94 3.o engine.had intermittent starting problem.took to shop.paid $ 140.00 for diagnostic service.shop said battery bad.also radiator hoses bad they took off lower hose.they wanted $750.00 for battery and hoses.i said no thanks.they hooked hoses back up and I left.now the radiator upper hose gets hot.lower radiator hose and right side of radiator barely gets warm.engine overheats like there is a flow problem.what could they have done to cause this problem.

 

Welcome to the forum

They probably didn't do anything wrong, could just have air in the system or thermostat has failed

To remove lower hose the cooling system has to be drained completely
And when refilling air can get trapped in the engine side
When engine is cold remove rad cap and remove one heater hose at the firewall
Add coolant to rad until hose and heater core both have coolant coming out, put hose back on
The air is out of engine side

Leave rad cap off and start the engine
Might get a burp of coolant out rad cap opening but that's it
If coolant continues to overflow you have a cracked head or blown head gasket
Let engine idle for 2 min, and make sure there are no bubbles in rad cap opening and no overflow
Put cap back on
Feel both heater hoses, both should be warming up, one slightly cooler than the other
Upper rad hose should be cold, thermostat closed
After about 5 to 8 min, the heater hoses should be hot
Upper rad hose should be warming up, thermostat starting to open, temp gauge on dash just below 1/2
If upper hose temp doesn't match heater hose temp after 5-8min the thermostat is stuck close

Go into cab and turn heat on HIGH, feel the air coming out, it should be hot, and stay hot, cooler air means air in the engine cooling system or clogged heater core

Shut off engine once warmed up
Try to spin the cooling fan, should be hard to spin
Remove the 2 bolts holding fan shroud to radiator and pull it back
Run you hand over radiator fins
Should be warmer the closer you get to upper hose and cooler the closer you get to lower hose
But what you are feeling for are cold areas, blocked passages in radiator, should be nice even heat on the fins no cold spots

 

Sounds like you have air in the system. Mine did this when I changed out the radiator. I ended up parking on a slope with the cab facing up hill. Then took a funnel and poured coolant in the radiator with the motor running. as the level drops, keep adding more. Do this for a while and you will notice it will "burp" the air out. It won't get all of the air out, but it will get enough of it out. Rest will work it's way out of the system over time.