Seriously, my car sucks. So does this garage.

[Deeko]

Alright....my low coolant light came on like 2 months ago, so I put some more in. Last week, it came back on again, so I checked under the hood, and I had a cracked radiator. This was on Sunday...Monday, in a blizzard, I searched around to find a garage that could do it in one day. I found a little shop in Reading that could do it for me, and they did it for a pretty good price. Good, everything is great. Later that day, I'm on my way back to Philly....the car starts overheating. Stalls. I let it cool down, and drove the last few miles to the garage. I already don't trust this garage, they've been shady in the past. They say I need new radiator hoses, a coolant flush, coolant housing, coolant temp sensor, and thermostat gasket, and recommend power steering flush, transmission fluid flush, and a fuel system tune up. All together.....$900. Since this is a '94 Grand Am, and I already put a new engine in it, needless to say I declined that. My roommate's uncle owns a garage in Jersey...I'm gonna have him take a look and give me an estimate...but yea....such fun.

 

[NutBucket]

Geez. At the rate you're overheating that motor you're gonna need another one soon. Well, wait, its probably a cast iron block with aluminum heads so maybe not.

 

[Deeko]

If I had to put a SECOND new motor in, I'd cry.

 

[xSauronx]

you put a new motor in a 94 grandam?

i have a 97 grand am and wouldnt dare think of doing such a thing....that car isnt worth the trouble; as it is, im trying to sell it... it has a cd player (the only redeeming factor as far as i can tell)

 

[nan0bug]

Get a chiltons manual and a relatively cheap tool set, and get friendly with the owners of a local auto parts store.

 

[Deeko]

Originally posted by: xSauronx
you put a new motor in a 94 grandam?

i have a 97 grand am and wouldnt dare think of doing such a thing....that car isnt worth the trouble; as it is, im trying to sell it... it has a cd player (the only redeeming factor as far as i can tell)

Well, the original estimate was $1500, bad, but livable. The total repair, plus ensuing inspection, cost me $3095. Needless to say, I was pissed.

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: Deeko

Originally posted by: xSauronx
you put a new motor in a 94 grandam?

i have a 97 grand am and wouldnt dare think of doing such a thing....that car isnt worth the trouble; as it is, im trying to sell it... it has a cd player (the only redeeming factor as far as i can tell)

Well, the original estimate was $1500, bad, but livable. The total repair, plus ensuing inspection, cost me $3095. Needless to say, I was pissed.

At that point I would have cut my losses and bought another car.

 

[Deeko]

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: Deeko

Originally posted by: xSauronx
you put a new motor in a 94 grandam?

i have a 97 grand am and wouldnt dare think of doing such a thing....that car isnt worth the trouble; as it is, im trying to sell it... it has a cd player (the only redeeming factor as far as i can tell)

Well, the original estimate was $1500, bad, but livable. The total repair, plus ensuing inspection, cost me $3095. Needless to say, I was pissed.

At that point I would have cut my losses and bought another car.

The repair was done, I had to pay it. (very) luckily my parents offered to loan me the 3 G's, and I don't have to pay it till I get out of college. If I'd known how much it would be, I never would have done it. Now, this $900 repair now, if you add the $200 I paid for the radiator, thats another $1100, I am definitely thinking I should just not bother at this point. Most people agree with me, except for my parents. What's the problem? I'm 19 and don't have enough credit history to get a good car loan. So if I choose to get another car, I need them to cosign. *sigh* ahh being young.

 

[Ryan]

When my radiator broke, I took it out myself, disconnected the 4 hoses that were going to it (coolant hoses to engine and power steering fluid hoses that also ran through the radiator), brought the radiator to a shop that was able to fix it (if the damage is unrepairable, get one from a junk yard), brought it home, and then reconnected the hoses. I then filled it up with a 50/50 solution of coolant and water, and went on my way.

It was just held in by two screws, and that was it.

 

[NutBucket]

If the estimate was $1500 and you authorized that did you have to authorize the extra $1500 it ended up costing you? If not screw the shop and walk away.

 

[nan0bug]

You're getting ripped man. The coolant system on a car is one of the easiest things to work on. Trust me, find a friend with a garage and some tools and pick up a chiltons manual. You could do all the work yourself over a weekend.

 

[Ryan]

Originally posted by: Deeko

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: Deeko

Originally posted by: xSauronx
you put a new motor in a 94 grandam?

i have a 97 grand am and wouldnt dare think of doing such a thing....that car isnt worth the trouble; as it is, im trying to sell it... it has a cd player (the only redeeming factor as far as i can tell)

Well, the original estimate was $1500, bad, but livable. The total repair, plus ensuing inspection, cost me $3095. Needless to say, I was pissed.

