coolant leak- screwed by mechanic? Help!

I have a 98 3.1 V6. I've had a coolant leak for a few months. Someone suggested it might be the intake manifold gasket. I called up a mechanic to get an estimate, then brought it in and told them I had a coolant leak that needed fixed. That cost $450. I took it home and the leak was still there. Brought it back and they said it was the heater hose coupler. That cost $66. Brought it home and it's still leaking. Took it back a third time - they said it was the radiator. By now I'm obviously a tad upset. Then the mechanic admits that he never even checked to see if it was the int. man. gasket before he replaced it because he figured if I'd asked for an estimate on it, and it's a common problem, he shouldn't be responsible to check. I talked to the owner about it and he wouldn't budge. Charged only parts on the radiator, but no refund or anything on the int. man. gasket.

Am I just ignorant, or are they just trying to cover their butts? Well, as if that wasn't all frustrating enough, I just got it home, layed out some new cardboard (I'm skeptical by now) and guess what? It's leaking just the same as it always has - same amount, dripping off of the back of the oil pan. (If it really was the radiator, would it drip that much farther back?) I'm about to go crazy - thought you guys sounded knowledgeable, so I'd like some advice.

No, the radiator would not drip that far back. Look at the hoses connecting to your heater core, that may be where the prob. is.

either that or look at the weep hole in the bottom of your water pump, see if that is leaking. And call the better business beaureau about being charged for work that didn't need to be done, they might be able to put some leverage on the garage that did the work. And you might want to find a new mechanic....

I wouldn't use them or recommend them to anyone, if a mechanic or any skilled person just blindly goes on the advice of someone supposedly less knowledgeable the skilled person is no more skilled than the knowledgeless person.

As far as what the shop owes to you, a refund for everything that didn't fix the problem. It doesn't matter if it needed to be fixed, you never asked them to fix that particular problem. Call the BBB and file a complaint see where it goes, if necessary take the shop to court.