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If the car was working fine before you took it to Midas, then the problem is not any specific part (thermostat, and so on), but whoever the Midas mechanics did to it. Yes, it may end-up being a thermostat and the like, but when Midas handed the car back to you it was supposed to be in the condition it was when you handed it to them.
It could be the thermostat, or an airlock, or low antifreeze, and so forth. reading what you have written on your last post, it sounds like there was an airlock (air somewhere). Check the antifreeze level in both the radiator, and the recovery container when the motor is cool.
Yes, that's what the mechanic said yesterday ( when I took my car in) I had air in the hose, causing the car to send a signal saying its overheating, also causing the gauge to increase to the red mark. ( or something). My car worked perfectly before my flush. I'm taking my car back to midas tomorrow, or I just might go to a chevy dealership.
Here's the big issue, you have an iron block but aluminum heads. If the engine overheated at all, the head gaskets are toast. Once these gaskets let go, you'll be either replacing the car or the engine. You need an attorney and Midas needs to give you a full coverage warranty on the engine. Failure of either means you better start saving your dollars cause a new car is in your future.
When you change the coolant some air will be trapped inside the system and needs to be purged before the car will cool properly. Some cars have a bleeder at the highest point in the system and you open it while adding coolant and you leave it open until no more bubbles come out. Hondas, for one, are that way, and even a very small amount of air will make them overheat in a very short period of time.
I suspect that they didn't bleed your system correctly but it has now worked it out by itself. Sometimes a car will pump that air out on it's own over time, through the normal venting process via the recovery tank.
Midas may be ok for replacing mufflers, but I wouldn't trust them to do anything more on a car.
I beleive the law in Michigan says they have to give you the old parts they replaced. They probably won't now, but if it is still a law it's a good one.
Have documentation every time you went there with the problem written up on a repair order; don't keep going back without that. Keep them responsible. If you go somewhere else then that lets them off the hook.
As some other people have noted, a number of engines have very specific procedures that must be followed when draining and refilling the coolant. Some even have a big warning label under the hood to alert you that improper refill of the cooling system may result in motor damage.
Also, flushing the cooling system (especially if it has not been done for a long time previously) can break loose crud that can gum up thermostats, and block radiators/heater cores. My wife has a Jeep that she bought used, no clue if anyone ever flushed the cooling system before- I flushed it...and ended up replacing the radiator because it got plugged with so much crap.
If you drove it with the temp red-lined, and the motor is now smoking, there could be some serious damage. Have it checked out...somewhere else. I would never [again] go to either of the two big "M" places, for anything, not even a muffler.
You don't know that they ruined the engine. Don't jump to conclusions.
You hopped on this thread only to say that?
Any advice for the OP? Any diagnosis regarding what's likely going on - or problems he/she may be facing?
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