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Did my mom secretly hit a curb hard?


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samanthafox
New User

Mar 12, 2015, 5:58 PM

Post #1 of 10 (1562 views)
Did my mom secretly hit a curb hard? Sign In

My husband bought my mom a used car from a private owner last year. It's a 1998 Ford Taurus, was in good condition, with receipts for oil changes over the years, only 95k miles on it. (was owned by an older couple that maintained it). We've already had to replace a water pump for her last year, and now she has a new list of repairs that suddenly cropped up:

-she said power steering went out
-steering column seals
-right front tensioner
-left tire arm
-replace 2 front tires
-power steering pump and pulley
-alignment

Wouldn't all these issues have been prevalent last fall when the mechanics fixed her water pump? Do these sound like someone (like maybe my brother..) hit something?

She apparently has found a few estimates all over $1,000 (which she doesn't have). And is pussyfooting around acting like she doesn't expect us to 'fix' her problems again because she cannot save money. We will pay for it if they are legitimate problems that could not have been prevented in the year that she has owned it.

Any input would be helpful. We live in the Frisco TX area, and will most likely take it to ( a local ) Garage if we help her.

Thanks,
Sam


(edited out name of a shop/garage to just a local garage)

(This post was edited by Tom Greenleaf on Mar 12, 2015, 10:44 PM)


Hammer Time
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Mar 12, 2015, 6:28 PM

Post #2 of 10 (1551 views)
Re: Did my mom secretly hit a curb hard? Sign In

My first question would be, who gave her that estimate? Was is one of the chain stores?



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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.



Discretesignals
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Mar 12, 2015, 6:33 PM

Post #3 of 10 (1549 views)
Re: Did my mom secretly hit a curb hard? Sign In

Is this a 3.0L OHV or DOHC?

Never heard of steering column seals. What is going on with the column? Shifter tube loose?

Right front tensioner? never heard of that unless they mean the accessory drive belt tensioner.

left tire arm? no clue. Not something on that vehicle, unless it is a nickname they made up for a control arm.

Why does this tire arm need replacing? What happened to the power steering pump? Is the pulley damaged?





Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.


Double J
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Mar 12, 2015, 6:36 PM

Post #4 of 10 (1545 views)
Re: Did my mom secretly hit a curb hard? Sign In

 
left tire arm?

Guessing, maybe they mean Tie Rod?


Discretesignals
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Mar 12, 2015, 6:58 PM

Post #5 of 10 (1541 views)
Re: Did my mom secretly hit a curb hard? Sign In

Maybe it is "left arm tired"..from writing that nonsense on the estimate.





Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.

(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Mar 12, 2015, 6:58 PM)


Double J
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Mar 12, 2015, 7:17 PM

Post #6 of 10 (1536 views)
Re: Did my mom secretly hit a curb hard? Sign In

LOL...Good one, You're killing me...


samanthafox
New User

Mar 12, 2015, 8:36 PM

Post #7 of 10 (1528 views)
Re: Did my mom secretly hit a curb hard? Sign In

I have zero answers for your questions. I am just going off of a text, that very well could've been from an intoxicated entitled mother. This stuff happens all the time, so I am automatically suspicious that they caused the issue themselves, and now we know whoever gave them quotes doesn't know what they are talking about. First she told me the power steering went out and the rack and pinion need to be replaced, then they took it somewhere and conjured up this list of crap. If my mom grows a pair and comes to me honestly to ask for help instead of complain, we will take it to a trusted mechanic to see what's really wrong. I was just wondering if the stuff I listed, or the power steering failing, could be caused by hitting a curb?


Tom Greenleaf
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Mar 12, 2015, 11:18 PM

Post #8 of 10 (1521 views)
Re: Did my mom secretly hit a curb hard? Sign In

Sam,
I edited out the name of a shop in town as this isn't a place for that.


Top post read your own writing of what it supposedly needs and you wondered why a mechanic/tech didn't notice other things with the car overall when doing a water pump job.


That smacks of "touch a car for a light bulb and own anything that ever might happen to it forever" type reasoning is going on. NO, a shop or tech should do what they are asked to do and IMO if something noticed at that time bring it up or write it down what was noticed on the invoice.


The list you posted is full of errors on someone's part. Easy to make typos or misinterpret something but it has to be clearer than that what was actually needed.


So, this comes across like some family issue (money, intoxication etc., trust of a shop's suggestions or quotes) more than a mechanical issue.


Get an itemized quote of what it needs and if you or person who reads it doesn't understand have the shop or tech show you what it needs if need be.


I'm not so sure this is the place for all these problems all at once,


Tom



samanthafox
New User

Mar 12, 2015, 11:57 PM

Post #9 of 10 (1513 views)
Re: Did my mom secretly hit a curb hard? Sign In

Hi Tom
Thanks for the input; yes it is mostly a family issue. Obviously the list isn't going to help me here because somewhere along the way, someone is mistaken (mechanic, possible internet search/diagnostic, my moms cognitive abilities and/or her text auto-correct).

So just looking at the facts I do know--her power steering isn't working and turning the wheel manually is really difficult. My question is now, would power steering suddenly stop working and need replacing, or would it happen gradually with warning signs along the way?

BTW, a mechanic worked on her car last fall because it was overheating constantly and that's when the water pump was replaced.

If she apologizes and asks for our help, we will be taking it to (XYZ Garage. edit out name of shop)


(This post was edited by Tom Greenleaf on Mar 13, 2015, 6:10 AM)


Tom Greenleaf
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Mar 13, 2015, 1:08 AM

Post #10 of 10 (1506 views)
Re: Did my mom secretly hit a curb hard? Sign In

Please just call it a local garage and not by name - this is open web and not responsible for a biz not part of this site, none are TMK.


Let's reduce this to questions about what has happened to this car. Water pump failed and it has overheated. Overheating can cause a lot of problems by itself for any reason an engine overheats. With that it sounds like it wasn't noticed or somehow not considered important to whoever was driving it at the time?


Power steering and steering parts: If belt slipped or wrecked by the water pump failure or perhaps disturbed somehow in the course of fixing the water pump?


Again it should have had a warning usually a buzzing noise if low on fluid or choppy power assist if belt was slipping and tended to right away. Low fluid level can and will cause pump failure and in turn can put debris into the system for more troubles for waiting or ignoring it.


OK - I'm not very good at being concise but there's a lot of responsibility in owning a car and driving in general. If "cognitive" skills are THE issue that's its own problem. If a person doesn't have basic understanding of when to stop driving a car or understand what is or isn't normal about the way it drives that's a problem and is rampant in any age group for assorted reasons.


Hey - there have been and will be people who drive on a simple flat tire till parts are flying off a car or leave one running all day or night forgetting to shut it off and get out, worse if still in gear - time to tend to problems if that bad and sorry to say had to deal with that with family and friends.


Mechanically I take it this is in need of this work and of course it will cost. If it really needs 2 tires, power steering pump, tie rod end(s) finished off with an alignment sounds like a cost that right.


Your subject line suggests this car hit a curb hard? Now that opens the book as an accident type of damage and not sure if a road hazard or now you brought up cognitive issues.


If that's what you think is the real problem or you seriously think so perhaps take that issue off the open web with a private message and I'll respond with suggestions or maybe this should be treated as a medical problem and not really about a car and repairing it at all?


So which is it?


Tm







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