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Apr. 17th, 2012 11:14 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
disneydream06I stopped this morning to look at cars.
The Ford dealer has a seperate lot for their "clearance" cars. Aka, they don't want that stuff on the lot with their nicer used cars. I drove over to the other lot. Neither the Civic or the Impala were there. Sold? Who knows.
So I headed over to the Chevy dealer to look at/buy the Explorer. Guess what was pulled out of the line up and "sold"? ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I left my number with the guys "just in case" the deal doesn't go through.
THEN..........................
On the way home m car's info center starts to read Coolant Hot Please Idle Engine. So I pulled over and sat there.
THEN...........................
It starts to read Engine Overheated Turn Off Engine.
ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So I looked in my owners manual and it said when this happens it goes into a mode that will allow you to drive 50 miles to get to a safe place. So I turned it back on and headed straight for my mechanic. He said I obviously lost my "water" some where. They are going to look at it and get back to me with what's wrong.
So I walked home and have gotten on line to look at what I kind find, assuming that the damn car is dead and not worth fixing now.
What the hell did I do to deserve this?????
Found some possibilities. Not the greatest combination of price and mileage, but I am no longer in a position to be super choosey.
The Ford dealer has a seperate lot for their "clearance" cars. Aka, they don't want that stuff on the lot with their nicer used cars. I drove over to the other lot. Neither the Civic or the Impala were there. Sold? Who knows.
So I headed over to the Chevy dealer to look at/buy the Explorer. Guess what was pulled out of the line up and "sold"? ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I left my number with the guys "just in case" the deal doesn't go through.
THEN..........................
On the way home m car's info center starts to read Coolant Hot Please Idle Engine. So I pulled over and sat there.
THEN...........................
It starts to read Engine Overheated Turn Off Engine.
ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So I looked in my owners manual and it said when this happens it goes into a mode that will allow you to drive 50 miles to get to a safe place. So I turned it back on and headed straight for my mechanic. He said I obviously lost my "water" some where. They are going to look at it and get back to me with what's wrong.
So I walked home and have gotten on line to look at what I kind find, assuming that the damn car is dead and not worth fixing now.
What the hell did I do to deserve this?????
Found some possibilities. Not the greatest combination of price and mileage, but I am no longer in a position to be super choosey.
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no subject
Date: 2012-04-17 05:45 pm (UTC)No one told me!
Okay, starting off with what you have now and it's issues, I recall you had a 90's vintage Cadillac. It sounds like what you experienced was the 'limp home' mode. That basically was a program to try to help save the engine from total meltdown in the event of cooling system failure by running the car on one bank of 4 of the 8 cylinders, then switching to the other bank while the previous half of the engine cooled some.
The Caddy 'Northstar' engine ( I'm guessing you have that one ) was made out of several different types of metal alloys that expand, contract (and warp) at different rates - that's why they came up with that 'limp' feature to keep the car running and the engine somewhat protected from overheating.
I would think if you have extensive damage to your Northstar engine, it could be an expensive fix.
I don't have an idea of what you're looking at, but I took a stab at the Impala (circa 2001-ish) and you might want to be careful.
http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/Reliability.aspx?year=2001&make=Chevrolet&model=Impala
Look at the chart on the bottom of the page and you'll note 'significant' engine problems reported with 2003-4 Impalas. I'd use the MSN page (another like it....) to get an idea of potential problems reported by a large number of owners.
Or hit me up, and I can look around online for you.
no subject
Date: 2012-04-17 10:19 pm (UTC)I got it to my mechanic. They looked at it. Topped it up with coolant, but can't figure out what caused the problem. He said the drove it all over and nothing happened. UGH...
Well, I am not the some what cautious owner of a 2000 Impala. It's identical to the one I owned before the Caddy just a different color. Cautious due to the mileage on it. 147,000+. It was listed for $4,450.
Now I have to figure out what I am going to do with said Caddy. See if I can maybe find somebody to buy it. I know at the work want ads there were a couple of ads of people saying they were looking for old cars to buy. Or maybe ask my mechanic if he has any suggestions.
Thank you for offering advice.
I will gladly accept any advice you ever what to send my way.
no subject
Date: 2012-04-18 12:40 am (UTC)http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/Reliability.aspx?year=2000&make=Chevrolet&model=Impala
I would suspect the drop in reliability after 2002 was the change away from the reliable, trusty Buick 3800 V6. If you car says something like 'Series xxx 3800" or 3.8, you're good. Those engines were bulletproof with a bit of TLC.
There were some notable exceptions and I wrote about a while back:
http://dan4behr.livejournal.com/240485.html
no subject
Date: 2012-04-17 06:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-04-17 10:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-04-17 09:04 pm (UTC)That really sucks!
I'm sorry this is happening to you. :(
Hopefully you will find the right replacement soon.
no subject
Date: 2012-04-17 10:20 pm (UTC)Thank you for your support. :)
no subject
Date: 2012-04-18 02:42 am (UTC)What color is it?
Let's hope this one stays healthy for you for a very long time!!!!
*hugs*
no subject
Date: 2012-04-18 04:01 am (UTC)From your lips to God's ears. :)
no subject
Date: 2012-04-18 09:42 am (UTC)Silver & Gray?
Boring????
Harumph.....
no subject
Date: 2012-04-18 09:52 am (UTC)It's just that so many cars on the road are silver.
They had another 2000 Impala that was maroon, but it was a cloth interior. Looked sharp though. And it was a little cheaper.
They also replaced the rearview mirror for me. There was some kind of default or something in the glass or the reflective part of the mirror. :)
Could have been nice and gave me a full tank of gas, but can't have everything. :p
Guess I need to come up with a new car icon picture. :p
no subject
Date: 2012-04-18 11:55 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-04-18 12:01 pm (UTC)