Bad week for car problems.

Post #270,449 by admin 10/16/06 10:39:35 AM Reply	Bad week for car problems. So I'm driving to get my hair cut yesterday. The Taurus' engine starts making an odd whining noise. Just as I'm thinking, "hmm, odd whining noise", the oil light comes on, then the check engine light, then the engine quits and I coast to the side of the road. Now I'm thinking, "hmm, odd engine quitting". Check the oil, pretty near empty. WTF? I walk the 1/2 mile back home, grab the van, buy some oil, put it in. The engine doesn't crank, but there's plenty of power. This doesn't look good. There's no oil in the drive, so I'm suspecting some kind of running leak. Call the tow truck. So, they're looking at it right now. The question is, what kind of damage can I expect has been done to the engine, and how much should I be expecting they're going to tell me it will cost? Something like this I can imagine there's a fair amount of room for taking advantage of someone. Regards, -scott anderson "Welcome to Rivendell, Mr. Anderson..."
Post #270,451 by Another Scott 10/16/06 10:57:39 AM Reply	Assuming it has a lot of miles on it... My guess is that the lack of oil, itself, didn't cause a major problem. There's likely been enough wear over time (and increased clearances) that it can tolerate being very low on oil. It won't be happy, of course. The question is, why was it low on oil? Since you don't see evidence of a leak, my guess is that your intake valve seals are leaking and you're burning the oil. Do you see a puff of blue smoke when you start the engine in the morning? If it won't turn over after this, and after it has a chance to cool down, well then it could be pretty serious. Meaning new crank bearings and things like that. I would think that the pistons and rings would probably be Ok (due to the increased clearance over time). Fingers crossed that it's something simple and cheap. Cheers, Scott.
Post #270,452 by admin 10/16/06 11:15:56 AM Reply	50K miles And I don't recall seeing oil smoke when it's started, but then again, I'm not usually paying that much attention because I'm in a hurry. :-) Thanks. Regards, -scott anderson "Welcome to Rivendell, Mr. Anderson..."
Post #270,475 by boxley 10/16/06 8:19:00 PM Reply	timing belt, sounds like cam isnt turning with the crank, dont touch until looked at or you may have pistons peaking out of the block. thanx, bill Any opinions expressed by me are mine alone, posted from my home computer, on my own time as a free american and do not reflect the opinions of any person or company that I have had professional relations with in the past 50 years. meep
Post #270,502 by folkert 10/16/06 11:41:34 PM Reply	nahitsiezedusedumotortime -- [link\|mailto:greg@gregfolkert.net\|greg], [link\|http://www.iwethey.org/ed_curry\|REMEMBER ED CURRY!] @ *i_wethey* Freedom is not FREE. Yeah, but 10s of Trillions of US Dollars? SELECT * FROM scog WHERE ethics > 0; 0 rows returned.
Post #270,504 by admin 10/16/06 11:48:04 PM Reply	The motor siezed up The mechanic is at a loss as to why. So it's either a) new motor time or b) new car time. Depending on the cost of a), then b). So far I have two votes for a used Audi A8. I'm looking for something that a family of 4 can actually take a weekend trip in, has all-wheel-drive or similar, and decent mileage. Regards, -scott anderson "Welcome to Rivendell, Mr. Anderson..."
Post #270,505 by tuberculosis 10/16/06 11:50:30 PM 8/21/07 5:42:35 AM Reply	50k Miles - should be under warranty - yes? Don't the car companies advertise 100k power train warranties? Engine is part of powertrain I'd think. But for sure, if replacing, buy something from abroad. [link\|http://www.blackbagops.net\|Black Bag Operations Log] [link\|http://www.objectiveclips.com\|Artificial Intelligence] [link\|http://www.badpage.info/seaside/html\|Scrutinizer] Edited by tuberculosis Aug. 21, 2007, 05:42:35 AM EDT Expand All History
Post #270,509 by folkert 10/16/06 11:57:40 PM 10/17/06 12:00:12 AM Reply	1999? Ha, that'd be wonderful. And a Ford at that? -- [link\|mailto:greg@gregfolkert.net\|greg], [link\|http://www.iwethey.org/ed_curry\|REMEMBER ED CURRY!] @ *i_wethey* Freedom is not FREE. Yeah, but 10s of Trillions of US Dollars? SELECT * FROM scog WHERE ethics > 0; 0 rows returned. Edited by folkert Oct. 17, 2006, 12:00:12 AM EDT Expand All History
Post #270,508 by crazy 10/16/06 11:57:31 PM Reply	12 cylinder? [link\|http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.audiworld.com/news/03/112503/a8l_60_1l.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.audiworld.com/news/03/112503/content.shtml&h=600&w=800&sz=77&hl=en&start=1&tbnid=w3rO3MjFmHVeFM:&tbnh=107&tbnw=143&prev=/images%3Fq%3DAudi%2BA8%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26safe%3Doff%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DN\|http://images.google...official%26sa%3DN]
Post #270,510 by folkert 10/16/06 11:59:12 PM Reply	Oh, baby! Don't I wish too. Schmooth! -- [link\|mailto:greg@gregfolkert.net\|greg], [link\|http://www.iwethey.org/ed_curry\|REMEMBER ED CURRY!] @ *i_wethey* Freedom is not FREE. Yeah, but 10s of Trillions of US Dollars? SELECT * FROM scog WHERE ethics > 0; 0 rows returned.
