36 replies to this topic

[ladygingechilla]

Hello bodysuits! erm- boardies

So I'm buying my brothers shitbox camry (because my shitbox explorer is going to kill me soon)

The mechanic just quoted

Timing belt split - 89
Waterpump replacement?preventative maintenence - $195
Coolent/oil (Engine oil fuggin' nasty filled with gas... awesome) $60
Camshaft seals leaking...
Labor $420

Total $795



Am I stupid for not wanting him to mess with the waterpump to save myself $200?



The issue was it wasn't starting/
When it did start it would stall when being shifted into gear



Whatchoo think?

[ladygingechilla]

[Tim the Beek]

Prolly oughta ask a mechanic, prolly.

[Tim the Beek]

Is bro willing to knock the $795 off the price?

[ladygingechilla]

Prolly should'a looked into becomming a mechanic myself... prolly

[ladygingechilla]

Is bro willing to knock the $795 off the price?

Oh that bitch is getting what I can give him.
(translation)
Yes, I believe he is willing to do this

[gram-man]

Honestly? Sounds like you're gonna be throw good money after bad if you buy this car.

Car that needs that many parts just to get goin is bound to be needing more parts in the very near future. Ya might get through the summer, but come winter, my prediction is you'll have a nightmare on your hands.

[ladygingechilla]

Honestly? Sounds like you're gonna be throw good money after bad if you buy this car. Car that needs that many parts just to get goin is bound to be needing more parts in the very near future. Ya might get through the summer, but come winter, my prediction is you'll have a nightmare on your hands.

Sounds awesome!

<- so I'll have more threads with this guy

[gram-man]

Sorry, you asked for opinions. One time bought a car that needed over $1000 worth of work to get it going, and it still needed a whole lot more later.

It's that coolant w/the engine oil thing goin on that has me really concerned about this car. Sounds like something is leaking into something else that shouldn't be.

I think it would be wiser to take what you were gonna pay for the car, plus what you were gonna put into it, and hopefully find something a bit more reliable.

[Tim the Beek]

How many miles on the Camry shitbox?

[Tim the Beek]

Sorry, you asked for opinions. One time bought a car that needed over $1000 worth of work to get it going, and it still needed a whole lot more later. It's that coolant w/the engine oil thing goin on that has me really concerned about this car. Sounds like something is leaking into something else that shouldn't be. I think it would be wiser to take what you were gonna pay for the car, plus what you were gonna put into it, and hopefully find something a bit more reliable.

I'm not an expert, but I tend to agree...

[Depends]

Changing the WaterPump when you replace a timing belt is standard. Most of the labor is the same for each item, so it is a "while I'm in the neighborhood, I might as well change this." And since a bad belt can affect a water pump, it is wise.
The cam shaft leak, and gas in the oil are troubling....

[ladygingechilla]

I do very much appreciate the replies (exactly what i wanted from posting the thread)

Second mechanic quoted $ 790 for just the timing belt/pump/camseals not the engine oil and whatnot...
He did raise a question about the fact that the camry has an "interfearence motor" which means if the timing belt broke completely off (which it sounds like it didn't, rather that it split down the middle and stayed attached) but if it had broke, it could've done internal damage and bent valves... essentially killing the engine...
A question to raise when i call my guy back
:yay...:


The reason I'm trying after this car is because the brother is moving away in a few weeks... I'm sure we can figure something out along the lines of what I'm going to pay for it- considering he said he preferred that I have a car rather than to sell it for parts...

Its got 150k
My explorer has 230k, stalls at every red light and intersection with 4 bad tires, suspension issues and cooling issues... I feel like I'm at a dead end. I looked for cars for awhile- and betwen schiesty car dealers and lack of real money to buy a car I keep feeling like this is my only option.

If I can get this fixed and running, and still be able to kick my brother any amount of money for all under 2000, I'd be happy...
but whats the likelyhood?

>.<

[ladygingechilla]

Changing the WaterPump when you replace a timing belt is standard. Most of the labor is the same for each item, so it is a "while I'm in the neighborhood, I might as well change this." And since a bad belt can affect a water pump, it is wise. The cam shaft leak, and gas in the oil are troubling....

Could the gas in the oil be from trying to start it and giving it gas?
Its been sitting for awhile dead, every once in awhile with an attempt to start...

