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Car Repair Advice T__T

Blogs > FraCuS
Post a Reply
1 2 Next All
FraCuS
Profile Blog Joined January 2010
United States1072 Posts
June 05 2012 00:23 GMT
#1
My buddy has a 1997 Ford Taurus that doesn't work, We've tried turning it on but it seems like he needs a new spark plug... well a month later its still sitting in the parking lot near our houses. I have no knowledge or mechanical skills. So I can't install it my self. T__T The car can't move unless the spark plug is install i guess...He is offering me a couple hundreds bucks for it probably less than 500 :O! It's a decent car and only 115k miles, He has already bought a 2 door cab chevy so he doesn't really care much about the Ford Taurus.

I'm wondering if I should get the car towed and take it to a mechanic shop to have them work on it :3
When it's fixed, I wanna sell it for some profit. I think if I can get it for 300 bucks, get the spark plug replaced probably a little tune up would be = 600ish labor included.

Sell the car for 2000$ = GG GL HF NO RE?

Should I make this investment?


Apink/Girl's Day/miss A/IU/Crayon Pop/Sistar/Exo K :D l Kpop and Kdrama Enthusiast
Kevinshi3
Profile Blog Joined November 2011
United States148 Posts
June 05 2012 00:27 GMT
#2
Um it will be quite an effort to sell the car for 2000$ at 115k miles my friend.. umm I feel like the time you put into it and effort will be at best breaking even, and at worst a small loss for you. But if you enjoy small little projects I guess it does not matter at all because sometimes the fixing is the fun part.

tl;dr : Don't get it, unless you like the challenge.
yo mamaship so fat it couldn't fit in the expansion
Probe1
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
United States17920 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-06-05 00:31:42
June 05 2012 00:31 GMT
#3
I'm confused. Spark plugs going to cost like $1.99. If you can't find em for a 97 Taurus then go to your local pick and pull and get one out of a clunker.

Then google how to replace the spark plugs and do it yourself.


OR pay $80 to have a guy come and tow it cross town to a mechanic, pay $50 for labor and $2.99 for a spark plug.

But the main point I'm getting at here is 2k for a 15 year old FORD TAURUS is insane. You'll be lucky to get 1k. Really lucky.
우정호 KT_VIOLET 1988 - 2012 While we are postponing, life speeds by
FraCuS
Profile Blog Joined January 2010
United States1072 Posts
June 05 2012 00:34 GMT
#4
On June 05 2012 09:27 Kevinshi3 wrote:
Um it will be quite an effort to sell the car for 2000$ at 115k miles my friend.. umm I feel like the time you put into it and effort will be at best breaking even, and at worst a small loss for you. But if you enjoy small little projects I guess it does not matter at all because sometimes the fixing is the fun part.

tl;dr : Don't get it, unless you like the challenge.



There's always family members I can sell the car too and also there's people at my base could use the car to go point A to B.

I think I can manage to sell it for a bit higher idk...

It's better to own a car than to make payments on it, unless it breaks down :[
Apink/Girl's Day/miss A/IU/Crayon Pop/Sistar/Exo K :D l Kpop and Kdrama Enthusiast
FraCuS
Profile Blog Joined January 2010
United States1072 Posts
June 05 2012 00:36 GMT
#5
On June 05 2012 09:31 Probe1 wrote:
I'm confused. Spark plugs going to cost like $1.99. If you can't find em for a 97 Taurus then go to your local pick and pull and get one out of a clunker.

Then google how to replace the spark plugs and do it yourself.


OR pay $80 to have a guy come and tow it cross town to a mechanic, pay $50 for labor and $2.99 for a spark plug.

But the main point I'm getting at here is 2k for a 15 year old FORD TAURUS is insane. You'll be lucky to get 1k. Really lucky.


I see where this is going T___T I guess I'll forget about it
Apink/Girl's Day/miss A/IU/Crayon Pop/Sistar/Exo K :D l Kpop and Kdrama Enthusiast
Kevinshi3
Profile Blog Joined November 2011
United States148 Posts
June 05 2012 00:38 GMT
#6
No no no no, in that case Fracus if you can get more from family members then thats a little different, you can try maybe, its not as expensive as you were saying for the stuff, but if you have a day job and not a lot of free time I wouldn't embark on this journey
yo mamaship so fat it couldn't fit in the expansion
Probe1
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
United States17920 Posts
June 05 2012 00:40 GMT
#7
Don't screw over your family members with this thing lol.

