cars

[Dude#1279435]

94 Probe on marketplace. $2500 no thx LOL. Would make a fun project car.

 

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Could very easily have been bias with my car. I dunno. Though I have to say it doesn't change anything with me. I'm going to continue to buy Super Tech cause it's cheaper.

I use Super Tech, too- works fine. It all probably comes from the same big tanks, anyway. As long as it has the required/recommended classifications, it should be fine.

 

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$1300 for a new pump and oring. Doesn't cover why it's overheating. No thx u.

The cooling system can be pressure tested- where is the steam coming from?

Where did yoiu get the quote for the water pump? I googled '1990 Camry Water pump and the part starts at $35.

How old is the thermostat? They don't last forever.

 

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Liked the Facebook listing where the $700 truck looks like it's sinking in field swamp.

It's just settling in for a long nap.

 

[Eppie]

94 Probe on marketplace. $2500 no thx LOL. Would make a fun project car.

Funny you should mention that model. The only new car I ever owned was an 89 Ford Probe (first model year). It was bare bones with a stick, so super reliable and nothing fancy to break down. The Probe was a joint project with Mazda. Mazda sold the MX3 and Ford sold the Probe. Both had the Mazda 4 cylinder 2.2L engine. That was a great engine and needed little servicing with regular oil changes. The Probe looked better than the MX3 so it had the best of both cars.

It was a hatch back and with the rear seats folded down had a surprising amount of space. I used to fit my bass cabinet, Ampeg amplifier and two basses in the back for gigs. The rear deck was easily removable. It was front wheel drive, so it pushed around the corners, but it handled well in the snow up here and was a whole lot of fun to drive. I often wondered what some more horsepower would have done for that car. The bottom eventually rusted out and we traded it in for a Taurus station wagon as we had kids by then. The engine still ran like a top and would have lasted many more years.

 

[j_garcia]

Funny you should mention that model. The only new car I ever owned was an 89 Ford Probe (first model year). It was bare bones with a stick, so super reliable and nothing fancy to break down. The Probe was a joint project with Mazda. Mazda sold the MX3 and Ford sold the Probe. Both had the Mazda 4 cylinder 2.2L engine. That was a great engine and needed little servicing with regular oil changes. The Probe looked better than the MX3 so it had the best of both cars.

It was a hatch back and with the rear seats folded down had a surprising amount of space. I used to fit my bass cabinet, Ampeg amplifier and two basses in the back for gigs. The rear deck was easily removable. It was front wheel drive, so it pushed around the corners, but it handled well in the snow up here and was a whole lot of fun to drive. I often wondered what some more horsepower would have done for that car. The bottom eventually rusted out and we traded it in for a Taurus station wagon as we had kids by then. The engine still ran like a top and would have lasted many more years.

probe GT That one had more power. I wasn't crazy about the looks, but they seemed to be good cars and I still see them on the road.

 

[Eppie]

probe GT That one had more power. I wasn't crazy about the looks, but they seemed to be good cars and I still see them on the road.

Yup, that had the 2.5L V6 while I had the 2.2L inline 4. The looks were actually ahead of their time in 1990. I got a lot of compliments in that car. Had a killer after market stereo system too.

 

[Dude#1279435]

The cooling system can be pressure tested- where is the steam coming from?

Where did yoiu get the quote for the water pump? I googled '1990 Camry Water pump and the part starts at $35.

How old is the thermostat? They don't last forever.

Steam from radiator and radiator cap.

$200 mechanic "shop" price LOL.

New thermostat OEM.

 

[Dude#1279435]

Wow 83 Cavalier Wagon. Time capsule price of $5500 LOL.

 

[Dude#1279435]

I'm looking at a VW down the block, but from what I hear you have to stay on top of the maintenance. More expensive to repair than American or Japanese.

 

[highfigh]

Steam from radiator and radiator cap.

$200 mechanic "shop" price LOL.

New thermostat OEM.

From radiator, as in, places other than an open cap?

The parts aftermarket is full of very good options to OEM and in many cases, the OEM parts are hte same. I have driven GM vehicles for a long time and the price difference and better warranty on aftermarket parts are main reasons I have gotten so many miles from them. I don't do transmissions, other than fluid & filter, but most general service is easy enough. A nearby Chevy dealer quoted me $400 to replace rear rotors and pads, with MY parts. That place is back on my poop list.

 

[Dude#1279435]

From radiator, as in, places other than an open cap?

The parts aftermarket is full of very good options to OEM and in many cases, the OEM parts are hte same. I have driven GM vehicles for a long time and the price difference and better warranty on aftermarket parts are main reasons I have gotten so many miles from them. I don't do transmissions, other than fluid & filter, but most general service is easy enough. A nearby Chevy dealer quoted me $400 to replace rear rotors and pads, with MY parts. That place is back on my poop list.

Cap and middle of radiator where the fans sit.

I'll probably NAPA it for now on. Not too confident in the Duralast brand from Autozone. Maybe O'Reilly.

 

[highfigh]

Cap and middle of radiator where the fans sit.

I'll probably NAPA it for now on. Not too confident in the Duralast brand from Autozone. Maybe O'Reilly.