Post #270,517 by tuberculosis 10/17/06 2:28:58 AM 8/21/07 5:42:44 AM Reply	He said decent mileage [link\|http://www.blackbagops.net\|Black Bag Operations Log] [link\|http://www.objectiveclips.com\|Artificial Intelligence] [link\|http://www.badpage.info/seaside/html\|Scrutinizer] Edited by tuberculosis Aug. 21, 2007, 05:42:44 AM EDT Expand All History
Post #270,512 by Another Scott 10/17/06 12:10:39 AM Reply	Nice car, but... You're aware that (much?) of the body on the A8 is aluminum? Meaning if you ever need bodywork, it'll be very expensive. Maybe look into a [link\|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Phaeton\|VW Phaeton]. They're basically a Bentley with a different motor. They haven't sold well in the US, so you might find one cheap(ish). ;-) Luck! Cheers, Scott.
Post #270,518 by pwhysall 10/17/06 2:44:38 AM Reply	Don't crash, then. At least rust won't be an issue... I've also been whispering about big old S-class Mercs to adminscott, but he rightly points out that in snowy Michigan, AWD is a definite plus. The ultimate in the luxobarge-that's-depreciated-down-to-peanuts is probably the Lexus LS430 - these things have a fridge on the options list, ffs. And they go for both halves of bugger-all with full service histories. Plus you get that creamy Lexus quality and reliability. I recall a story about a bloke whose 430 got snowed in in Switzerland and spent the winter encased in ice. Did it start first time in the spring? I think it did, sir, I think it did. The Phaeton is, in a few years, going to be the ultimate steal. I think it's likely that this \ufffd60K+ car will dip to sub-\ufffd10K levels, at which point it'll be a shoe-in. Just don't get the diesel. It's rubbish. Peter [link\|http://www.no2id.net/\|Don't Let The Terrorists Win] [link\|http://www.kuro5hin.org\|There is no K5 Cabal] [link\|http://guildenstern.dyndns.org\|Home] Use P2P for legitimate purposes! [link\|http://kevan.org/brain.cgi?pwhysall\|A better terminal emulator]
Post #270,524 by admin 10/17/06 8:24:43 AM Reply	Re: Nice car, but... Aluminum is good in the wonderful salt flats of Michigan. And any bodywork I might need should be covered by insurance. Which is one thing I need to check; I imagine it's not cheap for a car like that. I'm also looking at Subarus. :-) Regards, -scott anderson "Welcome to Rivendell, Mr. Anderson..."
Post #270,535 by Another Scott 10/17/06 9:59:00 AM Reply	I hope they're better than in the mid-90s. My SIL had a Subaru in Ithaca and in Cleveland. It rusted very badly and was basically a worthless rattle trap in a few years. She still loved it though. Ah, cars. Can't live with 'em, can't shoot 'em. Happy hunting. :-) Cheers, Scott.
Post #270,538 by folkert 10/17/06 10:55:08 AM Reply	How long ago? until about 1991 or 1992 when they changed body construction and painting methods... this was true. Although you could basically drive the body right of the pre 1992 models, and then still keep driving them anyway. -- [link\|mailto:greg@gregfolkert.net\|greg], [link\|http://www.iwethey.org/ed_curry\|REMEMBER ED CURRY!] @ *i_wethey* Freedom is not FREE. Yeah, but 10s of Trillions of US Dollars? SELECT * FROM scog WHERE ethics > 0; 0 rows returned.
Post #270,542 by Another Scott 10/17/06 12:13:04 PM Reply	I honestly don't know. It probably was a mid-late 1980s model. I would expect that they're much better now. Cheers, Scott.
Post #270,540 by admin 10/17/06 11:49:21 AM Reply	My father-in-law has had newer ones No problems, loves them. Regards, -scott anderson "Welcome to Rivendell, Mr. Anderson..."
