Need help quick!

[Liquifire]

any update yet? Was it the starter?

[InfidelRebel]

I'm only sharing this for a good laugh. As I said, I spend all night last night looking around with a flashlight, trying to figure out what was wrong. After unplugging the positive battery cable, reconnecting it and getting power, then trying to start the car only to find the keys were stuck again, I'd again disconnect the battery, rinse and repeat, trying to figure out what the hell could be wrong. I checked the starter and everywhere I could think for loose connections, and finally called an on-site mechanic.

As he got there, I was showing him the problem, and as I was messing with the positive battery cable, I reached over to the negative and...loose. Basically I spent the whole night messing around with it, called a mechanic, and then figured out the problem myself. I paid him the $35 house call fee even though he didn't have to do anything, then went on my way, ego bruised.

2300 miles down, 700 to go. I got an oil change yesterday, and the guy there told me the rubber mount that holds the exhaust system up was broken, so when I drive over speed bumps I'm hitting the exhaust. I'm guessing that's what caused the exhaust leak in the first place. The exhaust isn't completely falling off, it's just a little lower than it should be. Despite that, highway driving still isn't an issue, and the car has yet to let me down, except mocking me with that loose negative battery cable.

The coolant is also extremely rusty, but the car doesn't overheat so I'm going to wait until I get to Vegas to do it myself, they wanted $75 to change the coolant.

When explaining my cross country situation to the mechanic who changed the oil, even he seemed suprised that my $500 car has nothing seriously wrong with it. He said the motor and tranny seem great, no strange sounds or anything like that.

Let's just hope I didn't jinx myself by saying that. If I make it I'll let you guys know in a day or two.

[Liquifire]

I'm only sharing this for a good laugh. As I said, I spend all night last night looking around with a flashlight, trying to figure out what was wrong. After unplugging the positive battery cable, reconnecting it and getting power, then trying to start the car only to find the keys were stuck again, I'd again disconnect the battery, rinse and repeat, trying to figure out what the hell could be wrong. I checked the starter and everywhere I could think for loose connections, and finally called an on-site mechanic.

As he got there, I was showing him the problem, and as I was messing with the positive battery cable, I reached over to the negative and...loose. Basically I spent the whole night messing around with it, called a mechanic, and then figured out the problem myself. I paid him the $35 house call fee even though he didn't have to do anything, then went on my way, ego bruised.

2300 miles down, 700 to go. I got an oil change yesterday, and the guy there told me the rubber mount that holds the exhaust system up was broken, so when I drive over speed bumps I'm hitting the exhaust. I'm guessing that's what caused the exhaust leak in the first place. The exhaust isn't completely falling off, it's just a little lower than it should be. Despite that, highway driving still isn't an issue, and the car has yet to let me down, except mocking me with that loose negative battery cable.

The coolant is also extremely rusty, but the car doesn't overheat so I'm going to wait until I get to Vegas to do it myself, they wanted $75 to change the coolant.

When explaining my cross country situation to the mechanic who changed the oil, even he seemed suprised that my $500 car has nothing seriously wrong with it. He said the motor and tranny seem great, no strange sounds or anything like that.

Let's just hope I didn't jinx myself by saying that. If I make it I'll let you guys know in a day or two.

Even though it didnt make you feel the greatest, a $35 fee is a small price to pay to get you back on your way with no issues........Make sure you do a thorough job when you clean out your coolant and rinse and flush several times before refilling with coolant. I hope that this stuff hasnt eaten away at your radiator or heater core too much already....... good luck the rest of your trip.........when are you supposed to arrive in vegas?

[InfidelRebel]

Should get in tonight (I'm 300 miles away). I know the radiator needs to be flushed, but I was in the middle of nowhere and they wanted $100. I just added some dexcool, and when I get to Vegas tonight I'll take care of everything it needs, including mounting the exhaust, flushing the radiator, changing the brake pads and rotors, replacing the sway bar, possibly fixing the struts (If I can figure out how to do it myself), replacing the blower motor resistor, charging the AC, replacing the burnt out headlight, etc.

Only thing that sucks is that it's obvious whoever owned the car before me didn't take good care of it. Overall a lot of the undercarriage is pretty rusty, so I'm hoping it doesn't make replacing parts more complicated. I broke a socket wrench (A cheap one, but still) trying to replace a headlight, I don't know if the bolt was rusted or if it was just overtightened. Ehh, even with all the problems, I'm just glad it got me across the country. Even if it dies the second I get to Vegas, it was still worth the money. I will definitely try to fix it up if I can, I'll probably start a thread to keep track of how much money I end up spending on fixing it compared to how much mechanics quote me.

Time to hit the road again.