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Post by SylvreKat on Dec 24, 2014 10:01:14 GMT -5
Just wanted to post that my lovely big green wagon is going to be no more. His heads cracked, again, for the third time. I just don't have any more money to fix him. I don't have money now to buy a newer car, either. Not after the last couple repairs. Guess that's what loans and five years of debt is for.  And I was feeling so good about my life lately. My brother had asked what I wanted for Christmas, and my first thought was "Nothing" 'cause I already had everything I wanted. Not anymore. As usual, when my life looks good, then I get stomped on. Can someone at least explain why there's nasty beaters out there with many hundred-thousands of miles and still running, while my Taurie-car that I've taken good care of and kept maintained has cracked his heads three times? |
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Post by flyangler on Dec 24, 2014 11:38:09 GMT -5
Sorry for your car troubles Kat |
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Post by JR on Dec 24, 2014 11:45:57 GMT -5
Some times it's just the luck of the draw? Hard to explain, know people who drive a certain vehicle to the end of time and don't even change the oil and others like yourself that take care of things and have horrible luck.
Why don't you wait until Christmas is over and then look at your options. Good things happen to good people.
JR
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Post by wheelbender6 on Dec 24, 2014 13:50:28 GMT -5
Sorry about the Taurus. I have known people that can squeeze 200 thou miles from cars and over 300 thou miles from a truck. I have never been one of them.
Looks like the Taurus died on the same day as Joe Cocker.
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Post by scooter on Dec 25, 2014 7:27:37 GMT -5
I'm sorry you're having trouble, Kat. I could go on all day about how it's going to be okay, and compare horror stories, but it's all so cliche' and, at the end of the day, there's not much I can say that's going to fix it and take your sadness away so try to be strong and, who knows, before long something good may come along to right the wrong and put a brighter note in your beautiful song. Just remember that the struggle never ends, but you're never alone as long as you have friends.  |
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Post by kevinharrell on Dec 25, 2014 19:51:02 GMT -5
Sorry you are having problems with your car.
Have you thought of using a bunch of stop leak and just driving until the engine freezes? This may give you enough time to save up for a decent used car.
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Post by justbuggin2 on Dec 25, 2014 20:29:54 GMT -5
i work on cars all the time the ford 3.0 v6 motors are known to have trouble with the heads the only thing I can come up with it was a bad design when you had the heads done before did the mechanic have the rad flush with new water pump and thermostat I know it seems to be extreme to do all of that but it removes the possibility of the rad being clogged up and makes sure the coolant flows the best
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Post by SylvreKat on Dec 29, 2014 0:25:52 GMT -5
Thanks guys for all the support. I appreciate it, I really do.
kev', I haven't asked about stop-leak yet. I did ask my mechs if they knew someone who could steal my car. Or else drive him on the interstate and not move over when a merger doesn't want to yield. He said that's a pretty creative idea, but no, we're not seriously considering insurance fraud.
That's what bothered me the most. I rear-ended someone a few months ago, and turned down the $3200 State Farm offered for buy-out. 'Cause I believed my wagon was in good shape, and I love my wagon. So I could've had that money, plus the $2000 I paid to replace the substructure support that rusted out way faster than it should've, plus the $800-some I paid for something with the steering (which was whining terribly). $6000 could've bought me a real nice used car. Or else a pretty decent used car.
But coulda-shouda gets you nowhere except more depressed.
>'Kat
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Post by SylvreKat on Dec 29, 2014 0:31:20 GMT -5
buggin, it was actually the infamous 3.8.
Which makes me wonder if Jasper didn't bother to correct that very well-known flaw in Ford's design. Why would you just rebuild the same issue into your engines, rather than correct it? I would've bought the new-new engine for $5000 instead, back when they first cracked. But my then-mech assured me that Jasper's rebuilt engines really were as good as a new engine.
Little did we know that apparently no they're not.
As for all that other stuff, I have absolutely no idea what was done. I did get to see what my car looked with with no engine in him. That's a pretty freaky thing. But if there was something that should've been done along with installing the new rebuilt engine, I'm sure then-mech would've done it.
>'Kat
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Post by SylvreKat on Dec 29, 2014 0:52:38 GMT -5
And where I'm currently at--
I found a couple newer Taurii that I've test drove. They both drive like mine. Of course.
First is an 02, 137k miles, fully loaded, ABS, for $3750. Had my guys do the used car check out on it, and found about $1500 of big and minor issues. Big--valve cover gasket and tranny pan gasket both leak. There's a big bump on one tire where someone hit a curb or something (interesting that the strut for that wheel is new....). Those are the fix-now issues. Then the radio volume is hinky and jumps between loud and soft, the front bumper has paint runs/drips (so despite a clean Carfax, someone hit something), the headlights are badly scratched in a not-natural way, all three wiper blades are shot, the rear washer doesn't work, the rear window's struts are shot (but these the dealer said they would of course replace), and they recommend a coolant flush. Plus kbb says $3500 for dealer value. If I go for this one, I'll offer $2200 instead--kbb's $3500 minus the $1300 for the issues (I'm giving the dealer $200 off since he's going to fix the struts). I'll settle for $2500 or so. If I go this route.
