[The Godfather]

That one year in which it has given you two mechanical troubles. For example, a locked shoe which was a symptom of a brake system in need of replacement, then a radiator that springs a bad leak, making a lovely maple syrup smell.
Either I get really good at fixing the car, since I just know that other problems will show up twice a year, or I buy another 3 y.o. vehicle.
How did you take it when you realized that your vehicle reached full maturity?

[iMOTOR]

I don’t have trouble with my cars.

[bstone]

Bring it by my shop. It the radiator is leaking, dump a bottle of ground black pepper in it. If the leak is small then it can plug it up well. The brake job won't be too bad, tho I prefer disc brakes.

[brassplayersrock²]

Please just use black pepper in the kitchen or at the barbecue.

[bstone]

Originally Posted by brassplayersrock² 

Please just use black pepper in the kitchen or at the barbecue.

Or in the radiator. It's real, no joke.

[Thorzdad]

Originally Posted by The Godfather 

How did you take it when you realized that your vehicle reached full maturity?

We kept driving it, performing regular maintenance and making the occasional repair when needed. Just passed 345,000 miles this week. It's a 2001.

[Laminar]

[Thorzdad]

And, at whom, exactly, was the grammar lesson directed?

[imitchellg5]

Probably the OP who misused "its" in the title. I highly doubt the car is in it is senior years.

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by Thorzdad 

And, at whom, exactly, was the grammar lesson directed?

The Goa'uld. Trying to rule the galaxy and forcing their misuse of the apostrophe onto us all. The slippery barstewards!

[Thorzdad]

L. I never looked that the title. Good catch.

[Sealobo]

what's the make and model?

[WhaMe]

Originally Posted by bstone 

Bring it by my shop. It the radiator is leaking, dump a bottle of ground black pepper in it. If the leak is small then it can plug it up well.

Does AutoZone sell this ground black pepper product?

[Laminar]

Originally Posted by WhaMe 

Does AutoZone sell this ground black pepper product?

You can get legit radiator stop-leak from any auto-parts, convenience, or big-box store.

[Thorzdad]

Any radiator stop-leak product, be it black pepper or the goo they sell at a parts store, is, at best, a temporary fix. And they introduce things into your cooling system that shouldn't be there. It doesn't stay in your radiator. Anything you add travels throughout your engine, accumulating here and there, potentially fouling sensors, the water pump, etc. They're ok as temp fix until you can get the radiator fixed or replaced. But, if you use any of the stop-leak products, you need to make sure it's all flushed out once you do repair/replace the radiator.

[SSharon]

My car, a 1992 Camry, is entering its senior years. It isn't high mileage at all, but the years and weather have taken their toll. I'm still impressed that the engine starts on the first try every morning.

[macaddict0001]

Radiators aren't that expensive and brakes are a wear and tear item, Depending on what is needed.

[sek929]

I know a car has fully matured when I can gingerly kick hunks of rust off the frame.

[iMOTOR]

How do you know if a woman is fully matured?

[imitchellg5]

Originally Posted by SSharon 

My car, a 1992 Camry, is entering its senior years. It isn't high mileage at all, but the years and weather have taken their toll. I'm still impressed that the engine starts on the first try every morning.

New Jersey winters are hard on any car.

Off topic, today the original DieHard battery from my Honda finally went kaput. It's 11 years old. Bravo!

[Sealobo]

Originally Posted by iMOTOR 

How do you know if a woman is fully matured?

when she stops giving head?

[downinflames68]

Car-Part.com--Used Auto Parts Market Order a new radiator.

RockAuto Auto Parts Order new brake parts.

Invite friend who is good at cars over. Serve beer.

Laugh as you save $1000+

[SSharon]

Originally Posted by imitchellg5 

New Jersey winters are hard on any car.

The car actually "grew up" in Chicago, I've only lived in NJ for a few months.

[bstone]

Originally Posted by SSharon 

The car actually "grew up" in Chicago, I've only lived in NJ for a few months.

Chicago is very harsh for cars. Lots of saltwater. Tons of rust.

[iMOTOR]

Originally Posted by downinflames68 

Laugh as your car smashes into a tree because your brakes were fubared

fixed

[bstone]

Nothing a new engine, transmission, suspension and exhaust system can't fix.

[bstone]

Originally Posted by bstone 

Nothing a new engine, transmission, suspension and exhaust system can't fix.

Or the ECU, wiring, battery, alternator, AC compressor and heater core.

[andi*pandi]

Giving up an old car is similar in feeling as putting an old dog down.

[angelmb]

Originally Posted by andi*pandi 

Giving up an old car is similar in feeling as putting an old dog down.

This.

[tooki]

Originally Posted by andi*pandi 

Giving up an old car is similar in feeling as putting an old dog down.

That’s what I thought it would be like, till the time actually came. Instead, I was like “good riddance, ol’ Civic, you were great but this relationship overlasted its stay” — “Hi Mazda3, I love you!”

(Now, having to sell the Mazda to move here… that hurt! )

[imitchellg5]

Originally Posted by SSharon 

The car actually "grew up" in Chicago, I've only lived in NJ for a few months.

Well that's just as bad, or worse.

[brassplayersrock²]

Little brother, you’re talking about the second part, right?

