I have a Chrysler LHS, 1993, with 48000 miles (shocking I know, my father-in-law owned it until 2003, put 12000 miles on it). I was driving it last night and it went kablooey. Quick check by mechanic diagnosed a blown water pump. Unfortunately, I was going 65 MPH at the time, so when the engine locked up it shredded the timing belt.
Considering what a 15 year old grandpa car might be worth, regardless of the mileage, any idea what price would make sense to get it fixed vs. burning it and getting a new car?
I know this post will catch mostly abuse, which is part of the fun, but a few useful suggestions would be appreciated too.
Even if it costs you $500 it's still worth it considering that car should still have a few years left on it.
FWIW, the douchebags at Honda tried to charge me about $600 for a complete timing belt service that included new belts a new water pump, etc.
shtein, if it only costs $600, I'll do that. I was thinking a much higher price tag.
It's kinda nice not having a note.
I'm not too familiar with Chrysler's, but timing belts/chains can be expensive depending upon where they are located. Some of the front wheel drive cars, namely imports, this is a costly repair. But in the Mustangs, at least the older ones, it was relatively easy.
A few questions though;
1. When you blew the water pump did you keep on driving? I ask because if you drove it too long, long enough for it to seize up on you then a timing belt may be the least of your worries. It could have internal issues with the rings, valves and/or pistons. You could have cracked the block, etc.
2. Where is the belt located on the car; front or side? If it is in the front they would have to remove all accessories to access the area.
3. I would estimate that you would be looking at at least $1000. Getting it fixed would be an option because of the mileage but I worry about the internal parts of the engine due to the overheating (if it did overheat to the point of seizing the engine)
How are the tires, brakes, transmission?
If all those things are in good shape then keep driving it, anything's better then a note.
PPinDC is a bonafide gearhead.
I'm a pretender.
Does that car have what's called an interference engine?
read here: http://www.leemyles.com/articles/interference-engines-and-timing-belts.html
what do you mean the engine "locked up?" if you siezed the engine, you're done
I was thinking along Dio's line. I don't think Chrysler's engines are interference types. I had a Voyager that lost a camshaft, and it suffered no ill effects. Later it threw a timing belt...again with no problems. The belt replacement totaled a couple hundred bucks.
But like Dio said...if the engine siezed because of the water pump failure, you're looking at a total engine replacement. Which is slightly less than a total car replacement.
according to this graphic, it depends which Chrysler engine we're talking about..
I think the LHS has a 3.5 six, which is listed here as not interference
(http://z.about.com/d/autorepair/1/5/m/3/-/-/timing-belt-chrysler.jpg)
link to article through which I found this chart...there are similar charts for many other engines/makes (http://autorepair.about.com/od/glossary/ss/timin-belt-info.htm)
It is a 3.5L six. As mentioned, I don't know shtein. All I know, I was going 65-70 MPH, and the engine just stopped. The Cruise control light (of all things) came on, but the engine provided no power. Never saw the heat dummy light come on, and I (obviously) pulled over right away.
I think the original inspection was pretty cursory, so there certainly could be underlying damage. Phreak, I'm far too stupid to know A) what the timing belt looks like and B) where it is. I can change the wiper fluid, but that's about it.
Sounds like you know about as much about cars as I do. I'd say get your wallet out.
Alright well, the engine is not interference then, which is good. It also sounds like the engine lost power, rather than locked up. Which is also good. Perhaps it can be fixed without spending too much money.
Get a second opinion before you spend a big chunk of change, even if that means paying 150 bucks to have it towed somewhere else.
Mechanics are highly skilled; the guys I wrench with work in service departments that charge 99 bucks an hour...be prepared as Geo said for a big labor tab even if the parts aren't terribly expensive. If you're lucky, all the shtein that needs to be removed and replaced is right up front and easy to reach...if not, you might have a motor that could be repaired easily for inexpensive parts, but the labor cost to do it becomes prohibitive because it would take so much time...
Good luck, let us know what happens I'm curious
Good find with that about.com page, Dio.
about.com turns out to be a pretty damn useful site for tons of things
MMH - do you have a regular mechanic? If not I wouldn't take your car to any random dick or joe, ask friends and family who they use. sheisty mechanics have ways to find other shtein thats wrong with your car and convince you its the end of the world if you don't get it fixed. Not to mention add unnecessary costs associated with what you're getting fixed, so get a price on paper and make sure thats it. Also, I helped change a pump and timing belt out before, if you're trying to save a buck and know someone who works on cars and has access to a lift you might look at buying the parts from a junkyard or even new then making it worth their wild to fix it for you.
make is worth their wild sexy thing!!
my air filter is getting sorta dirty. its a basic toyota air filter. do you clean them, or do you just replace factory air filters as they get dirty? i have no idea other than my 4 wheeler has a k&n and i clean it and lube it up and put it back in. real easy.
:paranoid
Replace it, they're cheap
What about after market air filters? Is it worth buying one?
Also need new tires for my truck. I had BF Goodrich Rugged Trails on my Tacoma when I got it. Probably looking to get the same. Anyone go through costco for their tires? They have some benefits to it. I might also look into trying to find slightly used pair, calling around to like NTB. Costco quoted them at 145.99 including installation. They balance them and rotate for life, but they don't do alignment. Why would I run to costco to balance and rotate and then have to run to some other place to get them aligned? Curious to see if anyone got tires through Costco
Totally off topic, but if you are ever going to break down, Mexico is the place man!
