As much as I hate cars I miss mine

[mindmaniac]

Friday on my way home from work I suddenly had a loss in engine power and there was a huge cloud a white smoke coming from my exhaust. Luckily I made it to my dads within a block to park my car at. It won't start now and the symptoms point to either a blown head gasket or a cracked engine block. I've got a motorcycle to take to work for now but I really miss my car, a 1997 Bonneville.

For the car people out here what do you think I should do?
1. Buy a newer car, my current one is paid for, but I only have $2,000 cash right now and I'm in college. I work year round but don't make too much around $12.00 and hour and work around 30 hours a week during the school year.
2. Replace head gasket if that is the problem.
3. Replace engine if it is a cracked engine block.

Mind you the car has 135,000 miles on it, but this is the first problem I've ever had with the car other that the regular replacing tires and buying a new battery at 120,000 miles.

 

[jlee]

A head gasket job is not going to be cheap, but it'll probably be cheaper than a new engine. It must be pretty bad if it won't even start, though..

 

[mindmaniac]

Originally posted by: CadetLee
A head gasket job is not going to be cheap, but it'll probably be cheaper than a new engine. It must be pretty bad if it won't even start, though..

It started right after I got it to my dads, but I think either way having antifreeze in the pistons would stop the engine from starting, but hey I'm no car expert just a college kid with no idea of how to change my own oil. All I know how to do is go online and look up the symptoms, the real experts are here.

 

[Heisenberg]

Originally posted by: mindmaniac
It started right after I got it to my dads, but I think either way having antifreeze in the pistons would stop the engine from starting, but hey I'm no car expert just a college kid with no idea of how to change my own oil. All I know how to do is go online and look up the symptoms, the real experts are here.

/falls off chair laughing

 

[jlee]

Originally posted by: mindmaniac

Originally posted by: CadetLee
A head gasket job is not going to be cheap, but it'll probably be cheaper than a new engine. It must be pretty bad if it won't even start, though..

It started right after I got it to my dads, but I think either way having antifreeze in the pistons would stop the engine from starting, but hey I'm no car expert just a college kid with no idea of how to change my own oil. All I know how to do is go online and look up the symptoms, the real experts are here.

Did the car overheat?

 

[mindmaniac]

Originally posted by: CadetLee

Originally posted by: mindmaniac

Originally posted by: CadetLee
A head gasket job is not going to be cheap, but it'll probably be cheaper than a new engine. It must be pretty bad if it won't even start, though..

It started right after I got it to my dads, but I think either way having antifreeze in the pistons would stop the engine from starting, but hey I'm no car expert just a college kid with no idea of how to change my own oil. All I know how to do is go online and look up the symptoms, the real experts are here.

Did the car overheat?

No, I only was going a few blocks. It was running at normal temp around 220 degrees.

 

[vshah]

Originally posted by: Heisenberg

Originally posted by: mindmaniac
It started right after I got it to my dads, but I think either way having antifreeze in the pistons would stop the engine from starting, but hey I'm no car expert just a college kid with no idea of how to change my own oil. All I know how to do is go online and look up the symptoms, the real experts are here.

/falls off chair laughing

there are some pretty knowledgeable car ppl here...
zenmervolt comes to mind

 

[radioouman]

Is your radiator empty?

 

[Heisenberg]

Originally posted by: vshah

Originally posted by: Heisenberg

Originally posted by: mindmaniac
It started right after I got it to my dads, but I think either way having antifreeze in the pistons would stop the engine from starting, but hey I'm no car expert just a college kid with no idea of how to change my own oil. All I know how to do is go online and look up the symptoms, the real experts are here.

/falls off chair laughing

there are some pretty knowledgeable car ppl here...
zenmervolt comes to mind

Yeah, there's a few like ZV and Roger that really know their stuff. But the other 99% don't.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Heisenberg

Originally posted by: vshah

Originally posted by: Heisenberg

Originally posted by: mindmaniac
It started right after I got it to my dads, but I think either way having antifreeze in the pistons would stop the engine from starting, but hey I'm no car expert just a college kid with no idea of how to change my own oil. All I know how to do is go online and look up the symptoms, the real experts are here.

/falls off chair laughing

there are some pretty knowledgeable car ppl here...
zenmervolt comes to mind

Yeah, there's a few like ZV and Roger that really know their stuff. But the other 99% don't.

I don't think Roger posts here anymore. He registered a new account under the name Oger but I almost never see him online.

 

[Heisenberg]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
I don't think Roger posts here anymore. He registered a new account under the name Oger but I almost never see him online.

Yeah, he used to post under Oger but I haven't seen him for a while. It's too bad.

 

[alent1234]

Originally posted by: mindmaniac
Friday on my way home from work I suddenly had a loss in engine power and there was a huge cloud a white smoke coming from my exhaust. Luckily I made it to my dads within a block to park my car at. It won't start now and the symptoms point to either a blown head gasket or a cracked engine block. I've got a motorcycle to take to work for now but I really miss my car, a 1997 Bonneville.

For the car people out here what do you think I should do?
1. Buy a newer car, my current one is paid for, but I only have $2,000 cash right now and I'm in college. I work year round but don't make too much around $12.00 and hour and work around 30 hours a week during the school year.
2. Replace head gasket if that is the problem.
3. Replace engine if it is a cracked engine block.

Mind you the car has 135,000 miles on it, but this is the first problem I've ever had with the car other that the regular replacing tires and buying a new battery at 120,000 miles.

buy a new or used civic and stop sinking money into a lemon

 

[mindmaniac]

Originally posted by: radioouman
Is your radiator empty?

Once it started smoking I checked the coolant tank and it was empty. After I refilled it and started the car up the white smoke came out like Uncle Buck's car so I shut it off quick. Didn't check the radiator but I'm assume it was emptying out like the tank was.

 

[MaxFusion16]

your cylinders are most likely flooded with coolant, hence no start. The white smoke is just steam from coolant burning in the combustion chamber.

your car needs to be towed to a shop and have the coolant flushed, head gasket replaced, checked for cracks and warpage.

won't be cheap, probably $800 or so depending on the shop.

good luck

 

[thomsbrain]

i think i'd rather have an $800 late 80's Toyota Camry than put $800 into that car, and that's just assuming he doesn't kick in any extra cash when he buys the replacement.

 

[newParadigm]

or since hes got 200, take it and buy something decent. OR, add anoter $2000 in the form of teh car loan, and buy an early 90s Miata.

~new