This thread is convincing me more and more that cars have become disposable devices. I thought of that seriously when I bought my Volt. If I hit a multi-thousand dollar repair bill on it, it's outa here. The Tundra - I might spend a bit more, but I'd weigh the cost of repairing it vs getting an early 70s Dodge or Ford pickup. I really only need something I can work on that has a heater and good air conditioning. My "fun" cars are all so old I can repair them or not. They aren't necessary for daily life.

When do you find out if the ball joints are bad? Or if you were being lied to?

I have been toiling over taking my FJ somewhere for repair. I decided to troubleshoot my funny clicking noise myself. I found it to be a bad front wheel bearing. I ordered a new bearing set for $140. Parts will be here Thursday. Looks to be a 1-2 hour job.

Thanks to you OP, I decided to DIY rather than get ripped by a shop.




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Back in my late teens when I didn't know how to change oil:
1). Got a couple moto carb adjustments from one place which didn't alter a damn thing in performance.
Mark the mechanic looked about half tilted when he was even there.
Probably didn't even look at it.

2). Got a moto valve adjustment and the same day the bike died across town.
Pushed it back across town(750K with full Vetter fairing) and discovered the nut had fallen off the valve stem.
Shop made excuses and threatened extra charges.

3). Got a car valve adjustment and it ran the same (like crap).
Shop made excuses and threatened extra charges.
Buddy discovered timing belt slipped and put one on.

At this point my free labor screwups where at least free...so I started learning at school of hard knocks.

She was surprised. I had suggested that she would be selected for this...but she was sure it would not be the case. It was very competitive...and a big honor...so at least I can be happy for her...but really makes us have to make an adjustment.

Oh well...will make lemonade. The change may be the best for all of us.

Have the shop put it on the lift and show you the slop with a dial gauge and book replacement specs.

They might be right. They might not.

Nice!. I used to like to do my own work too for most things. Being in the apt now, I just don't have that option.

I have to go by the last place that I took the car (i trust them) before this time and they'll check the ball joints for me just to make sure they didn't miss anything.

Once I've lost trust in a place, I just want to leave and write them off. I'm going to take it to the previous place (they did a half shaft and rear strut top mounts about two months ago). I told them what happened. They said that it's very unlikely that they would have missed bad ball joints, but to make sure they'll check them for me.

Right, modern cars... Sorry this turned into a lousy experience.

Hi Steve,

Sounds like a real pain and drain to the wallet. From what I read you went in a bit hot on paint work and also maintenance that could definitely have been deferred without hurting anything such as the coil packs. Of course that was in the beginning when you didn't know what else will hit you ... Similar on the vet - why do a biopsy on a 14 year old dog? You are going to operate or do chemo if it has a tumor? Definitely keep your buddy comfortable but also ask what the minimum dollar investment will be to get there.

If you stay in an apartment, you may want to revisit car choices and go back to something more main stream and cheaper to fix. Miata? :D - Seriously, what you are doing now sounds expensive and may not be worth deferring retirement or racking up debt over?

Take care,

George

It was a perfect storm of circumstance. Yes, there's stuff that we could have skipped or done differently, but there always is. Fortunately the biopsy on the tissue taken from the dog was only a small part of the overall cost, and we are happy to know that the dog is unlikely to have any other upcoming issues. The car has been pretty trouble free for several years. We just weren't expecting several things to come up at once. Fortunately, it's nothing that we can't handle.

I have had a couple of miatas. I'll stick with the boxster, although I'd love to test drive one of the new ND miatas.

Haha - yes I recall - hence my joke. I really like the looks of the hardtop convertible ND. There is a dark metallic one sitting in a parking lot close to my work and it looks very nice. Maybe in a few years when it is a 10 yo car and the boxster gets long in the tooth!

G