nipper

Funny you should mention that ......... Blu needs new struts and im thinking of a lift but am getting no where nipper

OK your getting off easy here O2 sensor looks simple enough, but it has had a happy life in a very hot place exposed to the road. It "just" unscrews. The starter can be one of two things. It cna be the starter switch, but more likely the starter contacts. Do search here for starter contacts or solenoid. how many miles? nipper

OK first thing first, forget EVERYTHING the dealer has told you EVERYTHING! (they are incompetant). You need to go to an autoparts store and have the codes read. That will give us a place to start. I will tell you right now 95% of the time a "bad cat" is a bad #1 O2 sensor. Even if it is the cat, you still need to replace this part anyway. So the part being cheap compared to a cat, no harm to replace the sensor. Secondly the no start can be a few things. If there is no code thrown besides an O2 sensor, its is probably a camor crank sensor, or the coolant sensor. Is there any pattern to when the car wont start, and what does it do when it doesnt start? Does it crank? nipper

Mechanics need to make money. I dont like the idea of the scrubbing bubbles scrubbing for 300 miles, follow the directions on the can. If you cant afford a pureone filter, use a std purolator filter. nipper

There have been a few threads on this. As far as low pressure, the quality of the gauge is what is important. The cheaper the gauge the poorer it will read at the extreems, both low and high ends. Mechanical is better then electrical. That being said, the high pressure you are seeing, is that all the time or when the engine is cold. i know my 1987 GL would peg the gauge untill the oil warmed up. nipper

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-Kois92ld8Ul/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=112200&tab=review&i=120998901#Tab nipper

It better be a small state, and in canada they dont have states. The weap hole is there to save the bearing. If you plug up the weep hoole, you will quickly loose the other water pump bearing (there are two in the body) then things get really ugly. Your much better off letting the weap hole leak and keeping track of coolant level. nipper

If the delay is longer then a second (Blu's very first r-d) shift in the morning is almost that long) you need to think about it. this is a sign of a worn pump and seals. Back in the day this would cause a slipping transmission, but now with electronic transmission control, this doesnt happen any more. You have to ask yourself can you live with it, and realize thast its possible at some time in the future you will need a transmission. For 1000.00 even if i had to push it out of the driveway i would take it. That is really way cheap. My 98 was 3900.00 just to give you an idea. Ask them why they are selling the car. You would replace the tranny with a used one, as a rebuild is NOT cheap. As far as getting a warning before it gets worse, your getting it. nipper

yes waterpump shaft is shot or what. Replace it. The loud fan can be because of a missing or damaged blade. I dont remeber if the fan or timing belt runs the water pump. Ir the fan does a bad pump will make it noisey. Fans roar. High pitched is a bearing, water pump, alt, idler etc.

To a point. I think thats why we can drive our CV joints way beyond what a FWD can can take. Since both the front and rear axles do the work, it puts less stress on any one cv joint. nipper

and replace that cv, gas mileage can go to zero if you break that axle, which sounds like its close. nipper

Please feel free to ask away, thats what we are here for. If your car has over 100,000 miles it wouldnt be bad to replace the oil pump. After all that is the heart of the engine, and it sounds like yours is very worn. nipper

You may need to replace it with a OE sensor. Since your not sure i bet thats part of the problem. nipper

www.cars101.com Its a common thing that happens when you remove the battery. Have you tried cycling the key fob a few times. nipper

How many miles are on this thing. A slow reduction of gas mileage can be a bad o2 sensor, or a clogging cat. Dont forget ignition wires too, since your getting plugs. nipper

Kind of hard to find out how a 2005 is holding up under high mileage, unless somone is a salesman living in their car. Now i wont go near anything 1990-1995, personally i think they are ugly and slow. Just my opinion so dont And again not all the 2.5s were crap and whats with the etc? nipper

Yes due to new OSHA and EPA standards, paint is going to go through some growing pains all across the board. Some colors wil be worse then others, some mfg's worse then others. nipper

Thats really early. Have you bought tires recnetly, ran on a low tire or had a flat? nipper

Well we all know Cher is god (snicker) nipper

Yes. nipper

OK before you go on a long trip, you need to really go over the fropnt end of the car. If it has an unknown history, you are prbbly looking at timing belt water pump seals tensioner/idlers. If this is the 87 with 230K and working in multiples of 60K, in 10 k you are due for a belt. Assume the worst and do it now. Dont take a long trip on any car (especially to the hinter lands) with a mysterious loss of fluid and not knowing where its going. nipper

I do that in downstate NY and ill either get run over by car or taken in by the cops nipper

I agree your rings are tired. Its time, and can be a major part of your problem. nipper

They have thier place, but at 30,000 miles you shouldnt need it. You shouldnt need it untill you get over 100,000 miles. nipper

I always knew you were a trouble maker .... I wasnt even going to mention gear drives :-p nipper