Which part of my car should I fix first?

Question

I took my car in for an oil change and the place had a field day looking over the car.

They said the car needed two new tires, including one that would have failed inspection because it was driven on while flat. It also needed to be realigned, have a coolant flush, and a transmission flush.

How urgent are these problems and which should I do first?

Answer 1

Ignore the coolant flush for now. If the car doesn't overheat, it's not terribly important.

If your tires are holding air, they're good for a few thousand more miles. Besides, there's no sense in getting new tires before you get an alignment as the car would just tear the new ones up again.

If the transmission shifts rough at all, or has any weird issues, the flrst priority. Otherwise, the alignment, then the tires, then the transmission, then the coolant flush.

By the way, it's not hard to change your own transmission fluid and coolant if you can jack the car up and work a socket wrench...

Answer 2

Most places do that.
If the tires are not wearing crooked (more tread off of one side of the tread than the other or scallops and evenly all around the tire), nor weather cracked, nor the tread isn't down to the wear bars you don't need tires. If they are worn, get a set and have the alignment checked. If wear isn't all the way around a tire, the tire is bad and needs changing.
As long as you have had the coolant changed every two years and there is very little build up of gunk (very scientific term) built up in the radiator tubes, it isn't necessary.
Unless you have had the coolant tube in the radiator break allowing antifreeze to mix with the fluid (and the antifreeze in the radiator looks like a chocolate shake) a transmission flush isn't necessary. However, they may show you about a tablespoon of clutch facings found in the bottom of the transmission pan and the build up of a black film. This is normal with regular driving and I would just service it (filter and fluid change up to 5 quarts unless they can drain the converter then it is closer to 10 quarts).

Answer 3

Where are the bad tires located front, rear, LF,RR, RF, LR
If the coolant is a rusty color, your system needs to be flushed & new coolant added. Some brands of anti freeze solution turn acidic after a few years. Beware of the transmission flush. Most charge an outrageous price for changing a filter & a few quarts of fluid (since they can't drain the torque converter). If your tranny has 100K miles or more & has never been serviced, cleaning the build up out may create some issues you have not been experiencing.
The tires would be an immediate safety concern . Good luck.

Answer 4

The tires are a safety item, and could cause an accident if they fail. At the same time, you should get the car aligned to prevent your new tires from abnormal wear. The coolant flush and transmission flush are preventative maintenance items that are not critical to your sfaety, and those can be put off until your next paycheck, or whatever.

Definitely do tires and alignment first.

Answer 5

If you get new tires and hold off on the alignment you'll destroy the new tires in no time and if you do the alignment and hold off on the tires you'll need a new alignment by the time you get around to getting new tires.

As for the coolant and transmission flush do you want to play games and break down and pay for a tow on top of the repair costs.

Bottom line: If the repairs are needed do them now.

Answer 6

Vehicle maintenance is most important. If your car over heats it can kill the engine by destroying lubricants and destroying the head cylinder gasket. So first thing you need is a coolant flush (once a year). You can do this yourself.
The next thing is to get decent tires so you dont have an accident. You can get used discounted tires for as little as $15 as long as they have good tread. Finally if you do get tires it is important for you to get the car aligned and the tires balanced for high speed. Lastly you need a transmission flush once evbery 60000 miles.

Answer 7

SORT YOUR TYRES OUT FIRST! the other problems are minor, but tyres are one of those things that keep your car where you want it, and not nose first in a ditch. Seriously, you're gambling with your life running round on those tyres.

Next, I'd look at the alignment, this affects your steering, again do you really want to be taking chances on that?

Finally are the two that wont affect your safety.

The trans flush can be done by yourself, but i would suspect that if you could do it, you would have done it yourself. I'd leave this to someone who knows what they are doing.

The coolant flush I'd be get a friend who knows about cars to look at. Its an easy way for a mechanic to make a few dollars, when its not needed.

Are you still here reading? GO GET THOSE TYRES CHANGED!

Answer 8

#1 - was this a quickie oil change place? If so, disregard most everything and go to a place recommended by family or friends as trustworthy. Some places like that way over stress things because they want the business.
#2 - follow their advice but do the safety things first. In this case, tires. Then I would do the coolant, then the transmission.
Please follow #1 first.

Answer 9

Get you a thread depth gauge. You can get them at most automotive parts stores. Check your thread depth. If the thread is still good. You are in good shape tire wize unless you did drive it for a long distance flat. It you did that you most likely messed up {broke the cords or belts} and it needs replacing.
You can flush your own radiator with little or not effort. Pay a radiator flush kit for under $20 at most parts houses and a lot of Wal Mart's. Anti Freeze less than $10 a bottle. But make sure which kind you need. If it is a GM car you will need the red antifreeze (best way to tell the difference) not the standard Pestone yellow anti freeze. Just look on the bottle and see if it is for GM cars. Usually takes one to two bottles of Anti freeze to get proper 50-50 mix of antifreeze and water. Or you can purchase the 50-50 mix if you don't want to mix it yourself.

Tarnsmission flush and oil change. In a lot of Ford products that is an invitation to a transmission job. (high dollar repair). Check your owner's manual on that one, or take it to an independent shop (not a transmission ship).

Front end alignment Ah! should be done regularly especially if you are driving on a lot of rough road with a lot of pot holes. As well as front end (whole car being greased reguarly depending on driving conditions.

I've had a dealer tell me I needed a new engine! Engine only had 2,000 miles in it. I was just having a warranty oil change, but didn't tell them that (I forgot) it wasn't where I bought the engine.
I've had another case where vacuum line came off transmission. Was wearing a suit and tie so rather than crawl under it I stopped it at the first shop came to, to have them put it on a lift. They tried to tell me it was the transmission and I needed a new transmission.
Another time my ex had engine trouble. Missing real bad on one cylinder. She took it to a shop. They told her she was going to have to have an engine job.or new engine. She called me when she got home. Went over to check it out for her. All it was, was a spark plug wire off. She'd had it tuned up and whoever did the work didn't get the wire back on the spark plug good.
But the best one yet is a fuel pump on a Chevy s-10 Blazer I owned. It had a CPI injection system. Rail pressure required for it to operate was appr. between 65-90 psi. I blew the thing when off with no tools. had it towed to dealer shop because only ones open. They put wrong fuel pump on it. Fuel pump for throttle body injection system 25-35psi fuel pump. Needless to say it did not work. (no fuel to cylinders) then the idiots tried to tell me it was the engine I had lost all my compression and needed a new engine. Had them drag it outside and changed fuel pump right there on lot. Making sure all customers looking for a new car saw me doing it.
I can go on and on about the things I know of they have tried to pull.on people some of them me. So you have to watch them. Take it to several different shops anytime you have to have work done.

Answer 10

i would get your coolant flushed since you can do that in your driveway very easily, and it will prevent engine damage from overheating. then get yourself some tires. then think about the trans flush, they always try and sell you that whether you really need it or not.