Mechanical Repair
Radiator & cooling system repair near you
Overheating, coolant leaks and a cold heater traced by pressure test, then the radiator, hoses, thermostat or fan repaired and the coolant refilled.
- Time at the shop
- 2 h
- about
- Mobile service
- Available
- at your address
- Shops in Canada
- 1
- doing this work
- Your price
- You set it
- shops bid on it
You set the budget
Shops near you send their bids
1 shop in Canada does this
Mechanical Repair
What radiator & cooling system repair is
The cooling system holds the engine at working temperature. A water pump pushes coolant, a mix of antifreeze and water, through the engine and on to the radiator at the front, where airflow and a fan cool it before it goes around again. A thermostat sets how hot the engine runs and a pressure cap raises the coolant’s boiling point. A leak, a stuck thermostat, a dead fan or a clogged radiator lets the temperature climb, and an engine that overheats can be badly damaged within minutes.
The shop pressure tests the system cold to find where coolant escapes, then checks the cap, fan, thermostat, hoses and the coolant itself. The coolant is drained for recycling, the failed part is replaced, and the system is refilled with the specified coolant and purged of air. A hose or thermostat takes an hour or two, a radiator swap about half a day.
- For cars, vans and trucks
- Takes about 2 h
- Can be done at your address
What does radiator & cooling system repair cost?
It depends on your vehicle and the shop. Post a job with your budget and compare the bids shops near you send.
Get bids
Name your budget. Shops near you bid.
1 shop across Canada does radiator & cooling system repair.
What to expect
Radiator & cooling system repair, step by step
What the job normally covers, what to mention in your request, and the signs that it is time. Every shop says what its bid includes.
The job
What’s included
- Cooling system pressure tested cold, and the radiator cap tested, to find where coolant is escaping
- Coolant checked for freeze protection, rust, oil and signs of exhaust gas leaking in
- Hoses, clamps, reservoir, thermostat housing and fan operation inspected
- Coolant drained and collected for recycling wherever a part has to come out
- Failed radiator, hose, thermostat, cap or fan replaced as you approve
- System refilled with the type your vehicle specifies and bled of air, so no pockets cause hot spots or a cold heater
- Transmission cooler lines reconnected and the fluid level checked where the radiator holds the cooler
- Engine run to full temperature with the fan cycling and every joint watched for leaks; level rechecked when cool
Checklist
Before you post
- 01Say what you saw: temperature gauge in the red, steam, a puddle and its colour, a sweet smell or a heater that blows cold
- 02Ask for the leak to be found by pressure test rather than parts being replaced on a guess
- 03Ask which coolant will go in; the type in your owner’s manual matters, and colour alone is not a reliable guide
- 04If the engine ran hot for a while, ask for a combustion-gas test in case the head gasket has been damaged
- 05For a radiator, ask whether it is original equipment or aftermarket, plastic-tank or all-aluminum, and how long it is covered
- 06Mobile visits suit tests, hoses, thermostats and flushes; a radiator behind the bumper cover is better handled in a shop
Signs
When you need it
- Temperature gauge climbing above normal, or a warning about engine temperature
- Steam from under the hood, or a sweet, syrupy smell after you park
- Coolant puddles under the front of the vehicle, or a reservoir that keeps needing top-ups
- A heater that blows cold, or an engine that takes very long to warm up in winter
- Cooling fans that never come on when the engine is hot or the A/C is running
Sound familiar?Tell shops near you what you need and what you want to spend.
Get bidsHow it works
Get radiator & cooling system repair done in four steps
You set the budget and choose the shop. Posting is free, and you pay the shop you hire once the work is 100% done.
- 01
Post your job
Choose the service, describe the job and your vehicle, and set your budget. It takes two minutes and costs nothing.
- 02
Shops compete
Nearby shops that do the work see your request and send their best offer: price, when they can start, what is included.
- 03
Accept the best offer
Compare bids, ratings and distance, then hire one shop. The others are told, politely.
- 04
Talk and get it done
Your conversation with the shop opens right away to agree on the day. You pay only after the job is complete.
Keep exploring
Related services
Water pump replacement
A leaking or noisy water pump confirmed and replaced with a new gasket and fresh coolant, then bled and checked for leaks.
Head gasket repair
A failed head gasket confirmed by testing, then repaired with the cylinder head checked, resurfaced if needed and refitted on new bolts.
Engine diagnostics
Engine diagnostics for a check engine light or rough running: a technician reads the fault codes, tests live data and reports the cause and the fix.
Towing, Roadside & Transport
Towing
A towing service sends a tow truck for a vehicle that cannot be driven and delivers it to the shop, home or scrapyard you choose, by flatbed or wheel-lift.
Maintenance & Servicing
Scheduled maintenance service
Scheduled maintenance service to your owner’s manual: oil and filter, rotation, fluids, plugs and an inspection, with a dated record for your vehicle.
Questions
Questions about radiator & cooling system repair
General answers for drivers in Canada. The shop you hire confirms the details for your vehicle.
Why is my car overheating?
The usual causes are low coolant from a leak, a thermostat stuck shut, an electric fan that does not run, a radiator clogged inside or out, and a failing water pump. Less often it is a head gasket. If the gauge climbs, pull over safely and switch off, and never open the radiator cap while the engine is hot because the system is under pressure and can scald.
Can I drive with a coolant leak?
Only a short way, to a shop, and only if the leak is slow. Top up the reservoir when the engine is cold, watch the temperature gauge and do not carry on if it climbs. A leak that empties the system in one trip can overheat the engine within minutes, and a badly overheated engine can warp its cylinder head, so pull over and call for a tow the moment the gauge rises.
How often should coolant be flushed?
Follow your owner’s manual, because intervals differ widely: older conventional coolant asks for a change every two to three years, while long-life types may go five years or 160,000 km or more. Coolant slowly loses its corrosion protection even when it looks clean, which is why an old fill can eat radiators, water pumps and heater cores from the inside.
Can I mix different colours of antifreeze?
It is better not to. Colour no longer tells you the chemistry, and mixing incompatible types can form sludge or weaken the corrosion protection, which clogs the radiator and heater core. Use the specification in your owner’s manual. In an emergency a top-up of plain water or premixed coolant will get you to a shop, but the system then needs a proper flush, since water alone freezes in winter.
Can a leaking radiator be repaired, or does it need replacing?
A metal radiator that leaks at a seam or tube can sometimes be soldered by a radiator specialist. Most modern radiators have plastic tanks crimped to an aluminum core, and when a tank cracks or a seam weeps, replacement is the sound repair. Stop-leak from a bottle may slow a pinhole for a while, but it can clog the heater core and radiator passages, so use it only to reach a shop.
Something else to ask? Once you hire a shop, you talk to it directly in your request’s conversation.
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