i have a 96' neon with a blown head gasket ,it'll take about $800 to fix..should i go ahead and fix it or put $800 towards a new car? and what are the chances of it blowing a second time?
2007-02-04 14:35:03 · 13 answers · asked by Kitty C 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
if you haven't driven it for long with the bad gasket chances are good that it is worth the repair , have the shop check for a warped head or block , a bit of extra machine work will ensure that it will not be needed again soon. as for putting the $800 towards another car , it won't go far towards a new one and who knows what you are up against with another used one , stick with what you know.
2007-02-04 14:41:52 · answer #1 · answered by sterling m 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You know what is wrong (blown head gasket) but you really need to know why it happened. The clue to this is knowing the circumstances which lead to the gasket blowing. Can you be sure there was enough coolant in the radiator before it blew, or did another related fault (such as cracked radiator or heater hoses) cause the engine to overheat? I had a Mazda engine overheat, so replaced the head once and gaskets 3 times, only to have the same fault reappear. In your case, considering the value of the car ($4140 - $5060) I'd have the alloy head checked for straightness and replace the gasket only after finding the actual cause of the problem. Occasionally, head bolts are under torqued (read too loose) and gaskets will blow.
2007-02-04 23:02:19 · answer #2 · answered by bush14u 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ask the mechanics (hopefully you trust them) to check out the rest of your car and see what else needs to be fixed anytime soon. I have poured $1200 into a 1993 Geo Metro in the last year, but even with all of that, it still is less than a car payment every month on a new car. There is a lot to be said about owning a car outright and not having to deal with a big fat payment every month. I would fix the car if the diagnostics come back that it is sound except for your current problem. If it looks like your other parts or tires are going to be going soon, well, then, maybe time to start shopping.
2007-02-04 22:40:42 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the car is in good shape it would be worth putting that in it.But how long has it been sitting with a blown head gasket? If sitting for to long it is likely that water is sitting in the cylinder (s) which can lead to more time,money,and headache. If it is a recent problem have it fixed soon if you decide to fix it.Good Luck
2007-02-05 00:10:24 · answer #4 · answered by baditude2075 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First, get a second opinion from a certified Dodge mechanic and an estimate.
Then, look up the value of your car on www.kbb.com.
Then consider what you would get for trade-in value if you were to buy a new car.
Lastly, an 11-12 year old car is likely going to develop one problem after another. Unless you owned it since new and have maintained it religiously, you'll likely see little problems pop up here and there.
2007-02-04 22:41:39 · answer #5 · answered by eaglefox200 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i own a repair shop,and if you don't have the head checked and trued up there,s a good chance it will blow again on it ,once these blow you have to get the head checked and trued up if its warped,so there's a chance it could blow again if this isn't done,but the 800 bucks your talking about should cover all of this and more on it,good luck ,i hope this help,s.PS if its a real nice car id fix it,800 bucks wont buy much of a car these days.
2007-02-04 22:43:39 · answer #6 · answered by dodge man 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
chances are the same as any car.
buying a Neon 1996 car for $800.00 dollars. DEAL!!
NEON 96 is a good car and year,good maintenece could make the difference.
look for another shop.you could find better price $350 to $450.is what I have in mind.
2007-02-04 23:22:53 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It could blow again if not fixed exactly right.head needs to be resufaced parts clean and dry, new head bolts and a lot of work. if not done right by a good mechanic it could blow in a week or sooner.sell it and get a new/used car and try to stay away from chrysler 4 cylinders
2007-02-04 22:44:45 · answer #8 · answered by bearman48064 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the car has a good motor and body I would fix it then if I decided to sell add 8oo bucks to the price,also unless your head is cracked you shouldnt be paying no more than 500 bucks to have it fixed best of luck to you
2007-02-04 22:47:55 · answer #9 · answered by churchillbilly 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Get rid of it the vehicle has Aluminum heads and will from this point on have troubles in one area or another. Find a push pull or drag trade in place if you have OK credit and trade her in
2007-02-04 22:40:15 · answer #10 · answered by Terri L 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