my car is slowly falling apart

[edprush]

1991 Chevrolet Caprice Classic

I've only have an estimate for the 2 new tires so far....

• needs to new front tires...........Cost: $180

• The driver's side window doesn't go down (the gears or track inside the door must be broken)...........Cost:

• The driver's seat belt latch doesn't latch (the seat belt release button seems to have lost its 'spring)..........Cost:

• There's a leak in the radiator (it's been leaking for 2+ years but the engne has never overheated or frozen--I think the leak is high enough in the radiator that it doesn't lose a significant amount of antifreeze/coolant)..........Cost:

• the air conditioner/heater blower fan only operates on "high" (could a fuse be involved here for the lower blower speeds not working)?.............Cost:

 

[Wapp]

The radiator leak could just be the hose. That's simple to fix, you could do it yourself for like $10. First you need to find out where the leak is at. I would think the seatbelt latch and window should be fairly easy/cheap.

 

[radioouman]

Originally posted by: edprush
1991 Chevrolet Caprice Classic

I've only have an estimate for the 2 new tires so far....

• needs to new front tires...........Cost: $180

• The driver's side window doesn't go down (the gears or track inside the door must be broken)...........Cost: Probably need a new regulator and new track. Check around.

• The driver's seat belt latch doesn't latch (the seat belt release button seems to have lost its 'spring)..........Cost: Junkyard for $5.

• There's a leak in the radiator (it's been leaking for 2+ years but the engne has never overheated or frozen--I think the leak is high enough in the radiator that it doesn't lose a significant amount of antifreeze/coolant)..........Cost: $100 for a radiator + $10 for coolant

• the air conditioner/heater blower fan only operates on "high" (could a fuse be involved here for the lower blower speeds not working)?.............Cost: Likely a bad resistor, but I'm not familiar with this car. Maybe a new fan switch.. $20 from a junkyard.

 

[jhayx7]

This is going to be cheap!

Go to tirerack.com and look for tires, they should be much cheaper than $90 a piece.

The window, look on a car forum for instructions on how to take the panel apart (it is very easy). If it is out of track, just put it back in. If not, it should be fairly cheap to fix.

Seatbelt issues are covered for the lifetime of the car by the dealer (or at least my Honda is). Call your dealer and ask them.

Go to a hardware store and buy some JB Weld. Patch the radiator with it. Since the hole is high up, it will be ok. My dad did the same thing on his Toyota about 100,000 miles ago

Not sure about the fan, could be a number of things.

 

[homestarmy]

That sure is a lot for only two new tires. Methinks you need to shop elsewhere. What size tires? I'll give you a real estimate.

And your car has outlived its lifespan. The cost to fix is more than the car is worth, really.

If you're going to keep it, go to a junkyard and find the seatbelt latch. You don't want to get yourself killed. This should be easily replacable. It shouldn't even cost that much at a stealership.

Is the window electric? If not, take it apart and see what's wrong exactly. You might be able to fix it in five minutes once you've gotten the door apart.

Just replace the radiator. A new one will probably cost you about $100. Maybe another $100 to put it in.

Not sure about the last one with the fan, my girlfriend's car doesn't work on 1, but does work on 2, 3, and 4. I think these tend to be mechanical. You're not pushing a button, your flipping a switch, right?

 

[FoBoT]

replace the seat belt yourself, go to a junk yard, find the same car and unbolt the seat belt and pay for it. take it home and change it out

leave the window, who cares if it doesn't roll down on a beater car?

if you don't have to put more than one jug of coolant in per month, then that leak isn't big enough to fix on a beater car

 

[j00fek]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
replace the seat belt yourself, go to a junk yard, find the same car and unbolt the seat belt and pay for it. take it home and change it out

leave the window, who cares if it doesn't roll down on a beater car?

if you don't have to put more than one jug of coolant in per month, then that leak isn't big enough to fix on a beater car

:thumbsup:

 

[edprush]

Originally posted by: homestarmy
That sure is a lot for only two new tires. Methinks you need to shop elsewhere. What size tires? I'll give you a real estimate.

They are P215/75R15 with white lettering Tiger Paws

Originally posted by: homestarmy



Is the window electric? If not, take it apart and see what's wrong exactly. You might be able to fix it in five minutes once you've gotten the door apart.

They are electric windows.

Originally posted by: homestarmy

Just replace the radiator. A new one will probably cost you about $100. Maybe another $100 to put it in.

I think the radiator quote from over a year ago was over $375

Originally posted by: homestarmy


Not sure about the last one with the fan, my girlfriend's car doesn't work on 1, but does work on 2, 3, and 4. I think these tend to be mechanical. You're not pushing a button, your flipping a switch, right?

I'm turing a knob/switch for each of the 3 blower levels.

 

[edprush]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
replace the seat belt yourself, go to a junk yard, find the same car and unbolt the seat belt and pay for it. take it home and change it out

leave the window, who cares if it doesn't roll down on a beater car?

if you don't have to put more than one jug of coolant in per month, then that leak isn't big enough to fix on a beater car

I will probably leave the window as is.

The car requires about 1/3 gallon of coolant within one day of when I fill it. But if I wait two months it still only requires 1/3 gallon of coolant.

 

[edprush]

It just hit me that I could take one of the working seat belt latches from the backseat (that doesn't get used) and exchange that with the one that doesn't work.

 

[randal]

Originally posted by: edprush
It just hit me that I could take one of the working seat belt latches from the backseat (that doesn't get used) and exchange that with the one that doesn't work.

Bingo. Your first example of being thrifty - learn it, live it, love it, and you will become wealthy simply because you make do.

 

[rhino56]

none of it sounds serious at all.
i would find where the leak is exactly and report back.

seat belt = free
switch for heater = next to the cost of a blender on curb yet now you have 10 speeds+ turbo lol
window= are they power windows? il bet i could still fix it around the cost of 2.00

your tires are way overpriced, is this for nascar?

 

[thedarkwolf]

At least on the older cars the fan switch runs through a resistor pack. High just sends full voltage to the fan and doesn't run through the pack. 2nd highest runs through one resistor, next slowest runs through two, 3rd slowest runs through three, etc. If one resistor fries none of the speeds but high will work. Generally the resistor pack is easy to fix and mounted under the dash somewhere around the fan blower motor.

 

[edprush]

Originally posted by: randal

Originally posted by: edprush
It just hit me that I could take one of the working seat belt latches from the backseat (that doesn't get used) and exchange that with the one that doesn't work.

Bingo. Your first example of being thrifty - learn it, live it, love it, and you will become wealthy simply because you make do.

The only way I'll become wealthy is by winning the lottery. I guess I better start buying tickets.

 

[edprush]

Originally posted by: thedarkwolf
At least on the older cars the fan switch runs through a resistor pack. High just sends full voltage to the fan and doesn't run through the pack. 2nd highest runs through one resistor, next slowest runs through two, 3rd slowest runs through three, etc. If one resistor fries none of the speeds but high will work. Generally the resistor pack is easy to fix and mounted under the dash somewhere around the fan blower motor.

crimonies man! there are some smart folks here.