low and behold I get problems. Now I know what you're thinking..."Midas?" well, they have a decent price on synthetic oil changes and theres a guy there I really trust and have worked with for a while on my previous car. Unfortunately, he wasn't there and I really needed the oil changed so went with the other guy. He tells me "need new air filter and serpentine belt..." yeah yeah ok no biggie "...also got a leek somewheres..." well duh, it's a rr... that's it. so I drive off, stop at a bagel shop, come back to rangie... won't start.

Turns out I need a new battery. Ok, picked that up the next day after a jump start. Now I'm driving along and the heater isn't blowing hot air...wtf?? do mechanics purposely do stuff to rr's to create business? It seems all to coincidental, truck running fine, take it in for routine service, all of a sudden battery and heat problems.

to be specific, the heater will only blow cool or very luke warm air until I drive and it will start to heat up. But just now I was driving and it didn't even heat up at all. It's been verrrrrry cold here. thoughts?

 

sounds like it could be low on coolant. It could be the thermostat, but then the gauge would stay on cold for a long time.

 

The heat issue does sound like coolant, they usually check that when you are there so maybe they left the cap off and it is leaking somewhere but you should see the fluid somewhere. I do not see how they can mess up the battery while you are there.

I do feel that some shops will create problems to have you come back but not so quickly as soon as you leave.

 

yep, coolant definitely helped. But I find it difficult to tell the level of the coolant. I put some water in then put some coolant in and I can't tell if I'm at the low level line or what? Any tips on gauging the level?

 

Not sure but my heat is cycling on and off. It always waits on auto until the engine warms up, but now it has to be mid-range to warm to work at all, and still cycling. Thinking a heater sensor somewhere, let me know what you find out, I'm searching now...

 

When the vehicle is level and cool use a flashlight to see the shadow of the coolant level in the resevoir. If it is a little too full it will not cause a major issue, just make sure there is enough in it. check it again after filling and driving for a little bit.