What should I get looked at?

[davidk83]

Hi guys this is my first time posting and was hoping you guys could give me some good advice.

I have a 1999 C230 K

I got it at a car auction two summers ago so in 2003. Had 87000 miles on it.

But anyways I have not really done any maintence on it other than oil changes every 8000 miles, got the front brakes changed once, got new tires, but haven't rotated them for like 20,000 miles and my back right tire is really worn down while my front two have lots of tread on them.

But basically I have not really had any problems with the car and I now have like 120,000 miles on it and am starting to get worried that if i don't do any maintance then its gonna break down on me.

Here are some problems:
A/c worked fine last year but this year tried turning it on and no cold air would come out, people are telling me its cause i have no freon

My low coolant light will come on sometimes then turn off

My power seats work only once in a while.

The speedees guy told me my timing belt needs to be replaced.

So here's my question. I am really broke and do not want to waste my money on useless stuff, so what kinds of things do u guys think i need to have replaced or looked at?

oh yea i need a smog check too, so anybody know any cheap places?

[jnenad16]

just take to a independent shop and have them throughly examine the car, especially the suspension. engine, trans operation should also be closely looked at. complete tune up would be a good start to preventative maintenance. this usually includes spark plugs, ignition wires(if high mileage vehicle), air filter, fuel filter, oil change w/filter, trans fluid change w/filter, replace the running belt, coolant flush, brake fluid replacement, diff fluid replacement, power steering fluid replacement w/filter. inspect all the hoses( coolant, a/c, brake lines, trans flex hoses...). as for a/c not working, it could be that you are out of freon, which means there is a leak, which can be detected by charging the system and addind UV dye and running the system for 5min or so, and detect the UV dye leak spots. these are the most of the things you can check out to determine the condition of your car.

nenad

[alphanumeric]

a cheap thing you can do yourself is replace the sparkplugs. they are about 2-5bux each and only require a few tools to replace. real ez job.

timing belt? lol.. dont our cars have timing chains? the belt he is thinking of runs accesories like Alt. AC and powersteering. you can look at that belt yourself.. yank on it and try to flip it and look for cracks on teh side that goes around all the pulleys.

[davidk83]

Alright guys I took it to a shop to get it looked at and they said these things are wrong with it


Drive Shaft Bushing
transmission hose
power steering hose
both belts
idler pulley
cooling system flush
upper/lower radiator hoses
valve cover gasket
oil change
fuel injection service
tune up
a/c service

they said all this would cost between 1,500 to 2000 dollars.

do you guys think that their estimate is alright or are they trying to jip me?

[martattack]

Originally posted by davidk83
Alright guys I took it to a shop to get it looked at and they said these things are wrong with it


Drive Shaft Bushing
transmission hose
power steering hose
both belts
idler pulley
cooling system flush
upper/lower radiator hoses
valve cover gasket
oil change
fuel injection service
tune up
a/c service

they said all this would cost between 1,500 to 2000 dollars.

do you guys think that their estimate is alright or are they trying to jip me?

It's hard to say without looking at it, but there are some regular maintenance thigns that look right. However, I'd be concerned and maybe even ask them about the Transmission hose, "both belts" (as far as i know there's only one Serpentine belt). Also ask them what's included in a fuel injection services, and a tune up.

[jnenad16]

Originally posted by davidk83
Alright guys I took it to a shop to get it looked at and they said these things are wrong with it


Drive Shaft Bushing
transmission hose
power steering hose
both belts
idler pulley
cooling system flush
upper/lower radiator hoses
valve cover gasket
oil change
fuel injection service
tune up
a/c service

they said all this would cost between 1,500 to 2000 dollars.

do you guys think that their estimate is alright or are they trying to jip me?
here is my estimate for the indicated parts:
driveshaft bushing cost:70 labor:2-3hrs
trans(flex?) hoses cost:40ea(2 of them) labor:1hrs(both)
p/s hose there are low press. ones and a high press. one. low press. is an ordinary p/s hose cut to appropriate lenght cost:10 labor:1hr
high press. p/s hose cost:90 labor:1-2hrs
belts cost::30ea labor:1-2hrs
idler pulley cost:40 labor:1-2hrs(if done at the same time as belts, then total labor shoud be only 2hrs)
coolant flush cost:20(for antifreeze and flush) labor:1hrs
rad hoses cost:25ea labor:1-2hrs(both)
valve cover gasket cost:60 labor:1-2hrs
oil change cost:10-15(conv oil), 35-40(synthetic) + 10 for filter labor:0.5hrs
fuel injection service not sure about this one, depends if the shop is gonna replace them or clean them. if replaced, cost:150ea labor:2-3hrs. if cleaned, cost:50ea labor:2-3hrs
tune up(if complete) cost:250-350 labor:3hrs
a/c service, to check for leaks cost:50 labor:1-2hrs
so, this is just my estimate of what you can espect and IMO should be fair to get charged by an indy shop.

nenad