For weeks the car had been running hot -- almost to the red zone -- but my wife insisted it was only when the AC was on. I noticed it particularly whenever it was idling at a stop light. Money's tight, so we held off on taking it in.
One evening we were driving around town without the AC on, and it didn't get too hot (about 60%), so I took the car the next day (instead of mine--which had other problems at the time) to pick up my son, who lives in the mountains. On the way up I did not use the AC, but it was still running very hot. I stopped at his place for an hour to let it cool down. On the way back, the car stalled on the way up a hill and would not re-start. I had it towed to a mechanic.
The mechanic I took it to refuses to work on it without a small fortune -- he estimates 20 hours and says it's because he HATES PT Cruisers. His diagnosis is that it has a rod knock and compression in the radiator (possibly a head gasket). Ballpark estimate: $3500.
Right now, the car does start, but with difficulty.
What can I expect in terms of a reasonable repair estimate (or as an alternative, as an engine replacement estimate) from someone without a PT Cruiser hatred?
Trent
One evening we were driving around town without the AC on, and it didn't get too hot (about 60%), so I took the car the next day (instead of mine--which had other problems at the time) to pick up my son, who lives in the mountains. On the way up I did not use the AC, but it was still running very hot. I stopped at his place for an hour to let it cool down. On the way back, the car stalled on the way up a hill and would not re-start. I had it towed to a mechanic.
The mechanic I took it to refuses to work on it without a small fortune -- he estimates 20 hours and says it's because he HATES PT Cruisers. His diagnosis is that it has a rod knock and compression in the radiator (possibly a head gasket). Ballpark estimate: $3500.
Right now, the car does start, but with difficulty.
What can I expect in terms of a reasonable repair estimate (or as an alternative, as an engine replacement estimate) from someone without a PT Cruiser hatred?
Trent
Jun 30, 2010 at 2:04 PM