At that point I would have cut my losses and bought another car.

The repair was done, I had to pay it. (very) luckily my parents offered to loan me the 3 G's, and I don't have to pay it till I get out of college. If I'd known how much it would be, I never would have done it. Now, this $900 repair now, if you add the $200 I paid for the radiator, thats another $1100, I am definitely thinking I should just not bother at this point. Most people agree with me, except for my parents. What's the problem? I'm 19 and don't have enough credit history to get a good car loan. So if I choose to get another car, I need them to cosign. *sigh* ahh being young.

Actually, that could have been prevented, I know: http://subscriber.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=38&threadid=1226667&FTVAR_MSGDBTABLE=

 

[Deeko]

Originally posted by: rbloedow

Originally posted by: Deeko

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: Deeko

Originally posted by: xSauronx
you put a new motor in a 94 grandam?

i have a 97 grand am and wouldnt dare think of doing such a thing....that car isnt worth the trouble; as it is, im trying to sell it... it has a cd player (the only redeeming factor as far as i can tell)

Well, the original estimate was $1500, bad, but livable. The total repair, plus ensuing inspection, cost me $3095. Needless to say, I was pissed.

At that point I would have cut my losses and bought another car.

The repair was done, I had to pay it. (very) luckily my parents offered to loan me the 3 G's, and I don't have to pay it till I get out of college. If I'd known how much it would be, I never would have done it. Now, this $900 repair now, if you add the $200 I paid for the radiator, thats another $1100, I am definitely thinking I should just not bother at this point. Most people agree with me, except for my parents. What's the problem? I'm 19 and don't have enough credit history to get a good car loan. So if I choose to get another car, I need them to cosign. *sigh* ahh being young.

Actually, that could have been prevented, I know: http://subscriber.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=38&threadid=1226667&FTVAR_MSGDBTABLE=

If you want me to find you're credit score, don't bother, its not that I have no credit, i got a credit card the day I turned 18, I've built a decent amount of credit for someone my age, but that doesn't mean I'm going to get a good loan on a car.

If the estimate was $1500 and you authorized that did you have to authorize the extra $1500 it ended up costing you? If not screw the shop and walk away.

The original estimate was $1500, it ended up taking longer and whatnot, I was in no position to authorize it(was under my Dad's name at the time), so i assumed he did, the engine repair cost $2000, it was the inspection afterwards that cost another $1000.

 

[GasX]

You can have it done cheap
You can have it done right
you can have it done now.

You get (maybe) two.

 

[Ryan]

Originally posted by: Deeko

Originally posted by: rbloedow

Originally posted by: Deeko

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: Deeko

Originally posted by: xSauronx
you put a new motor in a 94 grandam?

i have a 97 grand am and wouldnt dare think of doing such a thing....that car isnt worth the trouble; as it is, im trying to sell it... it has a cd player (the only redeeming factor as far as i can tell)

Well, the original estimate was $1500, bad, but livable. The total repair, plus ensuing inspection, cost me $3095. Needless to say, I was pissed.

At that point I would have cut my losses and bought another car.

The repair was done, I had to pay it. (very) luckily my parents offered to loan me the 3 G's, and I don't have to pay it till I get out of college. If I'd known how much it would be, I never would have done it. Now, this $900 repair now, if you add the $200 I paid for the radiator, thats another $1100, I am definitely thinking I should just not bother at this point. Most people agree with me, except for my parents. What's the problem? I'm 19 and don't have enough credit history to get a good car loan. So if I choose to get another car, I need them to cosign. *sigh* ahh being young.

Actually, that could have been prevented, I know: http://subscriber.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=38&threadid=1226667&FTVAR_MSGDBTABLE=

If you want me to find you're credit score, don't bother, its not that I have no credit, i got a credit card the day I turned 18, I've built a decent amount of credit for someone my age, but that doesn't mean I'm going to get a good loan on a car.

I you would have read the page, you would have found out differently. I've done no more than you to build my credit, and my score it pretty high for a credti n00b. If you have been paying it on time and don't have a HUGE balance, you can and will get approved for a loan.

 

[Deeko]

Originally posted by: rbloedow

Originally posted by: Deeko

Originally posted by: rbloedow

Originally posted by: Deeko

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: Deeko

Originally posted by: xSauronx
you put a new motor in a 94 grandam?

i have a 97 grand am and wouldnt dare think of doing such a thing....that car isnt worth the trouble; as it is, im trying to sell it... it has a cd player (the only redeeming factor as far as i can tell)

Well, the original estimate was $1500, bad, but livable. The total repair, plus ensuing inspection, cost me $3095. Needless to say, I was pissed.