[gram-man]

How long exactly has it been sitting? Sitting is bad for cars and engines. Things tend to cease up when left to sit for too long.

[Feck]

i had similar concerns with my water pump when my timing belt went.
fro me it was the other way around, the belt was more than the pump, but it was the basically the same steps, so with advice for our own boarides, i had them do the work. after that i never had a problem with either and the very slow leak, sometime antifreeze/steam smell went away. i'm thinking he may chage you more for the belt if you don't do the water pump.

as with the rest , sounds like a lot to put in, only to have more go down the line.
oil in the coolant and / or gas in the oil are not good signs. rings, heads, who knows.

[TakeAStepBack]

This is why I dont buy other people's old headaches.

[ladygingechilla]

How long exactly has it been sitting? Sitting is bad for cars and engines. Things tend to cease up when left to sit for too long.

about 2, 3 months in the driveway.

Is the gas in engine oil from "flooding the engine"? I don't know what that means, but i've heard it in reference to trying to start a dead car...

[ladygingechilla]

This is why I dont buy other people's old headaches.

but having your own old headache PLUS a family member's old headache is SO much better!

[ladygingechilla]

Is the gas in engine oil from "flooding the engine"? I don't know what that means, but i've heard it in reference to trying to start a dead car...

I feel like this statement shows the true nature of my auto knowledge.

[Gypsy Bob]

Question: Did your Brother maintain the Car well? Did he have the oil changed every 3000 miles or so?

[ladygingechilla]

Question: Did your Brother maintain the Car well? Did he have the oil changed every 3000 miles or so?

I finally asked him that question last night- he said that he did... He said it drove great until suddenly it didn't (which i'm assuming is when the timing belt went)

[ladygingechilla]

Now I know my brother isn't trying to screw me. But, I also know that he isn't a mechanical savant... >.>

[Gypsy Bob]

I finally asked him that question last night- he said that he did... He said it drove great until suddenly it didn't (which i'm assuming is when the timing belt went)

150K is nothing for a well maintained Camry...the stuff that's wrong is routine maintenance stuff. My Maxima has 250K and runs GREAT.

[ladygingechilla]

I love that you guys are far more on top of this than anyone in Rhode Island right now

(In fairness, most of the people I've been reaching out to are working...) Fuckers

[Depends]

"Flooding the engine" means you have too much gas in your carburetor. You should NEVER has gas in your oil. I've met your brother, he may have had a lot of gas in the front seat...

[ladygingechilla]

wrong kind of gas...

[ladygingechilla]

"Flooding the engine" means you have too much gas in your carburetor. You should NEVER has gas in your oil. I've met your brother, he may have had a lot of gas in the front seat...

You could have met any of my 3 brothers at last years vibes... but that statement still applies no matter which one you met.

[ladygingechilla]

[jnjn]

but having your own old headache PLUS a family member's old headache is SO much better!

& if he screws you, you know EXACTLY where to find him

[MeOmYo]

If someone tried to start the car many times and it didn't start, gas in the oil will happen. You're dumping gas into the cylinder but not creating combustion, so the gas just sit there and eventually leaks past the rings, into the block and mixes with the oil.

Is the car not starting because of the timing belt issue? If so, that is concerning.

[ladygingechilla]

The main issue was that it would stall out immediately when shifted into gear - timing belt?
Then, after sitting a few weeks the car wasn't starting because of a dead battery (altenator is charging though, batt is just dead) It was overdue for a new battery.
Also, I get to keep the contents of the car- another EZ up, and a fog machine...
So at the worst, I can have it towed to the vibes and set up a super cool haunted car tent site

I'm thinking i'm going to have a go at this... For better or worse- with all life lessons to be learned...

Thank you everyone for your relplies. Feel free to say I told you so when I bitch about this car again in a few months.

[ladygingechilla]

Who's down for a camry rager? Hula dancers on the dash...


Maybe I can set it up with a grill and smoker out of the trunk...

[clouseau]

Are you sure it's gas in the oil and not oil in the anti-freeze ? And was that a timing belt or timing chain ?

[Lostsailr]

ask bro if you can pay in monthly installments...each month that you DON"T need to spend another $300 to maintain it.

[-Q-]

i think your making the right call. i've got 170k on my 2003 camry and it runs like new. this car has been the best car i've bought. my friend is a mechanic and said the only thing he does to them is timing belts other then regular maintenance

[PieDoh]

Right! Exactly!