Car Problems

[tkdtiger]

Does anyone know anything about cars? I was just wondering, because I just got an oil and brake pads changed and now my vehicle seems to have all sorts of problem. I was driving and than I began to hear a clicking noise. I soon found my engine over-heating and lost of power to my engine. I found that I could only stop my vehicle at a light by pressing on the clutch, but the engine will over heat eventually and shut-off. Does anyone think this might be a transmission problem since putting down my clutch allows the engine to stay on longer?

[Kyuusai]

First things first: Have you checked your oil level since? And how are you ascertaining that it's overheating?

The two most likely causes of an overheating engine are problems with the cooling system (which could mean a leaking radiator or hoses, low coolant level, etc), or a lack of oil (which results in higher temperatures due to greater friction).

Considering the clicking noise (which could be anything, but I assume it's from the engine), it's likely the oil pressure is low. I've known some folks this has happened to when the tech that changed their oil forgot to put the cap back on... Or you could have a larger problem that's arisen as a fluke. You should NOT be running your engine with these sorts of problems, especially if the problem is low/no oil. You're just killing it by doing so.

Your engine is likely running longer with the clutch in because it's "running free", so to speak, with no load. I imagine you'd have the same result with the transmission in neutral.

I'm not an automotive expert by any means, just some one who's been through my share of break-downs. I know there are some car people around here, though. I only chimed in since I don't know how soon any might be 'round.

[tkdtiger]

I'm taking it back to the shop tomorrow. My friend told me the clicking noise could actually be a transmission problem, but he doesn't think so since he said I would probably have problem shifting if it were. He told me it's possible that they forgot to put the oil into the truck after they drained it and that's why it's overheating, which is very similart to what you said so I thank you for the reply and help.

[Kyuusai]

Glad to hear you're getting it taken care of.

Just to note, though... do NOT drive it to the shop without checking the oil level first!

[iamtetsuo]

I am going with Kyuusai here, they probably either forgot to put the cap back on, didn't put any new oil in, or put too little oil in. If this is the case then you'v probably done some serious damage to your engine, and could easily sue the shop for damages.

Whatever you do, DO NOT go back to where you had the oil changed. They will at the least cover it all up and say it's not their fault. That or they might have tampered with your vehicle so you'd have to bring it back to them.

Have a friend who has knowledge of cars take a look at it, or take it to a friends trusted mechanic. And by "take it" I mean have it towed.

[Green²]

Check oil level.
If no oil, check for missing oil plug and/or oil filter.
???
Profit.

[tkdtiger]

Well it turns out to be the gasket that broke. The place I go to doesn't fix gaskets, but told me it will probably be expensive and I'll probably have to go to the dealership to fix it. They suggested I consider getting a new vehicle...man I wish it had been the oil : (

[Honda Boy Techy]

dude that sucks. My car started to overheat the other day but the radiator just sprung a leak. I'm going to pick up the new one I ordered at O'Reilly's in an hour or so. A simple fix, me and bud will have it swapped out in 10-15 minutes. I got kinda lucky though. It only leaks a noticeable amount if I rev high enough so I just baby it and it's fine for now.

Did they say at all what kind of gasket broke and what possible damage there could be to the engine? Also how old is the car and what is it? For a busted gasket suggesting a new vehicle is kinda much I think.

[Kyuusai]

Yeah, suggesting another car just because of the gasket does seem a little extreme if the car has any significant value. While the gasket is cheap, the labor would be very expensive... but not in the cost territory of a decent used car.

On the other hand, if the car isn't in great shape, and especially if they know that it was running in its present condition, I can certainly see how they could assume that the engine's lifespan is severely shortened.

[tkdtiger]

well it's in an area where they'll have to remove a pretty good portion of the engine to get to ...it's prob. a $1500-$2000 including labor fees. My truck is from 2001, but I've been driving it back and forth from Pensacola and Miami. I have 80k miles on it. About 20K of that is from going back and forth from Pensacola and Miami, FL. He only suggested it, because more than likely I'll be spending more money repairing other parts of the car as the engine is getting older. Another place already mentioned other parts of my truck that need to be replaced...and they said the same thing...

[raikage]

Your truck must be in HORRIBLE shape if they recommend getting rid of it @ 80k miles and 6-7 years old.

Most modern vehicles shouldn't be breaking down like that under normal usage.

[tkdtiger]

They said my truck over all was in pretty good shape, but some parts are getting older and will need to be replaced. I was told I don't have to replace it now if I want to dish out $2000. I already got the price for the other parts that needs replacing and that was at about $970. It's like small things though. Stuff like my spark plugs need replacing. I think the most expensive things I need to fix other than that gasket are my rotors and shocks. I also learned that my chassis in my rear suspension had been bend slightly and I can't allign my rear tires, which I was told costs about $1,500 to fix.

