cabbitzilla: (Wound)
cabbitzilla ([personal profile] cabbitzilla) wrote2003-03-04 12:24 pm

(no subject)

I spoke to Gary at Ritchie automotive today. The car's being worked on, currently with a large empty hole where the engine was. I've also got a list of additional parts it needs, that ups the total by roughly $450. It includes BOTH the temperature sender unit (which tells you if the engine's about to overheat) AND the oil pressure sender (which warns of low oil, or of a 'catastrophic drop' in oil). Coupled with the burned oil residue found in the tailpipe and on the back of the car, I now know -exactly- what happened.

Sometime after I checked the oil on that fateful Sunday afternoon, the headgasket blew. The oil was pumped into the number two cylinder, and burned out through the exhaust. The temperature sender failed, and didn't warn that the engine was running -very- hot (as it will do when the secondary cooling system, the oil system, is ruptured). As the oil pressure dropped rapidly, the oil pressure sender failed as well, giving me no indication of a problem until the engine finally surrendered on Thursday morning. There's -massive- carbon buildup in the intake manifold, indicative of a severe heat problem.

List of additional parts:
  Spark Plugs          - 4 - $11.95 (burned out from the heat problems)
  Fuel Filter          - 1 - $56.18 (the housing needs replacing, it's melted)
  PCV Valve            - 1 - $ 4.94 (again, it's melted)
  Serpentine Belt      - 1 - $43.35 (scorched and partially burned through)
  Water Pump           - 1 - $88.48 (impeller is melted, there's a pattern here)
  Thermostat/Gasket    - 1 - $43.52 (*sigh* Care to guess?)
  Temp Sender          - 1 - $46.76 (it's dead, jim...)
  Oil Sender           - 1 - $28.90 (dammit, jim, I'm a tech not a God...)
  Oil Fill Pickup Tube - 1 - $ ?? (the base is slagged from the heat)
  Oil Filter           - 1 - $ 6.95 (this is just common sense)
... and best of ALL!
  Transmission Front Pump Seal - 1 - $10.20 (blessedly the rest of the transmission seems undamaged)


Well, then. In other news, a lemming I lifted from my favorite dolly:
Look at my stunning anime growth, nya! (Otaku Level: 5)
Otaku Level 5


What Stage of Anime Fandom That I Went Through Are You At?
brought to you by Quizilla

... and there's another that appeared in Frances' and Mel's journals, but Quizilla seems to be having... 'issues'...

*hugs from the deranged dolly*
~Ellie-chan

Edited: Finally Quizilla let me into the other quizie...
You're Ripley. Believe it or not.
You're Ripley. Believe it or not.


Which Drive-in Damsel Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Um... Well... you know, I can see some of it, yes.

[identity profile] m-masque.livejournal.com 2003-03-04 09:41 am (UTC)(link)
I'm sorry to hear about the additional parts required, Dear. But, on the plus side, the prices you put down look to be pretty reasonable based on what I've priced for cars during my workaday self. All told, though, the price is a major blow regardless.

*hugs*

Oh, and we all seem to be scoring a 5 on that otaku quiz; I did, too!

*nods*

[identity profile] elisabeth.livejournal.com 2003-03-04 11:46 am (UTC)(link)
After I got off the blower with Gary, I made a couple more phone calls to check comparative prices and discovered them to be fair. A couple of them are a shade high, but overall I've been pleased with the integrity of the shop.

Still, it's a bite to the shorts. :p