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Everything posted by 1 Lucky Texan
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What were you driving or what are you driving now? How old is the offspring? not sure, but the Tribeca with the 6cyl 'may' also need premium fuel.
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buying a used car is always risky - risk goes up by a factor of ten if that car is a fairly inexpensive sports car. Those have often already been mistreated by 'kids'. yes, there can be exceptions (I'm probably one - how many 61 year-olds drive WRXs ?) but, the risk is real. honestly, parting it out or just getting away from it some how may be your best move. You might also consider donating it to a vocational school or even a 'cars for Kids' or similar charity and take a tax deduction.
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first - suprised the dealer didn't find a stored code. In a new thread, ask for a mech recommendation near your city. Someone may know of a good independent shop. when was the timing belt system last serviced? A skipped tooth can make a car run poorly. Other tune-up services in good shape? original plug wires could be a problem when moist with condensation/dew too. Or oil leaks into the plug tubes....
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get another opinion - post your city in a new thread asking for a shop recommendation. maybe there's a cracked ring land and the heads are OK? you need precise info to decide how to proceed. If you still like the car and it meets your needs - fix it and drive it until the wheels fall-off. If you're ready for a new ride - consider parting yours out or sell it to someone for a project. basically, either bail-out, or buck-up.
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make sure to NOT use the triangle/arrow on the front of the crank sprocket. MUST use the dash/line on the tab at the back. I suppose a weak tensioner could allow slipping, seems like you'd see/hear something when you cranked it over by hand ???? timing marks on pulleys and tooth-count are your friends. marks on belts are only a guide for initial placement.
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is there lot of reddish buildup around the a/c comp? if so, could be your tech is correct. also, I have read of people replacing the a/c comp relay due to it dropping out or being unable to carry enough current due to worn contacts. an intermittent rad fan might cause issues - but you'd probably have overheating too. Double check that they are both running when the a/c is failing. this is a stretch but - might be a good idea to check the crank pulley. It's a 2-piece unit and sometimes can slip if the rubber is degraded. Not common, but possible.
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if you decide to use the 'blue wrench' - you may not need to apply much heat at all. I got a SEVERELY rusted/frozen axle to slide out of an Impala with just 10-15 seconds of heat (each - at the 12 oclock and 6 position) from a propane torch. Doesn't need to glow red. I bought an electric impact from Lowes and wish I had gotten one decades ago - if only for removing wheels. Maybe try to borrow an impact? fairtax I think has suggested heating a problem part, then immediately spraying with penetrant (uh - be careful of flames) and letting the cooling part draw the penetrant deeper into the 'interstitial' space. Seems like an awesome idea. I may have done that accidentally when I was fighting that axle.