Author
Vehicle:
1995 Dodge Avenger
296 000 kms
2.0L 4cyl
New crate engine at 260 000 (used existing covers/pulleys/belt driven pumps/mounts etc.... the block, heads, valves, bearings and all other internals were brand new)
I just replaced the timing belt/power steering pump/water pump/alternator/ac compressor and both other belts.
I was driving back home from my parents place just outside of the city here in Saskatoon Saskatchewan, I heard what sounded like metal snapping, then a bunch of clanging noises, and what sounded like plastic being grinded by something. Soon after the car started to sky rocketed in temperature. I babied it all the way home, and the car sat for about 4 months.
This was when I did the timing belt, the timing belt was all chewed up, and the metal clanging noise I heard was the water pump pully breaking from a rock that got into the timing belt cover. (the door was broken off, a "lucky" rock/pebble somehow got in there. The power steering had gone at the same time, but due to a different problem (a hose came off by the firewall) and had pissed out the fluid and the pump seized over time.)
So my brother and i replaced everything in my driveway the best we could. We finally did everything, but when we finished, we had the timing off slightly. Well, we didnt know that you couldnt set the timing on this vehicle. So I took it into the dodge dealer here. We have the two dealerships, one called Dodge City, and one Called Auto Clearing. I used to take my car to Auto Clearing, but I know a guy who used to work there, and quit because of how shady their service department is. He told me how on a regular basis, they add hours on to peoples bill... if they got caught, they remove it and apologize, but otherwise it is pure profit. I have also seem numerous write ups online, and in the paper about how shady they have been with vehicles. They are the cliche' shop that you take your car in for one thing, it instantly has another problem that seems "man made". Heresay I know, but still, I didn't want to take my car to them. I had heard good things about Dodge City, so I took my car to them. They redid the timing belt for me, fixed a tire, and straightened my alternator (apparently we switched two bolts around when we put the alternator back on or something like that) It was expensive, it cost me over $700 but I finally got everything fixed.
The car was running perfect, I had no problems at all. About one week later, I am driving down the freeway (80km) and the car all of a sudden starts to hesitate. It felt like I was running out of gas, so I look down, and check the fuel gage... it is good. Then I remember, I JUST put gas in it 2 days ago, and I barely drove it. There is no way I am out of gas. So I know the gauge isn't just broken. I make my way through traffic to where I can pull over, and just rev the engine a bit to see what is going on. I take a look at the wires and remember that the plugs and wires are only about 6 months old, and the car sat for 4 of those months, so that is probably not the issure.
I decide to just babie it, and drive home. It ran fine. There was no problem. The next couple of times I drive it, I notice that during acceleration (as long as it was from a stand-still) it would hesitate/jerk it a bit. I also noticed that around 70km or 2500rpm on the highway it would also hesitate a bit. So I only drove it when I needed too, babied it the whole time, and kept lookin out for anything else that could be the cause of it hesitating. The only thing that came to mind was fuel filter. So I live real close to a midas, I called them up to just do a fuel pressure test on it, and see what the deal is there. They test it, tell me there is a vacuum line off on the fuel regulator... they replace it, and fuel pressure goes normal (they said) He shows me the old vaccuum line, and it looks clear as day like someone cut it with an exacto/utility knife. This makes me nervous right there. Who the hell would have cut the line? was it by accident when a knife slipped cutting something else? Did it just look like it was cut, but actually vibrated off on something?
I did notice that I didn't need to give it as much gas after they replaced that line, to accelerate like I used to. So I know they did something at midas. The problem was still there though... not as bad, but it was there.
I make an appointment back at Dodge City. I know they are expensive, but it went smooth last time I was there. I was happy with them (as long as there is nothing leeding me to believe they cut the vaccuum line... and there wasnt) So I make an appointment for this morning. I was told by the lady to bring it in at 8, and they will start on it right away.
It was cold this morning, -10c... I started the car, and waited 10 minutes. I go outside, and it is still blowing cold air. Them temp gauge has barely moved, but I start driving. About 2 km's away, still blowing cold air, the temp gauge start climbing fast. It hits pretty high, to where I start to get worried it is about to overheat, then it goes back down. It keeps doing this, slowly getting less and less hot everytime. It finally normalises after a few more minutes, and a few more km's, then about 5 minutes after normalising, I finally get hot air through my heater.
