mikeman Posted April 14, 2022 Report Share Posted April 14, 2022 I have two cars, one was my mothers old car(she died about 6 years ago) - it was a 2003 mazda protege - little compact that worked perfect for a little old lady. Anyway it's the car I usually take to the casinos, long story short I've been seeing small amounts of coolant under it and i suspected it was a head gasket - which in a 19 year old car is not worth the cost to fix. A couple days ago I'm coming back from the casino and the check engine light went on, a few miles later the temp gauge started rising, i pulled over and took a look and it was boiling over from the reservoir and i saw coolant near the block as well. I drove a few miles to a decent place to park it and called a ride. When i got home I called some salvage co's to see what they'd pay for it - i expected maybe $2-300 since it needed a tow. they offered me $530. Does that seem like a good price? i know they can sell the catalytic converters for big money, but it seemed like a lot? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dingo Posted April 14, 2022 Report Share Posted April 14, 2022 16 minutes ago, mikeman said: I have two cars, one was my mothers old car(she died about 6 years ago) - it was a 2003 mazda protege - little compact that worked perfect for a little old lady. Anyway it's the car I usually take to the casinos, long story short I've been seeing small amounts of coolant under it and i suspected it was a head gasket - which in a 19 year old car is not worth the cost to fix. A couple days ago I'm coming back from the casino and the check engine light went on, a few miles later the temp gauge started rising, i pulled over and took a look and it was boiling over from the reservoir and i saw coolant near the block as well. I drove a few miles to a decent place to park it and called a ride. When i got home I called some salvage co's to see what they'd pay for it - i expected maybe $2-300 since it needed a tow. they offered me $530. Does that seem like a good price? i know they can sell the catalytic converters for big money, but it seemed like a lot? Do you want or need a second car? Could also be a leaky radiator,happened often on my delivery vans and sometimes a can of Stop Leak in the radiator fixed it.Putting in a new one by yourself isn’t that expensive either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sleepy Posted April 14, 2022 Report Share Posted April 14, 2022 I used to have two cars but it was a pain in the ass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeman Posted April 14, 2022 Author Report Share Posted April 14, 2022 4 minutes ago, Dingo said: Do you want or need a second car? Could also be a leaky radiator,happened often on my delivery vans and sometimes a can of Stop Leak in the radiator fixed it.Putting in a new one by yourself isn’t that expensive either. it wasn't the radiator(location of drips), also the morning that happened the car didn't start normally, i turned the key and instead of an instant start it wouldn't, tried 3-4 times, finally I floored the pedal and after a few seconds it kicked in, I suspect coolant and dribbled into a cylinder or two and impeded the start. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeman Posted April 14, 2022 Author Report Share Posted April 14, 2022 1 minute ago, sleepy said: I used to have two cars but it was a pain in the ass. i'M THINKING i'LL REPLACE IT with another used car, but i wont rush. I like the idea of having a spare - my main car is a toyota with 238,000 miles. it runs great by the way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dingo Posted April 14, 2022 Report Share Posted April 14, 2022 3 minutes ago, mikeman said: it wasn't the radiator(location of drips), also the morning that happened the car didn't start normally, i turned the key and instead of an instant start it wouldn't, tried 3-4 times, finally I floored the pedal and after a few seconds it kicked in, I suspect coolant and dribbled into a cylinder or two and impeded the start. Does the dipstick have a milky look to it?If so they also have a head gasket sealer that you could try before getting rid of that vehicle.I imagine the car doesn’t have too many miles on it so might be worth trying to fix,used car prices are at an all time high thanks to Biden!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lenn Sakata Posted April 14, 2022 Report Share Posted April 14, 2022 takes less than one minute for a guy to crawl under your car and steal the catalytic converter actually those thefts have spiked again , head on a swivel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shooterman Posted April 14, 2022 Report Share Posted April 14, 2022 9 minutes ago, mikeman said: i'M THINKING i'LL REPLACE IT with another used car, but i wont rush. I like the idea of having a spare - my main car is a toyota with 238,000 miles. it runs great by the way. Good luck finding a used car these days. 40% extra on that pootin price hike! