Good day everyone,
So, about 6 months ago, I was driving back from a fishing trip with my brother and my 3 year old daughter, when I heard a funny noise from the 4 cylinder engine of my 1992 Plymouth Acclaim. Got home and searched the engine for signs of trouble. The oil was dry. Bone dry. not a drop. Never had leaked before, but I had gotten an oil change, and system cleaning a week prior, and had driven it sparingly. I filled it back up, but the damage was done. The sound got worse, when it developed into a tick, then a tap. Then... a knock. it was 2000rpm away from tossing a rod. I pulled it off the street and put it up for sale for $250... after I had put $1800 into it 10 months earlier.
I frantically searched for a vehicle. I work in town, and live just outside in the county. It's not too far. 9km to my workplace. I am not a rich man, and mistakes in my youth make me less than ideal for loans. I have been living on cash for 7 years, with no debt whatsoever, and I intend to keep it that way. So my budget was low. And when I say low, I mean 3 digit, under $600. $600 woulda been pushing it too.
I walked to worked for a week, searching every day. Until I found out about a park and sell in a town about 35km away. They had a 1986 Grand Marquis LS for $400. I jumped at the chance, got off work early, and had a friend of mine drive me up there to get it. Paid cash, and I was on my way.
She's 2 door, white, with blue interior and crack riddled blue vinyl top. The passenger door has been smashed in, the lock works from the inside only, but the key hole light still works, even though there is no mechanism behind it. It's also missing the gas flap.
Whatever, take it down the street, put $20 of gas in and off I got back home. Radio works, AC works, windows work, everything is better than expected. She handles like a bowl of jello.
Fast forward one week. Going to pick up a drunk buddy for some festivities when the check engine light pops on. The car veers to the right every time I try to stop. Oh shit, what do I do?
I limp home in the car, heater on max, trying to cool the engine. It was a hot tense ride, using the brakes as little as possible. The caliper had seized. So I went out and acquired new rotors, new pads, new calipers, new bearings, and a crap tonne of brake fluid. The repair was simple enough, but I could only bleed 3 outta 4 tires, since one bleeder valve was as round as the moon in the back. But still! Brand new brake system in the front, it felt good to stop again.
Fast forward another 2 weeks. The engine light returns. I'm low on coolant. Wtf? I just filled it up. Fill it up again and go on my merry way. Make a pit stop, pop the hood... Small drip drip drip. I touch the rad cap... cool... I pop it open. Fluid waaaay down there eh? I top it up, and I start the car. Freakin' green water cannon out the front of my car. I have a leak I guess. On top of that, using the heat causes my windows to fog over. heater core is joining the party. Let's ALL start spewing our guts.
So... I go out and acquire a new radiator, new upper, lower, and heater hoses. I get a new heater core, new clamps, new fluids. I pull the plenum, I pull the rad... they are rotten. You can put a finger through the fins. Felt like crunchy wet wheat biscuits.
Power steering goes on me, replaced the hose. Then the brake light starts turning on, no pressure in the brakes! So I go out and acquire new drums, new shoes, new springs, new wheel cylinders, new master cylinder, bleed the whole system, again. Sweet, new cooling system, new brake system.
... Fast forward to a week ago. Charging system light turns on after driving ten minutes. Oh shit. Run the car to try and charge it up (oooold battery). Stop the car, try to start again, it's dead. Shit. 2 hours later, what the hell, give it a shot, starts, blammo, no problem. Rinse and repeat for several days until today. Got out of the bank, and not so much as a pitiful "whiiiRRR" from the starter slowing rolling over. Just obnoxious clicks.
Bought a new battery for it 2 days ago. Alternator is putting out 14.1V, ground wire looks like it's made of spinach it's so green. I want to try replacing that before I really try to replace the starter. Why is the block ground in an impossible to reach area? Is there any where else on the block I can run a better ground that's easier to access?
I ran new 4awg cable to the starter, but found the mounting bolts on the motor are rounded off. How can I get them out of that tight space? And what the hell size are they supposed to be?
Also, working under the car, outside, in 2 feet of snow, for the first time... if only for a second... I thought of towing it to a shop. But hot damn I'm so close to fixing this too. I need some vast panther hive mind action to tell me what kind of bolts made it out of hell and into my starter mounts, and where a good tapped hole on the block is that isn't behind the fan or through an exhaust manifold.
I just want my old crap wagon to start again. Oh yeah... on the lighter side. She's a 351W with 316000km on her. The engine still purrs and even with the crap battery and ground, until 2 weeks ago, she started in -20C better than in +5C, she is Canadian through and through. I have already taken this car hunting with my brother. It was harrowing, and pretty stupid. A land yacht is no vehicle for a quad path, let me tell you...
Long winded I know, but this is just the tip of the iceberg with this beast. I've got electrical gremlins coming out the rear.... I'll save that for a post after I get the thing to start again.
My name is Chad, pleased to meet you all!
