Question:
i got a passenger rear bad strut. how much would it cost to replace myself..also i have a van that has a bad head gasket and gaskets are worth 50 bucks but i think the work is tough but im willing to go through with it which would be cheaper repair.
Answers:
Is Cruise Control a Good or Bad thing for MPG?
Wouldn't cost a lot to do it yourself, however it isn't an easy job. You have to have equipment to compress the spring. The same with a head gasket, you need a tension wrench to tighten the head after replacing the gasket, a flat edge and feeler gauges to check head flatness. If it's not flat within .002" you have to get the head machined. Get hold of an escort repair manual which will take you through the processes.The strut would be cheaper. You can get a spring compressor form the auto parts store for 30 bucks rental fee. Struts are around 25 to 40 bucks. I would normally recommend replacing them in pairs. But if you’re on a tight budget do the one that is bad now and replace the other in a couple of pay checks. Then work you way around the car. You'll be amazed as to how the ride will improve. It will make it feel like a new car again. Struts take about 30 minutes to complete. Head gaskets can take up to 8 hours depending on the van. Is it a full size or a mini? What year is it? If it's a mini van is it the front or rear head gasket? These are all things that will effect how long it will take to replace. If you need the car soon I would do the strut.
The strut is a breeze to replace, since the whole thing just unbolts in one big chunk - check junkyards, and you can find one that got wrecked with low mileage, and just grab the entire thing - including the brakes (be careful hooking them up, and make sure to bleed them properly). It shouldn't cost too much. They made hundreds of thousands of these cars, and the junkyards are full of them. If you call around to a few places you might be able to find it for less than your vans head gasket (which would be a much bigger pain in the azz, since it might have additional issues if the head gasket is leaking).
What are some good automotive repair and reference books for honda motors?
I don't know what year your escort is, but i've got a '93 that I use for commuting to work. It gets ridiculous mileage, and runs like a top, plus are ridiculously cheap - I can get an entire engine with low miles on it for around $300, change it out, and easily have it running again over a weekend.
Is it worth replacing a bent strut on my Oldsmobile?
I will sometimes change the headgasket just for the ease of doing it while I've got everything else unhooked. (If you ever do that on an escort, DO NOT forget to buy new headbolts - after you torque them down, you give them an extra 1/4 turn that actually stretches the bolts (to make up for the difference in expansion/contraction between the cast iron block, and the aluminum head). They can't be reused (though that doesn't stop some people). You won't regret doing it right. It also doesn't hurt to take the head to a machine shop and have them put it on a sander and take a couple thousandths off - this gaurantees that the head won't be warped -which will just make it blow again, or not have compression on some cylinders. Shaving it down a tad will actually give a little 1.9 some unexpected kick.
Good luck!!
If your van is a six cylinder, yes it will have two head gaskets. If you didn't always know that, it would be better if you just do the strut. Cylinder head work is better left to someone with experience, and even for us it is a big job.
My car won't start, but my lights, radio, heat, etc is fine (except they're a little dim)?
A single strut on the other hand, is pretty straight forward. Remove the two or three bolts at the top of the strut that hold the mount to the body. then remove the two bolts at the bottom that hold the strut to the spindle, and Viola! it's out. You can rent a spring compressor, compress the spring, and remove the top bolt. Then you can transfer your spring and mount to the new strut, and put the whole assembly back in. Cake! It takes me about 15 minutes.
Will you still be able to drive a car without a wheel cylinder?
Head gaskets take considerably longer, and require more know how, to identify other possible problems that may require attention while you have it apart. The 2.2L 4cyl, and the 3.0L v6 are both overhead cam engines, so you would have to deal with timing. The 3.0L had a problem with the valve guides sliding down into the cylinder, so it may require the secret chrysler silent recall that they always do if they have the head off anyway. It involves pressing the valve guides back up, cutting a small notch at the top, and installing snap rings onto the guides. (yes I did work in the service dept. at Dodge). The 3.3L v6 is overhaed valve, so less complex, but did I mention how long all this takes on any V6. It's a job! Of course with any cylinder head job, you should have it milled, pressure tested, and replace the head bolts. If the machine shop says your head is too warped, or it is cracked, your looking at a $400-$800 dollar part.
Which luxury car is the most expensive to maintain?
Ps. don't buy a used strut, that guy must have scored some bad acid at the used toilet paper store.
More Questions & Answers ...
This article contents is post by this website user, CarQnA.com doesn't promise its accuracy.
Copyright 2006-2008-2007 CarQnA.com. All Rights Reserved.