Hello Scotty and community, 

Not really a question just  real life story to share with everyone that happened to me earlier today (07/29/21).  

Man it seems like I have been having quite the hard luck with any vehicles I have been driving in my household lately. Earlier today I was driving my mom's 1998 Lexus GS 300 sedan (~192,000 miles) (3.0L Inline 6 VVT-i) to go pick up my film cameras from repair, I noticed smoke coming out from the car after a minute I exited the I-5 motorway Northbound Los Angeles on Katella Ave towards the Disneyland District. I saw a little bit of smoke and didn't think much of it at first, then I saw more smoke and realized "Oh sh** the car is overheating!" and turned on the heater to full blast (thanks for that advice Scotty) and found a spot to immediately pull over. I opened the hood and propped it up with a granny cane and immediately saw and knew what was wrong. Red coolant was leaking and spewing out from everywhere with smoke and I saw a long big crack on a portion of the radiator. I knew then that the readiator needs replacing. I ended up calling my neighborhood mechanic to let him know what happened and I will have the car towed over to him. Then I called AAA insurance to get a towtruck over, waited like 10-15 minute before the towtruck arrived and I carpooled with the towtruck driver back to my neighborhood area while giving him directions on how to get to my mechanic. Towtruck driver gave me a ride home (after leaving the Lexus there) since I was close nearby and I drove my mom's 2004 Mercedes Benz E320 (109,000 miles) back to the mechanic. My mechanic took a look and aggreed with me that it's time for a new replacement radiator. He helped me order a Nippon Denso OEM radiator to arrive next day by tomorrow 11 am. Mechanic added some water for me so I can limp drive the Lexus back home nearby.

Later in the day I bought Valvoline Asian specific red colored coolant at o'reilly's for $20 after trying to buy OEM coolant at lexus of Westminster dealer but they closed at 5:30 right as I pulled into there at the same time which frustrated me that they closed right when I arrived. Mechanic quoted me $270 for part (radiator) and labor, excluding coolant which I bought. I later drove back to mechanic before he closed up for the day to drop off the coolant jug I just bought. When I came home I realize I forgot to buy a new radiator cap which mechanic suggested to me, so I bought online from Longo Lexus dealer a new radiator cap with expedited next day shipping at an extra cost. 

I will be waking up early the following morning to drive the Lexus back to mechanic. Since this is my mom's car, I hope my mom better reimburse me for all the expense I had to cover for her car today ha ha ha!!! 🤣 

Just last friday my 1998 Honda Accord sputtered and stalled out on me while on my way to work. 

Is it just a coincidence or just bad luck that two hoopties I am driving happen to break down within a week apart from each other? Funny deja-vu I guess?