Post #270,522 by boxley 10/17/06 8:03:04 AM Reply	have any stock car tracks nearby? Try the pits on a weekend, you might find someone with access to a junkyard and knowledge to do it cheap. For a motor issue on an older vehicle thats always my first stop. These guys are always on the prowl for engine parts, a few off the book dollars. thanx, bill Any opinions expressed by me are mine alone, posted from my home computer, on my own time as a free american and do not reflect the opinions of any person or company that I have had professional relations with in the past 50 years. meep
Post #270,545 by tuberculosis 10/17/06 12:23:09 PM 8/21/07 5:43:16 AM Reply	He lives in Detroit - gearheads everywhere! [link\|http://www.blackbagops.net\|Black Bag Operations Log] [link\|http://www.objectiveclips.com\|Artificial Intelligence] [link\|http://www.badpage.info/seaside/html\|Scrutinizer] Edited by tuberculosis Aug. 21, 2007, 05:43:16 AM EDT Expand All History
Post #270,547 by admin 10/17/06 12:27:28 PM 10/17/06 12:35:57 PM Reply	Engine seized. First quote to replace it, remanufactured engine, $3800. The bluebook is only $4500. :-P I could go to a junkyard and get a cheaper engine with a warranty, but the warranty basically just covers the engine, not the labor. The labor is half the cost of a replacement. Regards, -scott anderson "Welcome to Rivendell, Mr. Anderson..." Edited by admin Oct. 17, 2006, 12:35:57 PM EDT Expand All History
Post #270,550 by Another Scott 10/17/06 12:53:21 PM Reply	Ouch. :-(
Post #270,579 by Ashton 10/17/06 4:30:33 PM Reply	One advantage of Nipponese cars - is Japan's anal emissions policy: you must rebuild/replace your engine at ~60K Km. As result - many fine engines with 35-40 K mi. reach US market for $350-500ish depending on model, seller, the weather. (First person hearsay re my particular model is: of perhaps a dozen reported such swaps, over the years - no one has gotten a lemon.) Fortunately my 5-cyl is well-established as a 250-300K Mi runner, with just normal maintenance. But I'd do the JDM swap sans augenblick, if it came to the nasty improbable. fwiw
Post #270,615 by static 10/17/06 9:55:36 PM Reply	My father did that with his old Mazda 323 panelvan. I don't remember what was wrong with the original engine other than it was just worn out. But it has a much younger Mazda 323 engine in it now and just keeps going. Wade. "Insert crowbar. Apply force."
Post #270,800 by Nightowl 10/19/06 2:06:16 AM 10/19/06 2:10:09 AM Reply	My Plymouth did that in 1996. Well, or something similar. It sprung a sudden huge oil leak (stupid me didn't notice because I was in my "depression" at the time, and then threw a rod. (I'm not sure if threw a rod and seized are interchangeable, but they said both things when it happened at the mechanics). A friend replaced my entire engine for $1,500 but he did it very cheaply. I hope you make the best decision, either another engine or a new car. In an ironic twist too, Admin, I was also planning to get my hair cut the next day.... car was in the shop from Saturday to today, so I still haven't gotten my haircut yet! ;) It's odd that you started this thread, one of the things going on with us is car issues also. Started with John's 2002 Grand AM GT, had a small coolant leak. Small coolant leak turns out to be a BAD BAD thing, because it's the Lower Intake Gasket that is leaking. Turns out the coolant is burning itself off on the hot engine, hence we didn't notice the leak much. However, if the gasket fails or the leak gets much worse, the coolant will leak into the oil chamber and well... goodbye engine. Quote was $900+ to fix it, (I don't remember the rest of the dollars and cents), and we about flipped! This would be two cars dying in my car's lifetime that John's owned! Didn't have the $900.00 right now, hoping to secure it by 1st of November, praying the car will make it till then. They told us to watch for milky looking oil, and check the oil every 3 days or so. I'm still boggled by the whole thing. To make matters worse, my car started making horrid grinding noises when stopping. Took it in the same day after they checked out his, and left it. Needed front brake shoes to the tune of $139.00 or so. I understand one car but both at the same time? Ack! Anyway, we're hoping to get the Grand AM repaired and not suddenly be finding ourselves in the new car market. Best part is the mechanic assures us the new gasket is a better design than the old dealer designed one. Just praying the car holds together that long.... Brenda "When you take charge of your life, there is no longer need to ask permission of other people or society at large. When you ask permission, you give someone veto power over your life." -- By Geoffrey F. Abert ************************** "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind, don't matter - and those who matter, don't mind." -- By Dr. Seuss ******************************* "Sometimes it takes a whole lot more strength to walk away than to stand there and fight." -- By the character of John Abbott: said on Young & Restless on 5/19/06 ******************************* Edited by Nightowl Oct. 19, 2006, 02:10:09 AM EDT Expand All History

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