[downinflames68]

I really think people trade out of cars because they don't understand how to maintain them. My 91 civic with 227k was kind of a POS when I bought it for $800. $150 later, and rolling on my unused prelude wheels/tires with my roommates unused coilover system, the car is awesome. We buffed it out, modded it for gas mileage, tuned it up, threw in new speakers, and it gets 40.45mpg while traveling at about 85mph. It's not luxurious, but it has power everything and it's a 5spd, and it's fun to drive. Total investment is $950, not including the parts we had laying around and registration.

[andi*pandi]

Most people can't do that Rob. Most people's idea of maintenance is getting the oil changed regularly by a reputable mechanic.

I think it's awesome that you can though.

My insurance just upped the payout on my repair to $2k. I can't decide whether to take the money and run, or find another repair shop who can do the job cheaper so I can use the money for other repairs the car needs. That car part site is interesting, it shows the used bumper kit I need that the repair shop said he couldn't find. Or maybe it wasn't good enough condition for him. Agh. Hassle.

[Eriamjh]

When car gets used enough and old enough, most repairs are maintenance, not breakdowns.

On my 1966 Lincoln, ALL repairs are maintenance!

[downinflames68]

Originally Posted by andi*pandi 

Most people can't do that Rob. Most people's idea of maintenance is getting the oil changed regularly by a reputable mechanic.

Most people are morons. Maintenance includes checking up on things every once in a while, looking for signs of things that will snowball into big problems later on. When you jack up the car to rotate the tires, try wiggling them. Any play? Worn suspension. When you have them off, check the rotors. Look good? Or look rusty with uneven pad deposits? How are the pads? Check struts for leaking fluid. Check calipers for leaking fluid. Make sure pads are wearing evenly. Check bottom of engine compartment for leaking fluid. See any? What is it? From where? Read owners manual for suggestions regarding regular wear items. Almost ALL parts on a car's suspension are items that wear out. Springs, struts, balljoints, tie rods, control arms, bushings, wheel bearings, etc. Check the exhaust for signs of rust. Any leaks? It's super simple, and I'm pretty sure with basic training you could do the same thing Andi. Then all you have to do is order your own parts and find a shop that installs parts for you, instead of using their own. You'll save boatloads of $.

My insurance just upped the payout on my repair to $2k. I can't decide whether to take the money and run, or find another repair shop who can do the job cheaper so I can use the money for other repairs the car needs. That car part site is interesting, it shows the used bumper kit I need that the repair shop said he couldn't find. Or maybe it wasn't good enough condition for him. Agh. Hassle.

Post a pic, let me see the damage.

[sek929]

Most people pay for convenience, since they don't wish to spend their time away from work working on a car.

Recently I needed a new front wheel hub assembly on my 4x4 Sonoma, are you trying to tell me that is something a layman can attempt by themselves armed only with a manual?

[Uncle Skeleton]

Originally Posted by downinflames68 

Most people are morons. ... When you jack up the car

You think I'm a moron just because I live in an apartment and don't have any way to jack up my car to change my own tires?

[Doofy]

I'm happy to be a moron. I'd much rather be stroking pussies while my car bloke takes care of my cars for me.

[andi*pandi]

[Veltliner]

My old Mercedes is entering his years as a classic.

A long time he was just old, now he's a classic.

And extremely reliable.

[andi*pandi]

I've put pix up for those who care about my saga. See other thread.

[downinflames68]

Originally Posted by sek929 

Most people pay for convenience, since they don't wish to spend their time away from work working on a car.

Recently I needed a new front wheel hub assembly on my 4x4 Sonoma, are you trying to tell me that is something a layman can attempt by themselves armed only with a manual?

If you have basic tools, swapping a front wheel hub/knuckle is pretty easy. You don't even need a lift. I did it on my neon and I didn't even have a manual. Unless your balljoints bolt in though, you will probably need new ones to do it.

[downinflames68]

Originally Posted by Uncle Skeleton 

You think I'm a moron just because I live in an apartment and don't have any way to jack up my car to change my own tires?

Yep.

Most cars have jacks located in the trunk. Hence you're definitely a moron.

[brassplayersrock²]

Originally Posted by downinflames68 

Yep.

Most cars have jacks located in the trunk. Hence you're definitely a moron.

[Saved for future reference.

[Uncle Skeleton]

Originally Posted by downinflames68 

Yep.

Most cars have jacks located in the trunk. Hence you're definitely a moron.

Seattle is a hilly place, moron

[Railroader]

Anyone using the factory* supplied jack for any other purpose to change a flat tire in an emergency is a moron. They are not intended, nor designed, for any other purpose.





*This is not universally true, though it is accurate for 99.9% of all factory supplied jacks.

[downinflames68]

And what does one do when changing a flat? They jack up the car, remove the wheel, and replace it with a spare. By doing this multiple times... you can... tada... rotate your tires and check everything out.

Originally Posted by downinflames68 

Most people are morons... all you have to do is order your own parts and find a shop that installs parts for you, instead of using their own. You'll save boatloads of $.

Hmm... at work my time is billed out at $125 per hour. A mechanic costs $75 an hour. Mechanics are quicker at it than I am, due to experience. They'd likely take less time than I would.

I'm sorry for not understanding your point. How does saving $50/hour by having a professional mechanic do it for me make me a moron?

[The Godfather]

Do you see the $125 for every hour you work?

On the other hand, Linux users laugh at Mac users for spending thousands of dollars for stuff that they can compile themselves.