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What is the best alternative now?
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gbsk
Novice
Apr 17, 2017, 7:40 AM
Post #1 of 4
(1505 views)
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What is the best alternative now?
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Here is where I am at now. The car has about 200,000 miles on it. I don't know the exact mount since the mechanic still has it. I got it a year and a half ago from a 20 something YO girl. I think she took good care off it mechanically. She had all the receipts on the mechanical work she had done to it. She bought it from a college professor. I do not know how he took care of it but it looks like he might have had it in his yard and kids were throwing stuff nearby and occasionally hit the car because it has some dings in weird places and I had to remove some paint in the tailgate storage area in the back of the car. I don't know if the timing belt was ever replaced .
On paying the guy, he originally said it would need a head gasket and said it would cost $1500. I said I could not afford that. He started to tinker with the car and said it needed fan working by the radiator so he found a wire and hooked it up and said that worked. Then he said that it needed a water pump, timing belt, belt tensioner,, etc. and said it would be $320 for parts. I said okay and he worked on it. Then he said I needed new plugs after just putting in new ones and a new battery when the battery worked when I drove it in. Also, now a new ignition coil. He also said it needed a new cam sensor which he bought with his own money.
MY feeling is that I had the car in better working order when I brought it in than it is now. I don't think all of those parts should go bad all of a sudden. I should not owe him the rest of the money since he did not complete the job. He can take the part out that he bought and take it back. I am looking for a job now and finances are low so I cannot sink more money into the car unless I see some end when and how much it will take to get the car running. If I got the car back, how hard do you think it would be for me to take it apart and put a new head gasket in it and fix it? How feasible is this? Would it be better to junk it? I would take a big loss on it and probably would not be able to afford another car. My wife bought another car a year ago when I was not home and she took it to a mechanic and they said it also needs a new head gasket.and I think some other things It is a 1998 Subaru Outback. Any suggestions?
Thanks
GB
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kev2
Veteran
Apr 17, 2017, 8:04 AM
Post #2 of 4
(1500 views)
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Re: What is the best alternative now?
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First - the DIY* head gasket is not advisable.
It needs a head gasket or it does NOT - This is the major concern. You need to find this out.
That one issue will determine direction.
*unless you are a very capable DIYer with facilities, tools, experience, access to tech info ie timing marks AND be prepared for the additional parts to replace with a large repair.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Apr 17, 2017, 8:18 AM
Post #3 of 4
(1495 views)
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Re: What is the best alternative now?
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Why would you sink all that money into a car with a blown head gasket? In the end you still have a unusable car with a bad engine.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Apr 17, 2017, 8:28 AM
Post #4 of 4
(1489 views)
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Re: What is the best alternative now?
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I was going to say the same thing. Blown head gasket and lets do a tune up and timing belt instead? Probably some backyard bubba working on it.
I've been seeing this a lot. People have no money and want to fix their old car that needs lots of work. They resort to letting some noob work on it and end up paying more in the end than if they had a pro work on it. Just don't understand. Best thing for you is try and save up your money and prioritize. If that means going without a cell, riding a bike, shutting off cable/internet, finding another job, or eating peanut butter sandwiches, you got to do what you got to do.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
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