The Jeep is still not fixed.  The garage is still a mess.  Eric has my car again today.  The radiator seemed like such a simple fix…but apparently not!

Last night after work, Eric took the hose/connection he needed to match to a Napa Auto Parts store (recommended by another Napa from Monday).  He got back about 5:00 pm…no luck.  They took one look at it and said they couldn’t help.

So about 5:30, we drove down to Jeg’s Performance on Broad Street…he sympathized, even brainstormed possible places we could go (up on Sawmill or Home Depot), but no luck.  The connection was non-standard, and therefore, hard to match.

Next, we tried Home Depot (it was right down the road). We looked in their fittings section.  A sales guy tried very graciously to help.  No luck.  Turns out the Chinese-made radiator came with metric fittings.  No one carries those.  His suggestion: go to a plumbing supply place out by the airport.  His question: What kind of car is this?!?  (um…a Jeep).  He was expecting some old foreign thing, I guess.

Before we left last night, Eric had boxed up the radiator and brought it along.  We stopped at Advance Auto Parts.  Eric explained what he needed.  They had one radiator in stock.  They guy let him look at it before purchase.  It had lots of fittings for a variety of needs.  Perfect.  We bought it. 

Then we drove across the street to AutoZone and returned the other one.  The guy seemed confused that it wouldn’t work (so were we!), but he did take it back.  We drove home. 

Where we stand now:  The new radiator will work.  The new fittings will work.  But Eric needs more hose before he can finish the project.  He will be stopping on his way home today to pick some up.  The Jeep should be fixed by tomorrow.

Sheesh!