory? Who knows? If this shop isn't
satisfactory to you, check word of mouth.

 

[glassfern53]

Not really, but I don't know where he is, the quality/source of the
parts he uses, or the quality of his work.

To replace thethermostat, he must remove the air cleaner box, remove
thethermostathousing cover, replace thethermostatwith a new
gasket, clean off any old gasket material, reinstall the housing cover
and air box, and then fill and bleed the cooling system.  Consider
that you're paying for the labor to do this and the price of athermostat,a gasket, and the necessary coolant.

As for the window, there's something wrong with the glass or the
mechanism.  If it was put back once before, it can likely be done
again, but the question to be asked for that sort if repair is whether
you'd like to keep paying someone to put the window back every time it
comes loose.  There are several possibilities for the nature of the
problem.  Could be one of the grips on the window glass has come
loose.  If it has been reglued in place and came loose again, you may
want to consider replacing the window glass which has comes with grips
already attached.  It could be that there is a problem with the
regulator.

Are there cheaper places to have your car repaired?  Probably so.
Will the results be satisfactory?  Who knows?  If this shop isn't
satisfactory to you, check word of mouth.

Thanks so much for oyur wisdom, Hyundai tech. I'm learning a lot from
you!