Car repairs - when it rains it pours...

[stlouie_lipp]

$257 yesterday for an oil pressure sensor....will it ever end?

[jim]

$257 yesterday for an oil pressure sensor....will it ever end?

It's especially a kick in the pants when you know it's probably a $2 electronic gizmo. "The oil pressure is fine sir, but the complicated electronic system that measures it is broke - $257".

[haltz]

I drove relatively crappy cars for a while after I got my license. Like a lot of people, of course. I had a five-speed Camry that I loved, and a '92 Cherokee. I replaced a fender on the Camry and worked on the Cherokee myself quite a bit, even though I know next to nothing about cars. A trip to Borders and U-Wrench-It and I was in business. Especially for cosmetic issues caused by my retarded need for speed and recklessness.

My automotive dream world came crashing down when my father offered me his Q45 for a song. It was still relatively old, but it was super nice to me. I bought it thinking that I'd love the bells and whistles, etc. Not so.

The clock has a minute hand and an hour hand! I'm peeing my pants this is so cool! Should I figure out what time it is or avoid the car in front of me? Decisions!

Not only was I putting premium gas in the thing, but every few weeks it seemed like I needed to replace something electronic. My battery died when I left my lights on during a post-midnight trip to the Isle of Capri in Booneville (whatever, I had a bit of a predilection for cards) and I had to buy a new computer to make it start again. Replace the fuel injectors for an aluminum V8? Not as fun as it sounds.

Not driving ever is pretty cool.

[stlouie_lipp]

$257 yesterday for an oil pressure sensor....will it ever end?

It's especially a kick in the pants when you know it's probably a $2 electronic gizmo. "The oil pressure is fine sir, but the complicated electronic system that measures it is broke - $257".

Pretty close...part = $25, labor = $225.

[jim]

$257 yesterday for an oil pressure sensor....will it ever end?

It's especially a kick in the pants when you know it's probably a $2 electronic gizmo. "The oil pressure is fine sir, but the complicated electronic system that measures it is broke - $257".

Pretty close...part = $25, labor = $225.

I guarantee you the part is marked up big time. I'll bet it literally is a $2 part.

[Swatcat27]

After shelling 450$ on the charcoal canister last week to get rid of the 'check engine' light, the freaking thing comes back on again. I'm tired of talking to the guys at the dealer - I havent called my siblings this often !! #&^&@$&

[ghostrunner]

DON'T DO THAT!!!!

Don't flush the tranny.

This made me laugh. For reasons entirely unrelated to automobiles.

[cardinalkarp]

After shelling 450$ on the charcoal canister last week to get rid of the 'check engine' light, the freaking thing comes back on again. I'm tired of talking to the guys at the dealer - I havent called my siblings this often !! #&^&@$&

Gotta love dealerships. Now they will come up w/ a new "problem" that is causing the light to come on.

[jim]

After shelling 450$ on the charcoal canister last week to get rid of the 'check engine' light, the freaking thing comes back on again. I'm tired of talking to the guys at the dealer - I havent called my siblings this often !! #&^&@$&

Gotta love dealerships. Now they will come up w/ a new "problem" that is causing the light to come on.

We have the same problem in a 97 Taurus. It's the catalytic converter. We did the $500 fix last year to get it to pass the immesions testing, and a week after the "fix" the light came right back on again. We've been told by our mechanic that we need a new converter - $1200 - to get it to pass immesions.

We have until Dec 31 to decide what to do. The car has been my sons since he learned to drive - he is now a Junior in college. It was my wifes car prior - but since my son has taken it it's been beat to death. 130K miles - so we aren't realy crazy about dumping $1,200 in it. If it continues to run perfectly until the last week of December, I guess we will bite the bullet and hope to get another 6 months to a year out of the car.

As it is now, not being able to pass the test, we can't even really sell it.

[cardinalkarp]

As it is now, not being able to pass the test, we can't even really sell it.

Well I can guarantee you could trade it in somewhere. I doubt they run an emissions test on the car when you trade it in.

Do you know any mom and pop shops that do inspections? Alot of times you can go there and they can "get it to pass inspection".