Of course it couldn't have been a cheap problem

[geekchick]

Cracked radiator. They may be able to get the part today; if not, not sure what I'm going to do. Timing belt ought to've been replaced 30K miles ago too, but that's not happening today. Oh yeah, and the valve stem seals are definitely leaking. Cha-ching. [Edit: Valve cover gaskets, I misheard what was said. Much cheaper, and will be done with the timing belt.]

Happy Friday. :-P

Comments

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

Ow. Another $450 bites the dust... sorry, dear.

[geekchick]

In fact, that's exactly what I was quoted. Or maybe $425. The timing belt is another $300+, but it's infinitely cheaper than a new engine (or in this case, more likely a new car).

Ah well, 136k miles and it's not had significant problems other than this and the frequent replacement of the alternators. It averages out to not be that bad.

[quasigeostrophy.livejournal.com]

136k miles and it's not had significant problems other than this

Shhhhh! (*through gritted teeth*) Don't praise the machine.

[geekchick]

It's okay, I'm getting it a new timing belt, a new radiator, a new water pump, and possibly getting the valve stem seals replaced, as those are apparently leaking. The cash offerings to the machine will be plentiful.

[patgreene.livejournal.com]

We snapped a timing belt on a car once. It was Not Pretty At All. Made a very interesting snarling noise, if I recall correctly, as it trashed the inside of the engine

[nminusone.livejournal.com]

Engines are classified as interference or non-interference depending on whether or not damage will be done if the timing system (belt, chain, etc) should fail. Toyota, at least up to a point, only used belts (which will snap, eventually) on non-interference engines. In that case, if the belt snaps, no harm is done. On interference engines they only used chains, which essentially never break. I used to think all major manufacturers followed this rule... but lately found out it's not true. So now I have to find out about Mazda.

[geekchick]

I'm reasonably sure Heather said it was an interference engine. I'm going to call on Monday so they can order the parts and get that done next week, $380 to replace the timing belt and the water pump and the valve cover gaskets (which are what was leaking, I misheard her). So, $800 total, which is still better than $2000 and up.

[patgreene.livejournal.com]

Oh, crud. That's awful. *hugs*

[nminusone.livejournal.com]

I have no problem believing the valve cover gaskets are leaking. That would account for minor oil drippiness, and are a trivial repair once you're already doing t-belt. I still believe the valve stem seals are leaking, though. The other symptoms, apart from the dripping, match exactly, and leaky valve cover gaskets would not account for those symptoms.

On the plus side plenty of engines go 100k miles on leaky valve stem seals. I see them every day. It's just not a big deal, all things considered. The toughest part of it is passing emissions, but I don't forsee a problem there since there is no visible smoke. A tiny bit of oil won't raise HC enough to matter.

[geekchick]

The radiator, to answer the earlier question, was $285. Two hours of labor. Unless you're dying to futz with the timing belt, and I doubt you are, I'll have them order parts on Monday and get it done next week sometime.

I'm leaving now, since it's going to take me at least an hour and a half to get to Silver Spring when you factor in rush hour on the Beltway heading towards Georgia.