Joined
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6 Posts
Brand new here, could use some thoughts on my car... I know absolutely NOTHING about cars except where to put the fluids.
I’m on my third Escort- got my first one, an ’82 charcoal and silver wagon in 1984 (my favorite car- ever!) that finally just rusted away. I bought brand new in 1990 a dark blue four-door that cracked the block and also rusted away (even my mechanic brother couldn’t resuscitate the poor thing...) and my current one, a 1999 four door that I adore and is my problem.
The engine blew in April; the little thing managed to get me off the highway and into a gas station before it died. Got it towed to ProCare where they proclaimed it DOA and quoted me $4000 to replace the engine! Friend at work has a mechanic who quoted $1500 plus labor to replace the engine (I had since moved from Pittsburgh, PA to Springtown, TX and can’t access my brother, the mechanic, anymore) so I had it towed there and the engine replaced. He “thought” the alternator might be going bad, and sure enough, on the way home it croaked again.... they jumped the battery and I got it back to the mechanic and replaced the battery with a new one. I got home; it drove great for a few days, and yes, died again. This time I towed it home and there it sits.
Just before it died the last time, the car started revving, the speedometer went to zero (as I was going 60) and it started to shudder. It did get me off the highway again (God bless the little guy!) before totally stalling.
So does this sound like an alternator problem? After stranding me (although safely) three times in two weeks, I’m gunshy. And any idea what it costs to replace this? Money is super tight right now. I'm driving a friend’s truck- the gas mileage is awful! I was used to 35MPG, this thing gets 14MPG! And costs twice as much to fill up!
I would take it back to the first mechanic, but he’s 50 miles away and I can’t afford to tow yet again.... *sigh*
Help. Please...
I’m on my third Escort- got my first one, an ’82 charcoal and silver wagon in 1984 (my favorite car- ever!) that finally just rusted away. I bought brand new in 1990 a dark blue four-door that cracked the block and also rusted away (even my mechanic brother couldn’t resuscitate the poor thing...) and my current one, a 1999 four door that I adore and is my problem.
The engine blew in April; the little thing managed to get me off the highway and into a gas station before it died. Got it towed to ProCare where they proclaimed it DOA and quoted me $4000 to replace the engine! Friend at work has a mechanic who quoted $1500 plus labor to replace the engine (I had since moved from Pittsburgh, PA to Springtown, TX and can’t access my brother, the mechanic, anymore) so I had it towed there and the engine replaced. He “thought” the alternator might be going bad, and sure enough, on the way home it croaked again.... they jumped the battery and I got it back to the mechanic and replaced the battery with a new one. I got home; it drove great for a few days, and yes, died again. This time I towed it home and there it sits.
Just before it died the last time, the car started revving, the speedometer went to zero (as I was going 60) and it started to shudder. It did get me off the highway again (God bless the little guy!) before totally stalling.
So does this sound like an alternator problem? After stranding me (although safely) three times in two weeks, I’m gunshy. And any idea what it costs to replace this? Money is super tight right now. I'm driving a friend’s truck- the gas mileage is awful! I was used to 35MPG, this thing gets 14MPG! And costs twice as much to fill up!
I would take it back to the first mechanic, but he’s 50 miles away and I can’t afford to tow yet again.... *sigh*
Help. Please...