When do you stop putting money into a car?

**4429 mcc** · 06-10-2011, 10:03 AM

Originally Posted by MattforState

Alright car experts, I need a little advice. My 1997 Oldsmobile Cutless Supreme is at Drake garage originally for an oil change. Here's the problems:

Quoted:
Bolt Joints - $517.66 BALL JOINTS? NO
Outer Tie Rod - $142.02 NO
Allignment - $79.05 NO
Rotors (rusted and groves in them) - price unknown until they get in there Rotors Rusted??? This is going to be a total brake job, 400-500 bucks
Licence plate light out - $14

Other problems w/ the car:
ABS light has been on for a year
Drivers side window doesn't work
No A/C
A few rust spots
Leaking a little oil

I'm in grad school and my wife works for an after school program. So, buy a new car isn't a choice. Our only option for buying would be working extra and saving up some money to buy a $3000-$4000 car. We can live off one car for the summer, but when my internship starts in October, we are going to need 2 cars.

Any advice? Fix it or don't? Where to buy a used car around Des Moines? What type of car to buy?

What did you take your car in for?? My advice take it to another shop...brakes are very important so I would change those. If your car ISNT worth more than 1000-2000 dollars I wouldnt do anything more than what your need to keep the car running into someone else.

**MattforState** · 06-10-2011, 10:05 AM

Originally Posted by djcubby

I don't know what a Bolt Joint is, but I wonder if you mean Ball Joint. If that's the case, you better get those fixed. Do not get the Alignment before, because they have to take apart your suspension to get to the ball joint so you would be wasting money on the alignment.

All of the other stuff is minor, as stated above.

That would make sense. The alignment was going to be done because of the work the ball joints.

**MNclone** · 06-10-2011, 10:07 AM

I drive a car with a bit more personality as well. As you are seeing, lots of little fixes end up adding up quite quickly. I've found that figuring out how to do these things yourself is very important to keep the costs down. Once you know what needs fixing, there is a ton of info and step by step directions for the fix online. For my car, there is a guy on youtube that does how-to videos for just about every possible fix you would need.
Just a couple weeks ago, I spent a couple hundred on some work that would have been a couple thousand at a mechanic.

**Aclone** · 06-10-2011, 10:08 AM

Suggestion: Have a "CF Car Party'--buy the parts, beer and pizza, and invite all of your auto-wise CF friends to bring their tools, and drop by and work on your car some weekend.

**ISUAgronomist** · 06-10-2011, 10:11 AM

Originally Posted by Aclone

Suggestion: Have a "CF Car Party'--buy the parts, beer and pizza, and invite all of your auto-wise CF friends to bring their tools, and drop by and work on your car some weekend.

The guys on TexAgs' Automotive board do this all the time. It's actually a really good idea.

**VTXCyRyD** · 06-10-2011, 10:12 AM

Originally Posted by 4429 mcc

What did you take your car in for?? My advice take it to another shop...brakes are very important so I would change those. If your car ISNT worth more than 1000-2000 dollars I wouldnt do anything more than what your need to keep the car running into someone else.

Ball joints and tierods are just as important as brakes. You could be driving down the road, hit a good bump, and the corner of your car will come crashing into the ground because your ball joint finally gave out and broke. Or, you you could be driving a long and loose control of steering because your tierod brakes.

**djcubby** · 06-10-2011, 10:15 AM

Regarding the brake rotors, all of them rust. You are talking about bare metal that is exposed to the environment. If the surface of the rotor isn't rusty, you don't need a complete brake job for $400-500.

**4429 mcc** · 06-10-2011, 10:22 AM

Originally Posted by VTXCyRyD

Ball joints and tierods are just as important as brakes. You could be driving down the road, hit a good bump, and the corner of your car will come crashing into the ground because your ball joint finally gave out and broke. Or, you you could be driving a long and loose control of steering because your tierod brakes.

You are definetly correct and most shops tell the same story to their customers if the car they have has over 95k miles. Doesnt mean they are bad...its the house wife saftey sell job. How many cars are out there riding on 150-175k miles with OEM ball joints. Its a tough call if you car is only worth $2000 and still has some life in it...plus it sounds like this kid needs brakes. Thats $1000 worth of repairs for a car thats worth double that. Its a risk play.

**jdoggivjc** · 06-10-2011, 10:26 AM

Originally Posted by djcubby

Regarding the brake rotors, all of them rust. You are talking about bare metal that is exposed to the environment. If the surface of the rotor isn't rusty, you don't need a complete brake job for $400-500.

Even if he does need a complete brake job, there's no reason to spend $400-500 to pay someone else to do it.

Up until 2 months ago I had never personally done a brake job, but I had a mechanic friend of mine teach me how to do it. Cost me less than $200, in large part because he was able to get the rotors turned. Would have probably cost more if I had to buy new rotors, but probably not in the $400-500 range (and it probably would have been more than that if they used new rotors).

Turns out a brake job is easy - I just needed to learn how to do it.

**djcubby** · 06-10-2011, 10:29 AM

Originally Posted by 4429 mcc

You are definetly correct and most shops tell the same story to their customers if the car they have has over 95k miles. Doesnt mean they are bad...its the house wife saftey sell job. How many cars are out there riding on 150-175k miles with OEM ball joints. Its a tough call if you car is only worth $2000 and still has some life in it...plus it sounds like this kid needs brakes. Thats $1000 worth of repairs for a car thats worth double that. Its a risk play.

Who does your brakes? It's less than $100 for two new rotors (if they can't be turned) and probably another $50 or so for new pads. With a socket set and a C-clamp, you can change them out yourself. If you don't trust yourself, a buddy can do it for you. It's not a hard job at all.

**Aclone** · 06-10-2011, 10:33 AM

Lots of good advice here. The other question I might have is, how long does this car have to last? I.e., how long do you have before you finish grad school, or your wife (I assume) graduates and starts a career?

**djcubby** · 06-10-2011, 10:33 AM

Originally Posted by jdoggivjc

Even if he does need a complete brake job, there's no reason to spend $400-500 to pay someone else to do it.

Up until 2 months ago I had never personally done a brake job, but I had a mechanic friend of mine teach me how to do it. Cost me less than $200, in large part because he was able to get the rotors turned. Would have probably cost more if I had to buy new rotors, but probably not in the $400-500 range (and it probably would have been more than that if they used new rotors).

Turns out a brake job is easy - I just needed to learn how to do it.

Correct!! Brakes are easy to change.

My point was if the surface of the rotor is rusty, the caliper is probably seized up and the pad is not making contact with the rotor. Then you have to replace the caliper which he would have to have a shop take care of.

**4429 mcc** · 06-10-2011, 10:33 AM

Originally Posted by djcubby

Who does your brakes? It's less than $100 for two new rotors (if they can't be turned) and probably another $50 or so for new pads. With a socket set and a C-clamp, you can change them our yourself. If you don't trust yourself, a buddy can do it for you. It's not a hard job at all.

I do my brakes...it doesnt sound like the OP knows how to.

**CyTom** · 06-10-2011, 10:37 AM

The first thing I would do is find a different shop and see if they tell you the same things need fixed.

**MNclone** · 06-10-2011, 10:39 AM

here you go!
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emni0JQrn8U&feature=youtube_gdata_player]YouTube - ‪Auto Repair: Replace Front Brake Pads Rotors Ford Explorer Ranger Mountaineer 4x4 95-03 - 1AAuto.com‬&rlm;[/ame]