cinburk8

I discovered that I was leaking anti-freeze, over 100 miles from home. I do all highway driving. My Cherokee is only 6 months old. Never been off-roading, etc. Diagnosis: small rock, or other SMALL debris, put a hole in the coolant tube of the radiator. $650 to be repaired by dealer. Already have 14,000 miles on it, so you know I drive a lot.

Have been told by the dealer that this was essentially a freak occurrence. The chances of it happening again are slim. However, I feel like there is no way a small rock could have caused this damage, and why wasn't the radiator better protected? Also, if something like a rock could do this, how could I ever take it off-road? I do not feel safe driving now, especially with my child in the car.

Everyone I have told this to thinks I am being given a load of BS by Jeep. Any thoughts?

Red82

Your radiator can only be so protected because it needs to be able to get a lot of air. This probably happened from a rock whole highway driving which would not happen Offroad. But anything can happen. That being said I can't imagine that much to replace a tube.

ol"blue

Welcome to CF.
X2. Probably happened on the highway, and should be replaced by your insurance, the same way a cracked windshield would be.

Boost Happy

insurance will cover it if its dubbed outside influence by dealer. the dealer will back you on that too

ol"blue

Thanks for adding your expert advice.

Boost Happy

no problem. We go through this time to time for customers.. as long we can explain how it was caused by something on the road.

cinburk8

Thanks for the input. It definitely happened on the highway. Just trying to figure out how a rock (or other small debris since no one really knows what caused the hole) could have hit it with such a huge skid plate. It was $650 because they had to replace the whole radiator. At least that's what they told me. Could've had my FIL do it much cheaper but was afraid it would void the warranty if an issue comes up in the future that would've otherwise been covered. I just worry about the safety of driving the vehicle if a small object could potentially leave me stranded on the side of a highway somewhere. I've been traveling for work for 6 years and never had this problem in a Cavalier or Accord.

Thanks for the tip about the insurance. I thought about claiming it but I have a $500 deductible, so the savings wouldn't have been great and I wasn't sure if it would affect my rates.

sthon

This could happen to any vehicle. It's not common though. A small rock getting kicked up by a vehicle or flying off a vehicle at 60+ mph is pretty common, they usually have pretty good aim at hitting the windshield of another vehicle, this rock just missed it's target. $650 to replace a radiator seems a bit high, new rad shouldn't run more than $300. I can't see the labor costing another $350.

DieselD

If its a brand new "Cherokee" with 14k than its actually a Grand Cherokee BIG difference. Lol

If I understand correctly a piece of something hit your radiator and put a hole in it? How was your AC condenser not damaged as well? I recently had a piece of what looked like an ignition coil come flying at me, it smacked my side mirror (luckily) and took a little chunk out of it. I could totally see a rock taking a nice piece of radiator with it. But not without the condenser too. Hell, I don't know jack about new vehicles though, they still put condensers in the front? Lol

lookin2wheel

There is absolutely no reason to "not feel safe" driving your Grand. As everyone above stated, it was a freak occurance and you have a better chance of getting hit by lightning than that happening again. As for it hitting the rad and not the A/C condenser, well, s&*t happens you know? $650 sounds about right if it was replaced at a stealership. Labor rates are in excess of $70 to $90 per hour and its prbably a 3-4 hour job from start to finish and the rad was prolly close to $350-$400 through the parts dept, especially if it is a new Jeep. 14K miles is a new Jeep.......Did your insurance cover the repair? You should of been able to use your comprehensive unless you have a high deductable. If you have a $500 deductable, than using your insurance is really a waste of time, but if its $250 or less, than file a claim.