I dropped off my car, and I tell them the hesitation problem, and I tell them that on the way there I had that problem with the temp. I told them the temp isnt that big of a deal, but if they can check it out while its i nthere, that would be sweet. So as I am waiting for my ride, the technician comes out to talk to the service guy about my car. He says that it is overheating because the resevoir tank isn't holding coolant. This causes two issues for me, and maybe I am wrong but....
1. No, the overflow tank having a leak will make sure than any excess coolant after the system is at a heated temperature will leak out... but this still leaves enough coolant in the system to not overheat.
2. The overflow tank has leaked for nearly 3 years now. The vehicle has not overheated once, other than when the timing belt blew.
I tell him that, and he starts talking about the head gasket. I don't even remember what he said. All that was goin through my head was "head gasket, are you fucking kidding me?" So I say, ok... well if you think its the head gasket, then check the plugs and oil, but I did that, and everything seemed fine to me. Let me know what YOU find, and like I said, call me before you do any work to this thing.
This makes no sense to me, and
THIS IS WHERE I NEED YOUR HELP FIRSTLY
If the headgasket is the problem, does it not make sense that:
A- There will be antifreeze burning in the combustion, and it will show on the plugs, or you would smell it in the exhaust
B- There will be antifreeze in the oil, you would be able to taste or smell the ehtyl-gycol (sp)
C- It wil be leaking around the side of the top plenum, valve cover, whatever you call it.... it will be leaking around the engine
D- Isn't this problem more what EVERY vehicle has when it is LOW on COOLANT... shouldn't they be looking for a leak NOT a faulty head gasket (which is the most expensive thing that it would possibly be)
So whatever... at that point, I tell him check it out, and let me know what the problem is.If they can show it is actually the headgasket... fine... So I wait and wait for a call, thinking, how long is something like that to check out? I call back at 1:00. They still havent found anything out, tells me the plugs are fine... but he still thinks it is the head gasket. But he also found that there is some showing that at one time there was a leark around the bottom of the timing belt cover. So we think, that hey.. it is probably the water pump. I am thinking.. great... the water pump wasnt tightened down enough, and they didnt check that when they didn the timing belt.
They tell me they will call me back in an hour or so with more info...
There is no new info, they just ask if they can keep the car overnight... apparently the lady who told me they will start on teh car at 8 didnt tell me they dont make apointment, it is a first come first serve, and there was too many cars in front of mine. But the one dude was able to look at it intiially this morning, just he isnt qualified to deal with any more of it. The people qualified, didnt have time today. But my car is first on teh list for tomorrow.
This is when I get pissed off, and talk to the manger who is quite the prick. He start making up retarded excuses, talking about how its my water pump, then he goes and talks to the technician and tells me he will call me back. He then tells me, that they dont know what the problem is, and they will find out more tomorrow. They think it is only leaking when it is cold, and if it is, they will know what the deal is. This whole big ordeal happened that I dont feel like explaining where they made me think I needed the water pump replaced, I think they should have noticed that 2 weeks ago when they did the timing belt, there is no way im paying another 700 dollars for them to just do it all again. That is their problem they didnt notice that the first time.
He then tells me, that the head gasket might also be the cause of the hesitation??
So basically, where I am sitting is, I need to know what you people think the problem is...
Could this actually be my head gasket? Is that the most likely scenario?
Is it more likely there is another leak (maybe hte water pump) and it was just low on fluid, and the hesitating is my fuel filter??
Would you think right off the bat ... head gasket...
COuld the headgasket also cause my hesitation??
Do you think that it is fair, if it is a leak on the water pump that I should pay another 4.2 hours worth of labour to access the water pump and see why its leaking?? Should they fit the bill for that??
*** I should clarify, I am in a hurry and I did not get a chance to proofread I will check back later and make sure everything is 100 percent factual...
****when I say 700 dollars for timing belt, that also was for the alternator bolts.. the timing belt was only 4.x hours at 85 and hour plus taxes = $450 - $480... they want to charge me 5 hours to do the pump if that is the problem which would be 480 bucks...
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