Not good car news. The car (1997 Merc Sable stationwagon with 213K miles) died Saturday, 45 miles from home. The engine turns on but the big belt that drives everything isn’t going around. On the good side - first new episode of Doctor Who. The problem with my car is the A/C compressor is shot and won’t turn, so it’s keeping the belt from driving anything else. The repair would be $1100.
This weekend I looked at 4 vehicles - a Pontiac Vibe is a 2008, 76K miles and $10K. There’s also another Taurus wagon, 2001, 86K miles and only $6000. It’s old, but not too many miles. I’ve had such luck with my Sable (which is the same as a Taurus), I’m tempted, but the check engine light was on. the dealership said today that it’s a computer board and will cost them $900 to replace, and they don’t think they’re going to bother selling the car (the took it in as trade, and it was so clean they thought they’d sell it). I’m also looking at a used Ford Focus, which I test-drove, but it ALSO had the check engine light on while in the dealer’s parking lot. I’m waiting to hear from that dealer what the issue is. And finally, I drove a 2007 Hyundai Tucson and really liked it. 80K miles and asking $10,500. I drove a Vibe with the same miles and asking $12K. Liking the Tucson better than the Vibe so far, and it’s rated a Best Buy from Consumer Reports. As is the Vibe and the Focus. Blergh. I’m Typhoid Mary for cars.
It sounds like the clutch on the AC compressor has jammed into the run position - if the AC is off, the compressor’s pulley should be free-spinning.
If you’ve got the V6 engine, there are two different belts for the car, depending on if you have AC. It shouldn’t cost $1100 to have your mechanic disable the AC and install the non-AC belt. Depending on the routing, it may be as simple as just using the different belt that doesn’t go near the compressor, or maybe they may need to remove the compressor’s pulley to make clearance.
Either way, it’s about $25 for a belt and some labor. Get the car running and then you can think about replacing it without the pressure of “I need a car today!”
I asked them about not running the A/C - they said the compressor was seized up and it wouldn’t turn. Because it wouldn’t turn, it keeps everything else from turning.
I’m fortunate enough to have my step-father’s car for the next couple weeks while he’s in California, so I don’t need to make a deal immediately, but I think it’s going to have to be done.
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I asked them about not running the A/C - they said the compressor was seized up and it wouldn’t turn. Because it wouldn’t turn, it keeps everything else from turning.
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That’s why I suggested the alternate belt routing so the new belt doesn’t try to spin the compressor.
Here’s a belt routing diagram for a 1997 Sable. The AC compressor is item #4 at the bottom. It looks like it would be easy to use a shorter belt and have the belt run from #3 to #5 without touching the compressor.
I think rerouting the belt to skip the AC sounds like a fine idea. But be aware you won’t get an effective defroster without AC, it dehumidifies the air.
Either way if you can live without AC for a while and your shop can’t/won’t put a smaller belt on, try another shop.
It sounds like you’re aiming for another car. If you a car to keep for a long time I’d go for the Vibe or Taurus. The Vibe drivetrain is basically Toyota. I don’t think Hyundais have proven they hold up well for ~10 years like other cars can.
I guess I figure I’m going to have to replace it either way, although I might get something for the trade if it was running. But Winter is coming and I can’t be without a defogger (no garage) and Summer is stsill pretty darned hot not ot have A/C, although I’d consider that for the short time we have left of Summer.
By this time I figure I might as well replace it now than in a couple months. Month situation will be about the same - I can afford to pay out of pocket for about $11K or more, if I wanted to go that route. I won’t finance and pay interest, so I want a car that is going to be reliable for as long as possible within my $11K budget.
I just bought a car at an auction for someone who needed one.
2000 Ford Taurus, 138k miles. The radio didn’t work, but the A/C was 34 degrees blowing out.
$500.00 American dollars.
If you want to save your 11k for a bit longer, you might want to check out your local police or auto auction.
I run across folks who need some help now and then and a simple car to get them to work and kids to school or the store makes more difference than you can possibly imagine. Even if they knew of such auctions, they couldn’t get there, or scrape 200-1,000 bucks together, so I just go find something and give it to them. This was number 14 I think in the last 9 years or so.
Clearly with some savings, you’re well ahead of those folks, but getting a deal on a used car is never a bad thing.
I’m actually going to another one in the morning just to see what I see.
ducati - Where do you live? I’ve been to police auctions here, but never bought. There’s a repo car auction next weekend, but I don’t know enough about cars to look at one and say that it’ll last till I get home, let alone drive it 65 miles a day on my daily commute.
Most auctions I go to give me 1 or 2 hours to inspect the cars. You’ve got all day!
You need to find yourself a car guy to go with you and take a look around.
If you have a neighborhood mechanic, maybe spiff him a hundred to go look with you for a couple of hours.
Frankly the repos are better than some of the stuff I get. I don’t get abandoned cars, only something someone was driving when they got arrested. That way I know it was someone’s daily driver 6 months ago. It’s not a perfect indicator of quality, but I’m a mechanic, so I can see and hear what others may not.
As a mechanic, I second the idea of circumventing the A/C compressor temporarily. It will get you moving and that’s what counts. I also recommend a motorcycle for a 65 mile commute if at all possible.
bikes get 50-70 mpg easy
shelbyville to nashville? beautiful ride every day.
cheap insurance
chicks dig bikes.
park where you want.
No good? Look for a Civic hybrid. It’s the only thing that comes close!
ducati - It would be a pretty ride, except when it’s a million degrees, or icy. And being a chick, not looking for a chick magnet. Honestly, motorcycles scare me. And I need something that I can haul 2-300 lbs of horse and dog food with.
Want to go to the auto auction in Shelbyville? I can throw $100 your way. (Did you look at most of those cars? I think they were repos from a title loan company)
Don’t take the mechanic that wants to rip you $1100 bucks for an AC compressor.
Quick check of RockAuto. The belt for skipping the AC, $10. They even make a bracket with a pulley for $22 to “simulate” the AC so you can use the regular belt.
20 minutes and a few wrenches and you are up and running.
An AC compressor is $150, so a garage is going to charge you $350 or so, it’ll take them less than an hour to unbolt and bolt in a new one, then evacuate your system and recharge it. Not an $1100 job. Unless its one of those cars where you have to pull the motor to change the spark plugs.
I’m all for driving what you have until its damn dear dead or you’re sick of fixing it. An AC compressor is not a reason to dump a car, especially one that has served you well. All a used car gets you is somebody else’s problems, problems
you don’t know about yet.
At least you already know whats wrong with your car.
I would say get the first Vibe, the 2008 one for 10k. Its essentially a Toyota Matrix and is a decent mileage vehicle with a good amount of storage space.
I would have to agree that an S10 or Ranger would likely suit your needs for hauling critter food. I think we even discussed this at the last dopefest. If you should find a six cylinder, it would even pull a light horse trailer. Be forwarned though, the S10 will be at least nine years old ('03 was the last year) and '12 is the last year for the Ranger, IIRC.
From personal experience, I can vouch for the S10s. I’m on the second one, having retired the first one when it was 15 years old and am past 200K on the present one. The only major thing I’ve had to replace on either has been a clutch. The 4 cylinder ones get ~30mpg too.