Second is an 04, almost 59k miles, as basic as a Taurus can get except it has cruise and cd (as in, the visor mirrors have no covers or lights--who doesn't include vanity lights on a mid-size sedan/wagon?). $6000. I plan to go back up tom and bring it down for my mechs to go over, if they think it's a good deal. Interestingly, no one there noticed that one of the actual hinges holding the rear glass in is broken in two. How do you not notice this? Seriously?! Why am I finding the big issues with the rear glass on these cars? Bad pneumatics, broken hinge. Don't dealers look over their cars? Yes, "we will definitely fix that!" Oh you betcha! There is zero room to negotiate with this one. Plus I didn't think I was a luxury gal, but I just really did not like the complete utter absence of extras.
Third option is screw used, and take advantage of the end-of-year "we don't wanna pay taxes on any more cars than we hafta" sales, and get a new wagon/hatchback for 0% interest/6 years. Except none I can afford will be as long as my Taurus in cargo space. Does anyone know about Nissan Versa, Honda Fit, or Ford Focus hatches?
Logic says buy new, my head says buy the newer with fewer miles, my irrational says buy the older with all the geegaws. And my heart says never mind the expense fix my car!! Why do girly-girls fall in love with things like their cars? Why can't I just see it as the car it is, rather than love it?
Any advice or thoughts from y'all would be VERY greatly appreciated!
>'Kat
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Post by SylvreKat on Dec 29, 2014 1:07:09 GMT -5
Oh, you will be impressed with me.
Besides finding the broken rear windows, I went into the bay after the check, while the car was still on the lifts. They pointed out the strut and I pointed out the peeling rust (but it's not frame, it's just the body under the passenger footwell). I felt rather mechanicky under there. I id'ed the exhaust pipe (starting to rust) to the muffler without help. And made sure the speed sensor is nowhere near the exhaust system like mine is (burned out maybe three times because the heat protection bakes then flakes off, then cooks the sensor--and with all that real estate available under the car, Ford really had to stick the speed sensor smack against the hot exhaust system? Can you say planned failure, boys'n'girls?)
It does feel good that the mechs under mech Dave (shop owner) respect me enough to let me into the back like that. Not that I understand what they tell me, but when they point it out on the car and explain then I get it better than standing in the front room being told it.
>'Kat
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Post by oldchopperguy on Dec 29, 2014 2:58:55 GMT -5
Kat,
Chin up! I've had several cars like that, where I took perfect care of them and they "died" all too young. Others have lasted 4-ever...
If your area is anything like around here, you definitely CAN get a good-running used car for little money! You have to really dig around, but there's always somebody with an "extra" car they need to sell, or, somebody got a relative's car when they died, and their present good car has to go... All sorts of possibilities like that if you can find them. Most of my neighbors have cars they got like that. My next door neighbor recently got a MINTY Honda Accord FREE when the owner got too old to pass her drivers license test... She didn't need the car anymore... AND, his son just got a NICE Jeep SUV for $900 simply because the right front fender was smashed. The owner just went and bought a new one, and sold the damaged one for $900... A new fender cost him $400 to install and paint. So... for $1,300 he has a $12,000 car!
First place I'd put the word out to is your church. Amazing how many church folks have extra cars they'll part with, sometimes even as a gift! A definite "bell-ringer"!
We're pullin' for ya!