So, about 6 months ago, I was driving back from a fishing trip with my brother and my 3 year old daughter, when I heard a funny noise from the 4 cylinder engine of my 1992 Plymouth Acclaim. Got home and searched the engine for signs of trouble. The oil was dry. Bone dry. not a drop. Never had leaked before, but I had gotten an oil change, and system cleaning a week prior, and had driven it sparingly. I filled it back up, but the damage was done. The sound got worse, when it developed into a tick, then a tap. Then... a knock. it was 2000rpm away from tossing a rod. I pulled it off the street and put it up for sale for $250... after I had put $1800 into it 10 months earlier.
I frantically searched for a vehicle. I work in town, and live just outside in the county. It's not too far. 9km to my workplace. I am not a rich man, and mistakes in my youth make me less than ideal for loans. I have been living on cash for 7 years, with no debt whatsoever, and I intend to keep it that way. So my budget was low. And when I say low, I mean 3 digit, under $600. $600 woulda been pushing it too.
I walked to worked for a week, searching every day. Until I found out about a park and sell in a town about 35km away. They had a 1986 Grand Marquis LS for $400. I jumped at the chance, got off work early, and had a friend of mine drive me up there to get it. Paid cash, and I was on my way.
She's 2 door, white, with blue interior and crack riddled blue vinyl top. The passenger door has been smashed in, the lock works from the inside only, but the key hole light still works, even though there is no mechanism behind it. It's also missing the gas flap.
Whatever, take it down the street, put $20 of gas in and off I got back home. Radio works, AC works, windows work, everything is better than expected. She handles like a bowl of jello.
Fast forward one week. Going to pick up a drunk buddy for some festivities when the check engine light pops on. The car veers to the right every time I try to stop. Oh shit, what do I do?
I limp home in the car, heater on max, trying to cool the engine. It was a hot tense ride, using the brakes as little as possible. The caliper had seized. So I went out and acquired new rotors, new pads, new calipers, new bearings, and a crap tonne of brake fluid. The repair was simple enough, but I could only bleed 3 outta 4 tires, since one bleeder valve was as round as the moon in the back. But still! Brand new brake system in the front, it felt good to stop again.
Fast forward another 2 weeks. The engine light returns. I'm low on coolant. Wtf? I just filled it up. Fill it up again and go on my merry way. Make a pit stop, pop the hood... Small drip drip drip. I touch the rad cap... cool... I pop it open. Fluid waaaay down there eh? I top it up, and I start the car. Freakin' green water cannon out the front of my car. I have a leak I guess. On top of that, using the heat causes my windows to fog over. heater core is joining the party. Let's ALL start spewing our guts.
So... I go out and acquire a new radiator, new upper, lower, and heater hoses. I get a new heater core, new clamps, new fluids. I pull the plenum, I pull the rad... they are rotten. You can put a finger through the fins. Felt like crunchy wet wheat biscuits.
Power steering goes on me, replaced the hose. Then the brake light starts turning on, no pressure in the brakes! So I go out and acquire new drums, new shoes, new springs, new wheel cylinders, new master cylinder, bleed the whole system, again. Sweet, new cooling system, new brake system.
... Fast forward to a week ago. Charging system light turns on after driving ten minutes. Oh shit. Run the car to try and charge it up (oooold battery). Stop the car, try to start again, it's dead. Shit. 2 hours later, what the hell, give it a shot, starts, blammo, no problem. Rinse and repeat for several days until today. Got out of the bank, and not so much as a pitiful "whiiiRRR" from the starter slowing rolling over. Just obnoxious clicks.
Bought a new battery for it 2 days ago. Alternator is putting out 14.1V, ground wire looks like it's made of spinach it's so green. I want to try replacing that before I really try to replace the starter. Why is the block ground in an impossible to reach area? Is there any where else on the block I can run a better ground that's easier to access?
I ran new 4awg cable to the starter, but found the mounting bolts on the motor are rounded off. How can I get them out of that tight space? And what the hell size are they supposed to be?
Also, working under the car, outside, in 2 feet of snow, for the first time... if only for a second... I thought of towing it to a shop. But hot damn I'm so close to fixing this too. I need some vast panther hive mind action to tell me what kind of bolts made it out of hell and into my starter mounts, and where a good tapped hole on the block is that isn't behind the fan or through an exhaust manifold.
I just want my old crap wagon to start again. Oh yeah... on the lighter side. She's a 351W with 316000km on her. The engine still purrs and even with the crap battery and ground, until 2 weeks ago, she started in -20C better than in +5C, she is Canadian through and through. I have already taken this car hunting with my brother. It was harrowing, and pretty stupid. A land yacht is no vehicle for a quad path, let me tell you...
Long winded I know, but this is just the tip of the iceberg with this beast. I've got electrical gremlins coming out the rear.... I'll save that for a post after I get the thing to start again.
My name is Chad, pleased to meet you all!
Comment