Comments on: A new definition for “sick”

By: PCD

PCD — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 17:39:44 +0000

ST,

I’m not up on the Neon engine. Is that a 2.2L 4 banger? In any case, it is possible that Chrysler HAD to redesign the timing belt tensioner assembly due to many failures over time. I’m not saying this is the case, but may be.

I’d have to patrol the Neon clubs to find out. The engine in my TBird is no longer made, but there are engineering changes all the time. Fel-Pro has redesigned the gaskets to this engine several times to address chronic failures.

If I ever get the money, I’m building this engine from scratch and getting a built transmission for it.

You have to think things over when you own an “old” car.

By: 2hotel9

2hotel9 — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 13:22:27 +0000

Sis, I feel your pain! Our 4Runner just had a major mechanical right before Christmas and we had to get another vehicle. Found a good deal on a 2007 Jeep Liberty, used with 23,000 miles from in house rental at the dealership. Wiped out the savings, but we bought it outright, no payments.

Old Smoky is a ‘96 and has 174,000 miles, with only $200 we can keep running it for me to work from. It will not be doing the long interstate trips anymore. Going to keep running it local. Sometimes no matter how well you maintain, shat happens.

By: Tom TB

Tom TB — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 10:14:08 +0000

ST, I spent a large part of my life working as an auto mechanic, first at a Jeep dealership, then self-employed, then public sector (Port Authority of NY&NJ). Where did you take your car? Everywhere I worked we were so busy that if someone just needed simple electrical work done, we weren’t looking for a more complicated job.

By: Mwalimu Daudi

Mwalimu Daudi — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 07:24:36 +0000

ST: My wife hates football, but our son loves basketball. He started tossing balls through lamps like they were basketball hoops, so we got him a small basketball hoop of his own to avoid any more lamp breakage.

And he once managed to turn on our computer by starting up the UPS, switching on the power strip, opened Microsoft Word when Windows XP started, and was having a ball typing when we found him. Don’t ask me how he managed it! Now the computer room is baby-gated, but what technological aptitude!

He is wide awake right now – at 1:19 AM CST. Toddlers don’t know sleeptime – only playtime. He is sitting with meui hm bvbv vxytt hhb,m,yk and just typed a little message to you.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 05:38:27 +0000

I just had my timing belt replaced not too long ago – $330. Different cars have different specs as to when to replace that (my 1999 Pathfinder was 105,000 miles).

By: Sister Toldjah

Sister Toldjah — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 04:19:42 +0000

That’s the thing, though, steve – I’ve babied that car, which is why it’s been as good to me as it has. Not one time has anyone I’ve ever taken my car to suggested I had any problems with the radiator or timing belt or torque struts (which were broken) or anything like that.

I usually follow up on most of the recommendations that are made when I do the regular oil changes, tune ups, maintenance checks (I think I missed one of the 30,000 mile checks but made up for it later), etc – maybe not right at the time they are recommended, but over time. I made some bad mistakes with my first car (not taking care of it) and did not want to repeat those mistakes with my last two.

The car has just seen it’s better days. I need it to have another good year, though, at least.

And give yourself some credit – you know a lot about cars, it sounds like

MD: Is little MD a Dallas fan?

GWR: After all I went through today, I’m seriously considering it Every once in a while I’m reminded that I need a better half, and today was one of those days.

By: steveegg

steveegg — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 03:45:05 +0000

I like how the mechanics rename stuff like “engine mounts” every so often so that they can get away with charging more and confusing everybody .

I know, I know, they’re not your father’s engine mounts because they also contain rubber to isolate the engine vibrations from the body, but unless they’re actually broken or rusted through, they didn’t need replacing.

As for the maintenance, I’m talking about much of the stuff that they say to do every 30,000 and 60,000 miles, not just the oil and the plugs and the tire rotations.

By: Mwalimu Daudi

Mwalimu Daudi — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 03:07:55 +0000

I need to do one of two things (or both) in the near future: Take a Mechanics 101 class, and/or find me a husband to do this stuff

My son might be able to help you on both fronts (the mechanical and husband), since the ladies love him and he loves cars.

However, since he just turned two years old you might have to wait a bit….

By: Tango

Tango — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 02:41:04 +0000

Glad your baby is well again, mistress. And that your dad was there to help evaluate things…

By: Great White Rat

Great White Rat — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 02:32:26 +0000

I need to do one of two things (or both) in the near future: Take a Mechanics 101 class, and/or find me a husband to do this stuff

Are you interviewing, ST? And I don’t mean for a Mechanics instructor…

By: Sister Toldjah

Sister Toldjah — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 02:10:43 +0000

I’m looking at the receipt now – they replaced the upper and lower engine torque strut(s) (this was in additon to the other stuff they did). The tensioner bearing is the item that would have cost me $600 for the “kit.” I declined that and told them to just use the existing one.

As I mentioned earlier, I’ve had the car for seven years, and this is the first major repair I’ve had to have done. I’ve been good about the maintenance on it (oil changes, tune ups, etc) – and expected I’d have to have some stuff done to it sooner or later, I just didn’t expect it to hit me all at once. The car is just old and needed some updates, I guess. I take care of my baby – trust me

By: steveegg

steveegg — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 01:28:52 +0000

Doubtful it’s a torque converter; that’s part of an automatic transmission (and another reason why I tend to stick with manuals). I suspect that it’s a belt tensioner based on what it cost.

By: steveegg

steveegg — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 01:27:08 +0000

All I can say is proper maintenance tends to prevent the sticker-shock repair bills (and yes, I do speak from experience). Wish I could say I was mechanically-inclined, but I’m lucky if I don’t burn myself when I change the oil.

By: Proof

Proof — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 01:24:37 +0000

torque converter, perhaps?

By: Sister Toldjah

Sister Toldjah — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 01:04:10 +0000

Thanks for the tips, ya’ll – just checking in real quick before I have to step out for a few again.

The issue wasn’t just the timing belt, it was related to the radiator and coolant (?) and also something called a “torque”(?). That’s why it costed so much. Even without the timing belt and the torque stuff, it still woulda cost me around $600 just for the coolant/radiator issue, which was the main issue I wanted dealt with (that was what I was smelling when I would turn off the car).

My dad had been telling me to have my timing belt checked for a few months now so I was cool with having to replace it, because he told me that if the timing belt broke it’d be a huge problem. But the other stuff (esp. the “updated” part) is what bothered me. Dad came to my rescue and gave the mechanic a grilling, but in the end I still had to pay up. Dad thinks I didn’t need the torque stuff done at all (I hope I’m getting the terminology right) which added roughly $200 with the parts and labor.

I need to do one of two things (or both) in the near future: Take a Mechanics 101 class, and/or find me a husband to do this stuff