Best wishes,
Leo in Texas
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Post by SylvreKat on Dec 29, 2014 23:07:49 GMT -5
So after asking y'alles' advice, I just jumped into the deep end of the car pool. First, Leo--what you said works fine, if you don't want a specific style of car (in my case, wagon/hatchback). If you do want something that specific, it gets a lot harder. Now then, I decided after comparing amenities that the Nissan wasn't the best choice. It really was as basic as a car can get nowadays. And for the same price, I could get a base Focus or Fit that comes with power windows plus some other niceties. I stopped in at my mech's before going back up north. They didn't think I should bother with the 04 wagon. I think the unfixed rear window hinge did it. They said that most of these private used dealers are pros at making bad things look good. One told me that's why he always looks for individuals selling. But when I asked if there weren't any honest used dealers, two of them told me to go up the street. Said that dealer brings in cars that his mech can't fix and has them fix the cars. And another recommended a second dealer just down from the first one as also being pretty good. Checked that one first, and after walking through their entire lot, and having not one salesman come offer help, I left. They did have three wagons of potential, but no prices on them (I HATE that--what are you hiding, dealers?) and no salesmen interested in selling. So went on to the first suggested dealer. They had a 2013 Ford Focus hatchback (which I think is the modern term for wagon). I checked the doors (locked), turned to get into my car, and here was a salesman coming towards me WITH NO COAT ON! He told me afterwards he was going to grab his coat, but decided I might not linger in the cold so came out without it. He told me about the car, and agreed I should come back to test drive it since it was completely frosted over. Told me to call ahead and he'll have it ready for me. I drove off, then thought I'd like to see how it starts after sitting frozen all night (if not longer) in 20 degree cold. So he started it up--instant on! No hesitation! Nice! Ended up test driving it. Drove really nicely, except for a dug-dug-DUG-DUG-DUG-dug-dug-dug.... that peaked between 20-30 mph. Figured that was the weird cvc-like tranny, since lots of reviews of the Versa complained about that. Took my Mom around the block, and she liked the ride, and could get in & out easy enough. Called and the dealer said it was fine to have my mech check it. They found the noise--right front tire has a flat spot. And the driver's door is just a bit askew (easy fix). It's missing its cargo cover, but that could've been an extra. Otherwise it's clean and the dealer didn't Armor-all any of it. And yes, I ended up buying it. I got almost the same financing as a new car. Plus for the same price as the base new, instead I have the top of the line. No cornering lights or picnic tray, sigh. But instead I have butt-warmers! I am pleased with the new car. Still sad about my old workhorse, though. I'm going to try selling him to work's former cleaning lady--she was hot to get my wagon those years ago when the tranny was shot. Said she knows folks who fix all her cars. So maybe they can fix bad heads (and btb, we don't know for sure they're cracked. My mech ran the chemical test which it failed, but stopped before confirming anything beyond leaking. But that plus cold heater plus lurch-chugging pretty much says cracked, even I know that much ) The used dealer said he knew wholesalers that he could contact and see about getting the best possible price for me, but they would just scrap my wagon then. I don't want to think of him just getting parted out and junked. I had made a promise to him, back when Obama first passed legislation to kill older cars, I promised mine when a truck with several Xed cars went by that I would never let that happen to him. I know, silly of me to feel I need to keep a promise to a car. But he's still a darn good car for someone who can replace the heads. New subframe, new steering thing, new front end. Only one spot of rust, in the bottom corner of the back door. Put in new heads or a whole new engine and maybe he'll last another 100k. I just won't be the one paying for that new engine this time. Thus ends the saga of finding a newer wagon. And the saga of the old wagon will be closing here too.  >'Kat |
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Post by rockynv on Jan 10, 2015 8:42:23 GMT -5
Jasper engines are really top notch however you do have to pay attention to the details when you install them especially on the condition of the cooling system and the hoses. Still wonder if you just didn't have an air pocket develop in the cooling system and blow the head gasket. Jasper engines usually come with a warranty, how long has it been? They will usually pay the labor to replace one of their engines that went south during the warranty period and may even still cover it if you did not have a coolant leak or plugged radiator. "JASPER warrants components against defects in our workmanship and material in accordance with the schedules and limitations outlined below. Repairs or replacement will be made at the JASPER factory within a reasonable time after notice and upon receipt of the goods deemed to be defective per the schedules and limitations of our written warranty. A warranty case number must be assigned and repair instructions provided prior to repair or replacement of goods. GASOLINE ENGINES: Short Blocks 6 Months or 8,000 Miles Parts + Labor^ Completes and Special Completes for Cars and Trucks 3 Years or 100,000 Miles Parts + Labor~†" See: www.jasperengines.com/index.phpYes you already bought a replacement however if Jasper will cover the failure it would add value to the sale of the old wagon. |
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Post by SylvreKat on Jan 10, 2015 16:48:37 GMT -5
rockynv I'm still betting my old mech--and the new one, for that matter when he replaced the head the second time--did it right. Both were/are thorough. I was going to call Jasper and complain, but my mech said that Ford had designed the 3.8L V6 with pretty much everything connected to the front head. Which is what cracked each time. So I figured wasn't much Jasper could've done unless they had redesigned the entire engine. But I suppose it won't hurt to call, except to waste some time Mon morn. I have zero hopes of them coming through. One, the engine was replaced around 2002, near as I can figure it. Two, when it cracked 20k miles later in 2005/6, it was ONE MONTH out of the three year warranty. I called four times going up the authority ladder, and was told every time "It's out of warranty too bad go away." Last guy told me that, and I answered, "Let's do some math a minute. The original Ford engine that every mechanic in the world knows cracks its head lasted 120k miles. Yours barely made 20k. See the problem I have with that math?" That's when he very grudgingly agreed to send out a new head--but emphasized they would most definitely NOT pay the labour. Period. "And now go away." So about 57k miles later, and the same bad math came up again. Sigh.  Math sux. >'Kat
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