If you think about it you can get a new Hyundai Accent for around $10000. Is it really worth fixing something for about $3000 when I can trade in my truck and use that $3000 I would have used to fix my truck on another vehicle. I mean a used car is around $4000 if you decide not to go for one of those more expensive cars (and the fact that most used cars; even the expensive ones statistically are lemons).... I'm just trying to figure out my options...What bothers me the most is that my truck was originally appraised at almost $5000 and now I'm not sure what I can get for it. I was already planning to sell it...

[Kyuusai]

Even if your options are limited, unless the dealership is the only competent place, you should probably try to have it done elsewhere. Work of that depth will usually be significantly more expensive at the dealership.

At the age of your truck, doing all the repairs that are required won't come anywhere near the value of the truck, and especially not to the cost of a suitable replacement.

When I've been told by a mechanic that I should consider another car, it usually means that they didn't want to see my car in their shop again.

[tkdtiger]

Well now I wonder if alot of these problems are indirectly caused by a hit and run accident I was in a couple years ago...

[Honda Boy Techy]

Wait, only $5000 for your truck from 01. What the hell is it? My dad's 98 Tacoma 2WD Short Bed 4-Cyl 5-Spd manual base model is worth $4700 Private Party. Only things liftin it's value at all are a CD player and a bed liner.

And again, what gasket/seal broke? Do you know at all what kind of damage it caused cause $2000 for gasket replacement just seems ridiculous. Hell $3000 got my dad a new frickin transmission and clutch installed and I thought THAT was outrageous. I had a Exedy Stage 1 Racing clutch installed in my car and it only cost about $200 for the labor and I go to an ASE Certified Honda/Acura Specialist (not a dealer). I bought the clutch myself for $318 from Jeg's (OEM clutches for this thing run about $100-175). Is this a dealer that's tellin you this? Crap on a stick that's a lot. That $3000 my dad dished out was at a dealer by the way.

[tkdtiger]

I drive a dodge dakota. I didn't say $5,000 I said almost $5000 that I had it appraised for originally. It exact price was 4,786 and that was the appraisal with the damaged bumper. The clutch on my truck was already replaced. It was $274 for the clutch. Transmissions are expensive. It's not nec. the part that's expensive its the labor fee as alot of time they have to remove alot of the enging to get to the transmission. The gasket is in a location where they would have to take out a large portion of the engine to get to it. That's why they would charge about $1,500, but that would probably be the price if I went to the dealership, which was mentioned tends to over price things. Not including my bent chasis the other stuff I was already told by the dealership would run around $970. I never did fix my shocks. My front shocks are sports shocks and the rear aren't and were pretty pricey to replace if I wanted the same shocks so I never fixed it. All I really know is that alot of hot water was spewing out of the engine block when the turned it on to see what was wrong. I don't think they meant the part itself was expensive, but rather the dealship and the labor fees to fix it would be expensive as he talked about what part of the engine they would need to take apart; which seemed cover almost my whole engine...

[Honda Boy Techy]

dude, get another car.

I can see why the dude said that now.

Get a Toyota pick-up man. That or get a Civic hatch on the cheap. 92-00 models, price range stock about $1200 for a 92 CX (crappiest one) to about $3000 for 95 Si or about $2500 for a 96 CX (far nicer than a 92) or up to $5000 or more depending on where you are for a 2000 DX. I have a 96 CX with an engine swap and it was $3500 cause of the motor.

[tkdtiger]

Originally Posted by Honda Boy Techy

dude, get another car.

I can see why the dude said that now.

Get a Toyota pick-up man. That or get a Civic hatch on the cheap. 92-00 models, price range stock about $1200 for a 92 CX (crappiest one) to about $3000 for 95 Si or about $2500 for a 96 CX (far nicer than a 92) or up to $5000 or more depending on where you are for a 2000 DX. I have a 96 CX with an engine swap and it was $3500 cause of the motor.

Well those other things aren't serious enough to fix and most of the things they listed didn't need attention right away...with the exception of the shocks, which I probably should have fixed. It's just the gasket I broke was my head gasket and I was driving my truck with the broken gasket, which more than likely caused more damage to my engine...I know I shouldn't have been driving it, but I had little choice I had to get to work...I knew something was wrong I just thought one of my hoses broke...

Anyways I decided I'm going to get a new vehicle. Probably a Hyundai Accent. Since I don't have to worry about paying for gas I should be able to save a pretty large sum...

[Honda Boy Techy]

nah, I was saying that cause it's a Dodge

I'm kiddin but still that's more trouble than the vehicle is worth I'm sure so a new car is not a half bad idea.

[tkdtiger]

Originally Posted by Honda Boy Techy

nah, I was saying that cause it's a Dodge

I'm kiddin but still that's more trouble than the vehicle is worth I'm sure so a new car is not a half bad idea.

yeah that's true. I learned alot though about the head gasket. I read that it's an expensive fix according to my friend's uncle (he owns a shop in NY) and that alot of time when it breaks that there is other parts of the engine that tend to get damaged from things like back flow and from the over heating of the engine itself. He thinks they may have suggested getting a new vehicle, because other damage may have been caused that they didn't have the equipment to detect...My mom thinks I should get a Sonata, but I might go for the accent since it has better gas mileage (and it's alot cheaper )