car trouble....Is this bad?

“OOPS!

I used to take my car to one local place for the oil changes al the time. They recommended the Trans flush and I had point out the T-Tech machine never moved. The manager actually argued with me saying the service was completed. I asked him to draw a sample from stick and it was as dirty as it was when I showed up.

What was even funnier was that after this, I said, give me my money back on the flush. The manager agreed to knock 4o bucks off. I said fine but when they hooked up the machine, it didn't work. I asked him how many customers he had ripped off this way and drove off.”

“One winter I brought my car in to get an oil change; its hard to do it yourself when you don't have a garage and there's 2' of snow on the ground. The place I took it to tried to get me to have my transmission flushed because they said the oil was dirty when they pulled the dipstick, among changing other things. My car has a manual transmission; there is no dipstick. I told the guy that and he tried arguing with me about it. I haven’t gone back there since and told all my friends not to go there.”

“I would change the oil myself, but it takes me to long and the time is more valuble to me.

I will spend the day fixing my own brakes though. That is an easy call especially when a 30 dollar job will cost 300 at a shop.”

“When I have a real garage I'll get back into basic maintenace stuff myself. Heck, until recently, I didn't even have a paved driveway.”

“My CV joints are going. Ugh.”

“Good luck. Hope ya got a good mechanic.”

“Thanks. I did, but then I moved. I sure don't need this expense right now.”

“Things like that never seem to come at a good time. What kind of car?”

“'93 Toyota Corolla, 195,000 miles.”

“If you are very mechanically inclined it may be easier to just replace both complete CV shafts yourself. For a car that age I wouldn't think they would be that expensive.”

“If I could get the right parts I'd take a stab at it.”

“All you should need are the CV shaft assembly's and you should be able to get them at just about any AutoZone/Advanced Auto/carquest etc.”

“Once upon a time I had a heavily modified Shelby Daytona that used to eat CV joints about every other burnout (too many ponies for the standard shafts) and with air tools I could swap out both shafts by myself in just over 30 minutes. But I had lots of practice.”

“Thanks man. Probably an all-day job then.”

“Depends, really. Do you have air tools? This makes a HUGE difference. Also I have never messed with this particular model so I don't know what the suspension looks like.
You will probably start with wheel removal, then loosen and rotate the sway bar down. Then take the lower control arms loose from the hub knuckle - this may take a big azz pry bar. Remove the hub nut, and you should be able to pull the hub/strut assy. out to get the hub to slide off the CV shaft, then pull the shaft straight out of the tranny. Done deal.
Good luck if you do try it!”

“I have an impact wrench. Will the wheel alignment need to be re-done afterward?”

“Sorry Leo, I forgot about this. The answer is no. As long as you don't mess with the tie rods, you should be fine.
An impact and a decent socket set should be sufficient.
Have you already done this? How did it turn out? Let me know.”

“No, I'm still holding off, but thanks for the info, it's encouraging.”

“Cotter pin removal was a b*tch, the axle nut came off with lots of elbow grease and a breaker bar. There was no sway bar. Knuckle detaches from the end of the lower control arm, so that was easy. Hub/strut assembly pulled easily off of the axle.

Then I couldn't get the f'ing axle out of the tranny. Supposed to gently pry it out. I was not so gentle, applied equal parts elbow grease and swear words. Everybody swears that's the easy part.

I guess it's take it to the shop after all, I was hoping I could save a few bucks.
last edited: 2/09/07 5:43:09 PM”

“Damn dude, sorry to hear that. With some cars depending on make/model there is this little spring clip/retainer that goes around the axle, in a groove. That part slides completely into the transaxle so you can't squeeze the retainer you just have to pull like hell. Sounds like you were doing good up till then though. At least you tried, and you know that if the shop gets it changed then they probably earned their money and didn't screw you.”

“I wonder if it's because it's been in there since the dawn of time that it's gotten a little more firmly attached. Looking at the new axle, I could see the expanding retainer ring. I don't see why it has to be so firmly attached since there's no chance of it going anywhere anyway. At least I got my money back with no trouble.”

“You are exactly right Leo. old greaser, and metal shavings build-up in there and get hard then you about have to chain the axle to a tractor to pull the damn thing out. And THEY ARE pointless! Infact most guys take them off the new part before installation, just incase they ever have to do it again. Good news on the return though.”

“Ok, whoever keeps mentioning thier stupid johnson rod, I blame you!!!


0 cars.......

guess i'll be hitching home tonight.
last edited: 2/18/07 6:09:25 PM”

“I was holding a Big Johnson bar at work yesterdaY but I didnt mention it... you sure they didnt mean push rod ?”

“I dont know WHAT kind of rod it is, I was just informed that the only car we have left, which weve spent thousnads on in the past two months for repairs, has thrown a rod.

Thats all I know.

I suppose thats a bad thing

something about metel shavings in the oil too....

ugh.”

“i know one thing, metal shavings in your oil is bad, real bad.
last edited: 2/18/07 7:56:49 PM”

“Its especially bad when said husbands car just had thousands of $$$ in engine repairs done on it because apparently my truck wasnt good enough for his taste in cars and had to be sold instead of fixing it, and the fix for said truck would of paled in price compared to what we've had to put into his car.”

“Sounds like you need a new husband.”

“I still can not believe that people still go to Jiffy Lube and other places like it. Such a big ripoff, plus I wonder how maney engines they have destroyed because they forgot to put oil in it or forgot to tighten the filter. I would take it to the dealer before one of those places.”

“I'd look for a new mechanic. The cheapest isn't always best.Ask around.”

“well, we decided to keep the Buick, but we wont be repairing it untill the spring where someone we know will help my husband work on it himself (yeah...right, I have to change his windsheild wipers for him even ;) )
but we did buy a new car this morning.

Was trying to avoid a car note, but....whatcha gonna do when you need a reliable ride?

so, we got a hyndai accent 2007, black...”

“You going to put stickers all over this accent?”

“no...

hey, its one of the greenest cars out right now! Cool!

ultra low emissions and good fuel economy.”

“HA! I just read that it is as clean as the hybrids....


and not nearly the cost and trouble ;)”

“Barbie had one of these for her first car. I tried to convince her not to buy it because I thought it was crap. BOY was I wrong. That little car kept going and going.

It is encased in snow in front of our house now waiting to be picked up by a charitable organization.”

“thrown rod = replace engine or junk the vehicle”