Seriously if you want a project, do it. Do it yourself though. You're going to spend more money than its worth if you take it to a mechanic.
우정호 KT_VIOLET 1988 - 2012 While we are postponing, life speeds by
FraCuS
Profile Blog Joined January 2010
United States1072 Posts
June 05 2012 00:45 GMT
#8
On June 05 2012 09:40 Probe1 wrote:
Don't screw over your family members with this thing lol.

Seriously if you want a project, do it. Do it yourself though. You're going to spend more money than its worth if you take it to a mechanic.



Oh ok, Well LETS DO THIS :D

Gonna make it a project :O

hopefully It's just the spark plugs lol tried turning it on but It doesn't make that sound that cars make when it catches or sparks :3
Apink/Girl's Day/miss A/IU/Crayon Pop/Sistar/Exo K :D l Kpop and Kdrama Enthusiast
Probe1
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
United States17920 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-06-05 00:55:31
June 05 2012 00:55 GMT
#9
It doesn't crank?
How long has it been sitting there without the engine being turned on?
우정호 KT_VIOLET 1988 - 2012 While we are postponing, life speeds by
FraCuS
Profile Blog Joined January 2010
United States1072 Posts
June 05 2012 00:55 GMT
#10
On June 05 2012 09:55 Probe1 wrote:
It doesn't crank?



Yeah I think so
Apink/Girl's Day/miss A/IU/Crayon Pop/Sistar/Exo K :D l Kpop and Kdrama Enthusiast
Probe1
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
United States17920 Posts
June 05 2012 00:56 GMT
#11
No exactly, what happens when you turn the key? Is there a click or no noise.
우정호 KT_VIOLET 1988 - 2012 While we are postponing, life speeds by
FraCuS
Profile Blog Joined January 2010
United States1072 Posts
June 05 2012 00:57 GMT
#12
When I turn the key, it makes no noise...nothing no crank just silence.
Apink/Girl's Day/miss A/IU/Crayon Pop/Sistar/Exo K :D l Kpop and Kdrama Enthusiast
Probe1
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
United States17920 Posts
June 05 2012 00:58 GMT
#13
I know this is a stupid question but is the battery attached and in working order?
우정호 KT_VIOLET 1988 - 2012 While we are postponing, life speeds by
FraCuS
Profile Blog Joined January 2010
United States1072 Posts
June 05 2012 01:01 GMT
#14
Ya the battery works, when I had the door open. I plugged in the key and makes that ding ding ding sound. When I close it, it stops. The Radio works and windshield wipers works too :O
Apink/Girl's Day/miss A/IU/Crayon Pop/Sistar/Exo K :D l Kpop and Kdrama Enthusiast
Abort Retry Fail
Profile Joined December 2011
2636 Posts
June 05 2012 01:10 GMT
#15
Not worth it, economically.

But might be a fin endeavor.
BSOD
Probe1
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
United States17920 Posts
June 05 2012 01:13 GMT
#16
Alright since I can't physically take a look at it and since I'm not a certified mechanic myself I'm going to focus on another side of it.

Before you buy anything or start at all you need to talk it through with your friend. Are you going to work on it together and split the costs/profit? Are you going to buy it outright? Get that all settled and taken care of before you spend a single dollar on anything else. If you or him decide half way through that you want to keep the car or sell it and keep all the money.. see where I'm going with this? It can really hurt a friendship or wreck it and turn what could be a fun* project into a terrible shit memory.

That being said, the alternator could be dodgy or it could just be the spark plug. When you leave a car sitting for months and don't crank the engine every month or so things get gummed up pretty bad. First, I would triple check that battery to make sure it isn't dead. Remove the connections (take off the negative first! then put it back on last!) and put them back on after wiping away any grime. If you don't have a (fuck can't think of the proper name for the device.. a battery checker) take it to Walmart I'm pretty sure they'll check battery levels. I would check the alternator and the alternator belt to make sure it's tight. As long as its in fair condition I would find a junkyard (pick and pull) and grab a spark plug out of a Taurus. Or buy a new one if you want. Whatever suits you. Replace that and then if it still doesn't start you can cross that off and take another look at the battery.

