Car's giving me a headache

HazmatJeff · Post by **HazmatJeff** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 12:17 pm

So here's the run down of thing that need to be addressed soon:
Timing Belt
Water Pump
Steering column work
Oil pressure sender
Lower motor mount
Leak in the EVAP

I feel like my car is a money pit. I mean I'm considering having a dealer buy it (I owe like 3,500 on it) then take out another loan for a new car and payments will be about the same. I'm really at a loss here. Due to my new job I don't get paid for another 11 days, so I have no money for anything right now.

JeffM · Post by **JeffM** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 12:23 pm

Depending on the mileage and condition of the car, you might not even make 3,500 on it and would end up upside-down on your loan.

All of the stuff you mentioned sounds like typical maintenance, so you're going to come across that with any car.

Just hunker-down and save money. I went 30,000 miles passed timing belt maintenance and it didn't break, so just take it easy and you can get a little more out of it.

Post by **occasional demons** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 12:27 pm

Why does it need steering column work? If it is the clunk while turning, there is no repair, as they don't sell the bearings in the tube. It is either find another in better shape, buy new, or live with it.

Oil pressure sender is under $20 if you do it yourself.

Lower motor mount from Rock Auto is cheap, and if you have the timing belt changed, they have to remove it anyways. Just give them the new one, if you aren't going to attempt it yourself.

HazmatJeff · Post by **HazmatJeff** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 12:31 pm

The motor mount is the biggest thing right now. It's very noticeable at a certain rpm and is a god awful sound to boot.

gtxtreme19 · Post by **gtxtreme19** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 1:14 pm

That's one of the easier fixes on your list

Gnuserup · Post by **Gnuserup** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 2:49 pm

I wish I had only the motor mount to do on both of my neons

This is cheap and easy - not worth to mention.

HazmatJeff · Post by **HazmatJeff** » Thu Mar 10, 2011 7:08 pm

Do the motor mounts require a period of time to break in? I replaced both of the upper and lower struts on the passenger side and the rubber was deteriorating and after I put 30 or so miles on it the sound of the engine jumping/skipping when I accelerate from a stop has decreased drastically though it is still there.

Post by **occasional demons** » Thu Mar 10, 2011 7:13 pm

No break in needed. If things are quieter than before, you did it right.

HazmatJeff · Post by **HazmatJeff** » Thu Mar 10, 2011 7:14 pm

It still is noisy when I accelerate though. So should I look into the other mounts or what?

Post by **occasional demons** » Thu Mar 10, 2011 7:27 pm

The mounts will mainly transmit vibrations, thus causing noises. It really depends on what the noise is when accelerating. It could be something mounts won't help. If it is an exhaust leak, for example.

HazmatJeff · Post by **HazmatJeff** » Sun Mar 20, 2011 7:32 pm

So I replaced both mounts and inspected the mounts by the belts and under the battery tray and they all look good, but my car is still vibrating excessively when I take off from a stop. It usually goes away as the car warms up. It's always there though, even when the car warms up, just not as bad as a cold start. Any ideas what this could be? I'm about ready to take it to a shop.

Post by **occasional demons** » Sun Mar 20, 2011 9:08 pm

No CEL/codes? Almost sounds like a bad plug or plug wire. Has it had a tune up lately?

A dirty injector might also cause it too. But as long as it has been going on, there should be a CEL, or code.

HazmatJeff · Post by **HazmatJeff** » Mon Mar 21, 2011 12:10 am

I've had a minor to medium leak in the EVAP since June. I also had an oil pressure sender to high I believe for a month. I bought the new sender, but I couldn't remove the older one. Since I did that on Friday it hasn't come back on.

I've changed the plugs in July and the wires a few months ago. The air filter is pretty dirty since my cover is off.