Recent content by 65LoveAffair

Okay, at the risk of triggering those who think I don’t consider this a priority, I have some progress to report. I did the rubber glove test on the van today. Well, I actually did it three times because I realized I was doing it wrong the first two times. Different wrong each time, but both...

It’s not that I don’t care, or that it isn’t a priority. It’s that I’m unemployed at the moment and can’t afford to throw what little money I do have into what “might” be the issue. I already have most of the parts I need for the brakes. That is a known issue, so I’m taking care of that. As far...

Well, I have news and I don’t. This is kind of a long post and a bit of a rant, so I apologize in advance. The garage I took the van to said they couldn’t figure out what was wrong. :BangHead: As far as I know they did no compression tests, didn’t pull plugs and check the cylinders, nada. All...

We had a 2002 VW Passat that slipped its timing belt on my way to work one frosty December evening. Left me stranded in the middle of nowhere in about 12° temps. Definitely couldn’t afford the engine rebuild on that, so away she went. She wasn’t even due for a timing belt, so I’m still not sure...

Okay, update time. I haven’t done anything with the van for awhile. My mother-in-law had surgery so we’ve been helping her, and I’ve been using her car. Today the van went to the shop for a proper diagnosis. Hopefully it’s nothing major. I’ll update here when I know for certain. Thank you again...

Okay, I didn’t make it to the shop. My buddy decided to close for the holidays and “might” open back up next week. Still not blowing white smoke anymore, but I am seeing signs of a leak. Looking at the engine from the front, it looks like coolant is leaking on the right hand side of the engine...

Okay, the plot thickens. The last couple mornings there has been no white smoke on cold start-ups. Still no leaks underneath. I have not done anything, either. A friend has a shop but I can’t get in there until next week. Hoping to see what’s up before I start throwing money I don’t have at it...

Okay, these are all good comments. I thank you all. I have one more question. If it is the intake manifold gasket, and not the head gasket, will a compression test show all six cylinders good, or will there still be one (or more) off? I apologize, but I’m only a shade-tree mechanic and I have...

I really wish this was the case, but I doubt it. While some of the symptoms between the two are the same, I don’t think a bad intake manifold gasket would cause the cloud of white smoke from the tailpipe every morning. And I think I would also see a noticeable antifreeze puddle under the van...

I wish we could afford to sell or trade it. I’ve been unemployed since October and my wife can’t work due to being disabled. Bills falling behind have pretty much ruined our credit. This honestly couldn’t have come at a worse time. But thank you for your advice. We’ll just have to see how this...

I am in a bit of a pickle, so I need some advice. We have a 2008 Chrysler T&C 3.8L with a little over 234k on the clock. I am pretty sure we have a bad head gasket. It leaks coolant but there are no puddles, the overflow tank bubbles when I remove the radiator cap (combustion gasses?), it blows...

You’re right, PMs. Guess I’ve been spending too much time on Twitter. Thank you!

What does it mean when, in the DM folder for a specific conversation, it shows one of the participants crossed out?

If any of you are familiar in any way with these vehicles, then you know the issue I am talking about. For those that don’t, Chrysler, in its infinite wisdom, decided to use a plastic y-pipe to connect the coolant lines between the heater cores and the engine. Of course, as the vehicle ages, the...

It’s been almost six months since our cat Fraidy passed, and Fabo has been lonely. She still walks the house looking for him and yowling for him. So yesterday, we brought her a sister. Not what she was expecting, though. Everybody, meet Chloe. She’s an 8 week old Mini Australian Shepherd. She is...