I would also not rely on me for advice and instead buy a For Dummies or equivalent beginner book to car repair/maintenance restoration. A little knowledge goes a long way. I've kept my 2000 Avalon running like butter well past 200,000 miles just by doing the little routine things and replacements when they're due.
우정호 KT_VIOLET 1988 - 2012 While we are postponing, life speeds by
Probe1
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
United States17920 Posts
June 05 2012 01:14 GMT
#17
Also welcome home from Iraq.
우정호 KT_VIOLET 1988 - 2012 While we are postponing, life speeds by
FraCuS
Profile Blog Joined January 2010
United States1072 Posts
June 05 2012 01:39 GMT
#18
On June 05 2012 10:13 Probe1 wrote:
Alright since I can't physically take a look at it and since I'm not a certified mechanic myself I'm going to focus on another side of it.

Before you buy anything or start at all you need to talk it through with your friend. Are you going to work on it together and split the costs/profit? Are you going to buy it outright? Get that all settled and taken care of before you spend a single dollar on anything else. If you or him decide half way through that you want to keep the car or sell it and keep all the money.. see where I'm going with this? It can really hurt a friendship or wreck it and turn what could be a fun* project into a terrible shit memory.

That being said, the alternator could be dodgy or it could just be the spark plug. When you leave a car sitting for months and don't crank the engine every month or so things get gummed up pretty bad. First, I would triple check that battery to make sure it isn't dead. Remove the connections (take off the negative first! then put it back on last!) and put them back on after wiping away any grime. If you don't have a (fuck can't think of the proper name for the device.. a battery checker) take it to Walmart I'm pretty sure they'll check battery levels. I would check the alternator and the alternator belt to make sure it's tight. As long as its in fair condition I would find a junkyard (pick and pull) and grab a spark plug out of a Taurus. Or buy a new one if you want. Whatever suits you. Replace that and then if it still doesn't start you can cross that off and take another look at the battery.

I would also not rely on me for advice and instead buy a For Dummies or equivalent beginner book to car repair/maintenance restoration. A little knowledge goes a long way. I've kept my 2000 Avalon running like butter well past 200,000 miles just by doing the little routine things and replacements when they're due.



We might split it, to fix it and sell it haha, ok I'll bookmark this advice your giving :D Thanks for your help! Probe1

yeah I gotta update the status thing lol I've been back from Iraq since it was shutdown
Apink/Girl's Day/miss A/IU/Crayon Pop/Sistar/Exo K :D l Kpop and Kdrama Enthusiast
Carson
Profile Joined September 2010
Canada820 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-06-05 02:28:13
June 05 2012 02:25 GMT
#19
Do you know for sure that it's just one of the spark plugs that needs to be replaced? There is one spark plug per piston.

I would recommend eHow or else one of these sites:
+ Show Spoiler +
Ford Forums
Just Answer (vehicle forum area)

Using a website like that, you can actually do a lot of (basic) mechanical work yourself.

I would be VERY surprised if you could get $2000 for it. Anywhere from $500 to $1700 is what they go for regardless of condition. You have to remember it's a broken, aged domestic vehicle.

Otherwise, GL HF, car projects are greasy, frustrating, and fun!

edit: fixed links
"You have to remember something: Everybody pities the weak; jealousy you have to earn." Arnold Schwarzenegger
Orchead
Profile Joined March 2012
5 Posts
June 05 2012 03:17 GMT
#20
Troubleshoot the electrical systems first.

Rule out the battery as a source of error all together. Its by far one of the more common electrical problems with cars, not uncommon to need to be replaced every 5 years, and the battery could have enough strength to run the lights on your car but not turn it over when you hit the keys. Pick up a digital multimeter from Walmart and test the voltage across the battery terminals.

- A good battery will show right around 12 V with the car turned off (hence, the car battery is a 12V battery).
- A running car should hit about 14.6-14.8 volts across the nodes. If the car is running but this is not the case, it means that the alternator is bad. The extra ~3 volts will indicate that the alternator is charging the battery correctly.
- A bad battery holding about 8 volts will not start the car but still have enough juice to power the rest of your electrical systems.


You can also check for an electrical leak by setting the multimeter to the ammeter function for current, disconnecting one of the battery terminals, connecting the multimeter "in series" with the battery circuit. An older car wont pull more than 100 milliamps turned off, and if it is more than this, you likely have a short somewhere.

Hope it helps.
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