At that point I would have cut my losses and bought another car.

The repair was done, I had to pay it. (very) luckily my parents offered to loan me the 3 G's, and I don't have to pay it till I get out of college. If I'd known how much it would be, I never would have done it. Now, this $900 repair now, if you add the $200 I paid for the radiator, thats another $1100, I am definitely thinking I should just not bother at this point. Most people agree with me, except for my parents. What's the problem? I'm 19 and don't have enough credit history to get a good car loan. So if I choose to get another car, I need them to cosign. *sigh* ahh being young.

Actually, that could have been prevented, I know: http://subscriber.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=38&threadid=1226667&FTVAR_MSGDBTABLE=

If you want me to find you're credit score, don't bother, its not that I have no credit, i got a credit card the day I turned 18, I've built a decent amount of credit for someone my age, but that doesn't mean I'm going to get a good loan on a car.

I you would have read the page, you would have found out differently. I've done no more than you to build my credit, and my score it pretty high for a credti n00b. If you have been paying it on time and don't have a HUGE balance, you can and will get approved for a loan.

I didn't say I won't get approved. I said a good loan. Meaning a good interest rate. i don't care what I've done for my credit in the past 2 years, my parents is still better.

 

[Ryan]

Originally posted by: Deeko

Originally posted by: rbloedow

Originally posted by: Deeko

Originally posted by: rbloedow

Originally posted by: Deeko

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: Deeko

Originally posted by: xSauronx
you put a new motor in a 94 grandam?

i have a 97 grand am and wouldnt dare think of doing such a thing....that car isnt worth the trouble; as it is, im trying to sell it... it has a cd player (the only redeeming factor as far as i can tell)

Well, the original estimate was $1500, bad, but livable. The total repair, plus ensuing inspection, cost me $3095. Needless to say, I was pissed.

At that point I would have cut my losses and bought another car.

The repair was done, I had to pay it. (very) luckily my parents offered to loan me the 3 G's, and I don't have to pay it till I get out of college. If I'd known how much it would be, I never would have done it. Now, this $900 repair now, if you add the $200 I paid for the radiator, thats another $1100, I am definitely thinking I should just not bother at this point. Most people agree with me, except for my parents. What's the problem? I'm 19 and don't have enough credit history to get a good car loan. So if I choose to get another car, I need them to cosign. *sigh* ahh being young.

Actually, that could have been prevented, I know: http://subscriber.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=38&threadid=1226667&FTVAR_MSGDBTABLE=

If you want me to find you're credit score, don't bother, its not that I have no credit, i got a credit card the day I turned 18, I've built a decent amount of credit for someone my age, but that doesn't mean I'm going to get a good loan on a car.

I you would have read the page, you would have found out differently. I've done no more than you to build my credit, and my score it pretty high for a credti n00b. If you have been paying it on time and don't have a HUGE balance, you can and will get approved for a loan.

I didn't say I won't get approved. I said a good loan. Meaning a good interest rate. i don't care what I've done for my credit in the past 2 years, my parents is still better.

I got 3.9% two days ago through USAA. Anything is possible, try not to think so negatively about your credit

 

[Black88GTA]

Originally posted by: Deeko
They say I need new radiator hoses, a coolant flush, coolant housing, coolant temp sensor, and thermostat gasket, and recommend power steering flush, transmission fluid flush, and a fuel system tune up.

Rad. Hoses: Have nothing to do with an overheating condition, i.e. won't help if replaced. Unless they're clogged, which should be very easy to figure out. They may need replacement (depending on age/mileage), but probably not. Even if they do, you can probably get both for less than $15 at an auto parts place.

Coolant flush: May help, but probably should have been done when radiator was changed.

Coolant housing: All I can think of that this may describe is a thermostat housing. This part usually never clogs, and if it was broken, coolant would be spraying everywhere.

Coolant temp sensor: has NOTHING TO DO with an overheating condition. It may report the temp wrong if it's bad, but has no effect on the actual cooling.

Thermostat gasket: Must be replaced every time the thermostat housing is taken off. A $1.25 part.

PS flush, Trans flush, fuel sys. tune up: Depending on the last time this was done, may not be a bad idea, but again, has NOTHING to do with the cooling system.


This shop is trying to fsck you without lube. Get the car out of there now, and take it to your roommate's uncle's shop.

 

[Deeko]

Yea it is already out. The hoses were leaking a year and a half ago, I highly doubt they need it again. Now, there IS coolant spraying everywhere inside, so maybe it is the thermostat housing. Even this place with their 82.50/hr labor was only charging 240 for that section of the repair.