NAPA delivers and they have 20% off coupons if you order online, too- the 20% off is for orders over $100. I have typically bought from O-Reilley, but ocasionally from other places- I went to Advance on a Sunday afternoon and asked about an oil filter because none of the books were there and they like to sell their own brands, a well as OEM with numbers I don't recognize. The guy said "Yeah, I don't really know anything about his stuff". I used to go to a place that had been around for more than 60 years, but after AutoXone, Advance and O-Reilly opened on the same street, it became too much, even though ALL of the dealers bought from them, EVERYONE knew auto parts backward & forward and they had a radiator repair shop. The Advance store near my house has some good people and it's not one of the stores being shut down, but the machine shop was closed and everything was taken out- huge mistake, IMO, but that's bean-counters for ya. Rock Auto has great prices but their communication is terrible.

 

[Dude#1279435]

Looking at Mazdas, the Tribute etc.... boy, sure hope they distanced themselves from Ford.

 

[Dude#1279435]

Ma owned a Ford Escape once. 2000s I believe. She was spending 3K a year on repairs, though she was taking it to a dealer for the repairs. Basically that's the Mazda Tribute I guess. Main problem is underneath with rust. If it's reasonably priced I'd think on it.

 

[Dude#1279435]

NAPA delivers and they have 20% off coupons if you order online, too- the 20% off is for orders over $100. I have typically bought from O-Reilley, but ocasionally from other places- I went to Advance on a Sunday afternoon and asked about an oil filter because none of the books were there and they like to sell their own brands, a well as OEM with numbers I don't recognize. The guy said "Yeah, I don't really know anything about his stuff". I used to go to a place that had been around for more than 60 years, but after AutoXone, Advance and O-Reilly opened on the same street, it became too much, even though ALL of the dealers bought from them, EVERYONE knew auto parts backward & forward and they had a radiator repair shop. The Advance store near my house has some good people and it's not one of the stores being shut down, but the machine shop was closed and everything was taken out- huge mistake, IMO, but that's bean-counters for ya. Rock Auto has great prices but their communication is terrible.

Refurbed Duralast alternator in the Camry. It was the wiring touching the heat shield and one of those tiny fuses that burnt out which might have contributed to killing the alt. Not real sure. It didn't recharge. The Dura is certainly better than the old one but every once in a while I hear a very brief delay which I didn't before so I dunno. I read up on Dura thermostats from reddit and avoided that like the plague. I went to NAPA for a fail safe but they didn't have it so ordered the oem through ebay. Boiled it after the overheating and it opened. I have a Dura battery, but that doesn't bother me. Mechanical parts and I'm not too sure regarding Dura.

 

[Mikado463]

I have had good luck with Rock Auto as well .........

RockAuto | All The Parts Your Car Will Ever Need

Auto Parts for Your Vehicle at Reliably Low Prices. Fast Online Catalog. DIY-Easy. Your Choice of Quality. Full Manufacturer Warranty.

www.rockauto.com

 

[highfigh]

Refurbed Duralast alternator in the Camry. It was the wiring touching the heat shield and one of those tiny fuses that burnt out which might have contributed to killing the alt. Not real sure. It didn't recharge. The Dura is certainly better than the old one but every once in a while I hear a very brief delay which I didn't before so I dunno. I read up on Dura thermostats from reddit and avoided that like the plague. I went to NAPA for a fail safe but they didn't have it so ordered the oem through ebay. Boiled it after the overheating and it opened. I have a Dura battery, but that doesn't bother me. Mechanical parts and I'm not too sure regarding Dura.

Stant is the brand of thermostats and radiator caps I have used since the '70s, but I have also used the generic ones, too- it just needs to hold about 15psi- if the pressure is much higher, something is wrong.

Yeah, fail-safe thermostat if it would actually work that way- the last one didn't. I'll buy some OEM parts but not from a dealer, unless I have no choice.

The MKE area has some good auto electric rebuild shops and I have used one specific shop for over 35 years- great people and they have gone well above & beyond on several occasions. The last time was when the flex plate in my van failed a short time after I replaced the starter. As it turned out, that wasn't needed- failure to crank was a symptom of the flex plate and when it finally went to meet its maker as I was driving to work, it took out the shaft in the starter. After the flex plate replacement was done, the transmission shop said it cranked a few times, then stopped. I called the place where the starter had come from and they delivered one to the transmission shop, then refused to take payment when I stopped in to take care of the replacement cost.

 

[highfigh]

I have had good luck with Rock Auto as well .........

RockAuto | All The Parts Your Car Will Ever Need

Auto Parts for Your Vehicle at Reliably Low Prices. Fast Online Catalog. DIY-Easy. Your Choice of Quality. Full Manufacturer Warranty.

www.rockauto.com

I assumed some things about the brake problems I had and ended up buying the rotors & pads from Rock, but they don't have phone support, so I went to NAPA. O'Reilley and the others haven't been impressing me lately and with discounts, points and free delivery (I'm still stranded), I'm buying more from them.

Rock has great prices but I think I'm going to buy lightweight parts that don't require shipping cores back because the cost is high. I have also bought parts from Amazon because of the prices, free shipping and speedy delivery.