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dingo Posted April 14, 2022 Report Share Posted April 14, 2022 1 minute ago, Lenn Sakata said: takes less than one minute for a guy to crawl under your car and steal the catalytic converter actually those thefts have spiked again , head on a swivel Have a friend that lives on a boat at a marina,they stole his converter then stole it again when he replaced it.Those battery operated tools have come a long ways Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redstripe Posted April 14, 2022 Report Share Posted April 14, 2022 Was it blowing a lot of smoke out exhaust ? If not may have been something else simple like a 5.00 thermostat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingKolzig Posted April 14, 2022 Report Share Posted April 14, 2022 heroin brother crashed my honda civic which had 80k miles on and would have lasted to 300k i looked around guy gave me $250 cash for it then my ford escape tranny blew up. puerto rican guy have me $100 for it. had a huge attitude and tried to drive away without paying Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smoke Posted April 14, 2022 Report Share Posted April 14, 2022 39 minutes ago, shooterman said: Good luck finding a used car these days. 40% extra on that pootin price hike! Thanks trump Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeybagadonuts Posted April 14, 2022 Report Share Posted April 14, 2022 49 minutes ago, Lenn Sakata said: takes less than one minute for a guy to crawl under your car and steal the catalytic converter actually those thefts have spiked again , head on a swivel It’s insane how many of these things get stolen around here. Know dozens of people who have had theirs stolen. Some of them have had theirs stolen multiple times Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeman Posted April 14, 2022 Author Report Share Posted April 14, 2022 1 hour ago, shooterman said: Good luck finding a used car these days. 40% extra on that pootin price hike! Yea, I've been checking a bit, for instance a 10 yr old toyota corrolla with 150K miles is still going for like $12,000, a brand new one might be low 20's but you apparently cant get them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimmy Hoffa Posted April 14, 2022 Report Share Posted April 14, 2022 1 hour ago, redstripe said: something else simple like a 5.00 thermostat My first thought was the thermostat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingKolzig Posted April 14, 2022 Report Share Posted April 14, 2022 just carjack someone like silver spooner g.stratton he needed the car to get to Church on time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeman Posted April 14, 2022 Author Report Share Posted April 14, 2022 17 minutes ago, KingKolzig said: just carjack someone like silver spooner g.stratton he needed the car to get to Church on time Instead of plotting a carjacking I simply moved $20K to checking to allow the freedom to act on a replacement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingKolzig Posted April 14, 2022 Report Share Posted April 14, 2022 you have tons of time. buy a salvaged car. shop around for a good body shop do some repairs yourself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeman Posted April 14, 2022 Author Report Share Posted April 14, 2022 2 minutes ago, KingKolzig said: you have tons of time. buy a salvaged car. shop around for a good body shop do some repairs yourself Out of my league I'm afraid, i do my own oil changes along with stuff like spark plugs, that's about it, plugs last for 100K miles now so that's a rare event. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingKolzig Posted April 14, 2022 Report Share Posted April 14, 2022 you could strike a solid deal with a body shop. nobody has money to fix a dent some have to be pretty slow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeman Posted April 14, 2022 Author Report Share Posted April 14, 2022 1 minute ago, KingKolzig said: you could strike a solid deal with a body shop. nobody has money to fix a dent some have to be pretty slow My engine has issues, the body is fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingKolzig Posted April 14, 2022 Report Share Posted April 14, 2022 im saying buy a new car with a bad title. and take the time to get a deal fixing it. you will save 50% as long as the engine is 100% intact you cant go wrong Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeman Posted April 14, 2022 Author Report Share Posted April 14, 2022 2 minutes ago, KingKolzig said: im saying buy a new car with a bad title. and take the time to get a deal fixing it. you will save 50% as long as the engine is 100% intact you cant go wrong I'd rather buy a car owned by a little old lady who took good care of it. Buying a wreck isn't a wise move IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingKolzig Posted April 14, 2022 Report Share Posted April 14, 2022 you put an ad out on craigslist for a mechanic to help you shop it would work if you got the right guy. gave him 3-400 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
housepicks Posted April 14, 2022 Report Share Posted April 14, 2022 Rule 1 never take advice from a 40yo guy that lives with his mom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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