Posted by Jeri (63.194.29.186) on January 25, 2001 at 16:37:23:
Hey everyone I am going to need some major direction on what to do with the mav. I will just give you a quick history on the mav. I bought it in December of 1999. I knew nothing of the car's history and probably should have had it checked out but what is done is done. I have had extensive work done and replaced almost everything under the hood with the exception of the engine itself and the tranny. I have had all the seals replaced and some even done twice. Needless to say I have put a good $2,000+/- into it all ready.
Today I took it into my mechanic to have a new leak looked at. I thought that it could be from the main seal where it has leaked before but !surprise! it was from the intake manifold gasket! The only gasket that was not changed! I was surprised to hear that it is going to cost about $150-175 to fix. I got over that and decided that while having it fixed I should replace the intake manifold and get some more power. I had resigned myself to the fact that I would probably be putting out around $300-350 for everything.
So I go to pick it up and right as I am about to leave they point out that in the inside of the left exhaust pipe there is black grease on the pipe. I had never noticed it before. They then told me that one of the cylinders is probably bad and that I should start thinking about having the engine rebuilt. So I ask about how much and they tell me about $800 just to rebuild the engine, $1200 for everything including installation. I was floored.
I do not know what to do. I love my mav but I can not afford to rebuild the engine now or in the forseeable future. How long can I go with the cylinder being bad? I have put close to $3000 into a car that I got for $1200. I need some suggestions. Is $800 a good deal for rebuilding the engine? $150-175 for the gasket? Help me somebody. Thanks
Jeri