Radiator hose detached

stan_paula_182896
Fri, 04 Nov 2022 15:39:18 +0000
Maintenance/Repairs

Had to have repair work done after rear-ending someone. As the body shop got into the repair they decided the radiator needed to be replaced. 3 months/3000 miles after the repair, the bottom radiator hose disconnected while cruising at 75 mph on the interstate. As a result of the loss of all radiator fluid, the engine was fried. The mechanic where the car was towed found the hose had not been clamped in place. The body shop claims that if it was totally their fault, it would have failed sooner and that anything could have happened over the 3 months. My question is whether it is possible that the hose could have been shoved on tightly enough, without clamping, to take 3 months to work loose? I have photos of the car afterwards which clearly show the detached hose with the clamp a couple inches down from where it should have been. I’m trying to determine how strong my position is when negotiating a settlement with the body shop.

14 posts - 10 participants