Auto Question- Again...

[slamjet]

It's official, I am not meant to get ahead, 2012 really did suck and 2013 is not going to be any better. So I'll just ask because I'm just way to tick off/depressed over this. What is the approximate cost and book hours for replacing the head gaskets on a 1997 Buick Century?

Yea, again.

[annewandering]

2013 is going to be a wonderful year for you. As far as the car goes. Maybe you need to lean to do it yourself then it would be around a $100 dollars would be my guess. Maybe less. Depends on if you get the head ground. I dont think that is too bad. Gaskets arent that expensive. :)

[slamjet]

And thus my problem. I live in an apartment where "don't you dare work on your vehicle in our parking lot" clause of the lease agreement is enforced (at least not deep auto work, I've done my brakes, plugs, and other minor stuff). They started cracking down on it after a tenant did automotive work and left an oily mess. Neither do I know anyone with a garage/driveway/back yard/etc that I could use to do automotive work in. Otherwise I would buy the book and do it myself.

But I don't think the heads are warped. I looked into this and found out that the gasket materials they used are easily degraded by the Dextron antifreeze (the red stuff) that they put in these things. I was lucky to get it home. I had to reset the computer to get it to start and when I pulled in, I popped the hood and there it was, a nice fizzing sound with cute bubbles where the gasket is and a radiator half empty. At least there's no coolant in the oil (as far as I could tell).

So I'm going to have to bite the bullet and hope and pray I can get this done and still afford it.

And yes, I still think 2013 is going to suck. At least that's my view today.

[annewandering]

And thus my problem. I live in an apartment where "don't you dare work on your vehicle in our parking lot" clause of the lease agreement is enforced (at least not deep auto work, I've done my brakes, plugs, and other minor stuff). They started cracking down on it after a tenant did automotive work and left an oily mess. Neither do I know anyone with a garage/driveway/back yard/etc that I could use to do automotive work in. Otherwise I would buy the book and do it myself.

So I'm going to have to bite the bullet and hope and pray I can get this done and still afford it.

And yes, I still think 2013 is going to suck. At least that's my view today.

Well pft. I really detest those rules. Did anyone ever show them kitty litter? And tenant supervision?

2013 is going to be great for you. Lets put that down to check in dec 2013!

[dahlia]

slamjet , I hope all you need to do is your head gaskets (whatever they are). : )

The other evening, my car had a hard time starting, fortunately I was only moving it, so I didn't worry about it. The next day, however, it wouldn't start at all. Long story short, what I thought might be a new battery or starter turned out to be a new battery, coolant, transmission fluid and a timer belt. I knew I needed to replace the belt and had put money away for that, but the battery was a surprise. I don't know why I thought they cost about $40; darned battery was $149!!!! So, the $500 repair I had planned for turned into 990$, and that was after a discount.

There is always something. : (

But mama's going to take the sting out a bit by buying herself a new TV. Sort of a last hurrah before the government starts bleeding me dry in 2013. Do these people in DC ever think? Way to pump up the economy by decreasing my discretionary income, idiots.

[mnn727]

Google is your friend and knows all: "Expect to pay 12.0 hours max on labor, and around $300 for gaskets and head bolts." and another says "Typical Repair Cost: $2,000.00"

Depends on if that is all it is or if they "find' other things - hopefully you know an honest mechanic.

Edited January 1, 2013 by mnn727

[applepansy]

Slamjet, 2013 hasn't begun yet. Don't give up. This too shall pass. You're not alone. ....

Car trouble are a pain but its not the end of the world. Remember to ask for help if you need help. As hard as it is to ask for help sometimes that is exactly the lesson our Heavenly Father wants us to learn.

My son could have written your post tonight... about 20 minutes ago to be exact. My husband is driving him downtown to meet our daughter who is taking him to a sort of party at my other son's house. My son's car wouldn't start when he went out to warm it up before leaving. You would have thought the whole world was against him and nothing ever goes right. Thankfully he has an older brother and a younger sister who watch out for him when he starts down the depression trail.

You'll be in my prayers.

[RMGuy]

A lot depends on who does the work. $1200 would be a good target price in this neck of the woods.

-RM

[slamjet]

Oh boy, I guess I'm without a car for a good long time before I can afford to do this. How I already hate 2013. Time to make some phone calls.

[RMGuy]

If we were closer mate, Kathryn and I would help you with it

[slamjet]

Here's hoping all I need is a head gasket. I did some digging and come to find out, all GM's 3.1 engines have this same issue. Dang. In any case, I was able to secure funding so I'll drop it off tomorrow. The estimated cost? Approximately $1700. If it all goes wrong, $_______ fill in the blank.

[Guest]

Sorry to hear that. No one in your ward has a space where you could work on it?

[slamjet]

Nope, no one in my ward has space. Besides, it's a few day's job. But I've been looking at it closer and it looks more like the intake manifold gasket blew. If that's the case, then the difference is about $1000. I have a local pick-your-part coming to pick up my dead Honda that I'll get a few bucks for and other money's have come into play so it should go up on the lift on Monday. Here's to hoping it's not too huge a fix.

[Guest LiterateParakeet]

Neither do I know anyone with a garage/driveway/back yard/etc that I could use to do automotive work in. Otherwise I would buy the book and do it myself.

Edited--just saw your post that No one in your ward has space. No one? Where in the world do you live? Are you assuming no one has space, or have you asked and been told no. THIS is the kind of service (hands on service) that Mormons excell at, so talk to your home teachers or Bishop. If you were in my ward, my husband and I would let you use our driveway and my husband would do what he could to help you with his limited mechanical skills.

Don't give up on 2013, the year is new yet. I understand your frustration and the feeling that things will never get any better. Trust me the voice in your head that says things will never get any better, lies. I have the same voice, and it told me the same lies--but things did in fact get better.

Edited January 4, 2013 by LiterateParakeet

[slamjet]

Lets see, where do I live... I live in a dense urban area where there are no mechanics in my ward. I also work full time and am inundated with end of year/beginning of year work (I've done over 125 insurance verifications since the 1st thus far). If I had to wait to have a long weekend to work on it, then it would have to wait months. I'm that busy with work.

But, as an update, it is a blown head gasket that will cost $1500 unless the heads are cracked, then it's $1700. And the mechanic I picked out and felt the most comfortable with happens to be one that everyone I spoke to in my ward say that they are very good and very fair in their pricing. Hopefully I'll have my vehicle back by Wednesday.

I hope this post isn't jumbled. I have a nice head cold and I'm not really thinking straight.

[pam]

I hope this post isn't jumbled. I have a nice head cold and I'm not really thinking straight.

What excuse do you use when you don't have a head cold?

[slamjet]

What excuse do you use when you don't have a head cold?

Wana-be witty moderators.

[pam]

Wana-be witty moderators.

You love me.

[applepansy]

Lets see, where do I live... I live in a dense urban area where there are no mechanics in my ward. I also work full time and am inundated with end of year/beginning of year work (I've done over 125 insurance verifications since the 1st thus far). If I had to wait to have a long weekend to work on it, then it would have to wait months. I'm that busy with work.

But, as an update, it is a blown head gasket that will cost $1500 unless the heads are cracked, then it's $1700. And the mechanic I picked out and felt the most comfortable with happens to be one that everyone I spoke to in my ward say that they are very good and very fair in their pricing. Hopefully I'll have my vehicle back by Wednesday.

I hope this post isn't jumbled. I have a nice head cold and I'm not really thinking straight.

I"m sorry its such an expensive fix. But think of it this way - a car payment can make a lot of repairs. I know money and time are tight but there is an upside.