Wifey and I went for a two week Car-camping trip in Mexico this winter, as is our custom, in my '87 toyota Pickup.
Long story short, the car broke down on two separate occasions.
Two tows - one of 30 miles, on dirt roads and one of 50 miles on highwy, plus two stops at the repar shop - Total cost = $180.
That's value!
so i should drive to mexico to get tires?
If your tires make it to mexico than yuo don't need new ones.
Quote from: mussa on March 12, 2008, 12:13:03 PM
What about after market air filters? Is it worth buying one?
That reminds me: I have an aftermarket cleaner on my cold air induction tube, and the thing sits inside my one fender well. Because of the size of the thing, though, I'll need to reach up from the wheel well to change the thing. I'm not looking forward to having to wrestle with that damned thing.
Quote from: mussa on March 12, 2008, 12:13:03 PM
What about after market air filters? Is it worth buying one?
Also need new tires for my truck. I had BF Goodrich Rugged Trails on my Tacoma when I got it. Probably looking to get the same. Anyone go through costco for their tires? They have some benefits to it. I might also look into trying to find slightly used pair, calling around to like NTB. Costco quoted them at 145.99 including installation. They balance them and rotate for life, but they don't do alignment. Why would I run to costco to balance and rotate and then have to run to some other place to get them aligned? Curious to see if anyone got tires through Costco
First thing I do when I get a new vehicle is buy a K&N air filter. Stock air filters are crap...it's an easy place to cut costs at the factory. Ditch that paper thing and get yourself a K&N. And since you're already used to the cleaning/oiling routine from the maintenance on the ATV, you're golden.
Regarding tires, we bought our last set of tires from Costco and take full advantage of their rotate/balance feature. Balancing isn't really needed more than when you first put the tire on the wheel, unless you throw a weight, so really all they're doing is rotating the wheels, but hey better them than me. I don't have a car lift. Regarding alignment, that's not something you should have to do often...certainly not as often as you rotate the wheels, and furthermore, rotating the wheels does not affect alignment. The nice thing about the Costco arrangement is that she can get the rotation done while she shops.
Haven't gotten the quote yet, but we decided to ditch the old beast. Donate it to a local charity.
Besides, Abbott cut deals with all the US car companies, so a new one won't be so brutal.
I'll drag it on with the mechanic, just to find out what happened though.
farging mechanics. I told them on THREE separate occassions I needed a quote before work could start, and now they're all pissed off because they ordered the parts. What. The. farg. So now I gotta drive all the way the farg back there to figure this shtein out. Who the farg gives blank check authority to a mechanic? Criminals.
Quote from: MadMarchHare on March 13, 2008, 05:24:51 AM
farging mechanics. I told them on THREE separate occassions I needed a quote before work could start, and now they're all pissed off because they ordered the parts. What. The. farg. So now I gotta drive all the way the farg back there to figure this shtein out. Who the farg gives blank check authority to a mechanic? Criminals.
They're pissed off? To damn bad for them - they shouldn't even have to be told.
Quote from: Diomedes on March 12, 2008, 06:35:30 PM
Quote from: mussa on March 12, 2008, 12:13:03 PM
What about after market air filters? Is it worth buying one?
Also need new tires for my truck. I had BF Goodrich Rugged Trails on my Tacoma when I got it. Probably looking to get the same. Anyone go through costco for their tires? They have some benefits to it. I might also look into trying to find slightly used pair, calling around to like NTB. Costco quoted them at 145.99 including installation. They balance them and rotate for life, but they don't do alignment. Why would I run to costco to balance and rotate and then have to run to some other place to get them aligned? Curious to see if anyone got tires through Costco
First thing I do when I get a new vehicle is buy a K&N air filter. Stock air filters are crap...it's an easy place to cut costs at the factory. Ditch that paper thing and get yourself a K&N. And since you're already used to the cleaning/oiling routine from the maintenance on the ATV, you're golden.
Regarding tires, we bought our last set of tires from Costco and take full advantage of their rotate/balance feature. Balancing isn't really needed more than when you first put the tire on the wheel, unless you throw a weight, so really all they're doing is rotating the wheels, but hey better them than me. I don't have a car lift. Regarding alignment, that's not something you should have to do often...certainly not as often as you rotate the wheels, and furthermore, rotating the wheels does not affect alignment. The nice thing about the Costco arrangement is that she can get the rotation done while she shops.
Yea a buddy explained the whole alignment thing to me last night. Costco seems like the way to go. I'm sick of taking my truck someplace to do simple shtein like oil, fluids, air filter, brake pads. I want to do it myself. My dads got a big garage and equipment to do it. I enjoy working and learning about the quad, why not my truck. Any ideas how many miles you should clean the air filter? Clean it with every oil change? Atv's don't really go by miles...more like hours...then its still a estimated guess. I clean it every month when riding in summer due to amount of dust and riding it every weekend and at least once a week.
MMH,
Did you declare it dead? This might not be to pricey, or even too hard to do yourself on the cheap. Let me know what you did. Hell, let me know if you are going to donate the beast, I'll give you the cost of the repair for the title.