In a pinch

[VinylxScratches]

My car is falling apart. My powersteering belt is slipping off and will require a bunch of engine work to fix the piece that's broke. I also saw oil all over the engine...

I am thinking of finding a new to me car now. Problem is I want to get a house so I either want to find a cheap beater under 3K or get a loan. I don't want to lose all the money I saved for a house to get a car...

I'm not a big fan of Ford. Only one I would consider is the Crown Vic or the Grand Marquis.

I've owned my car since 2002 and put 118,500 miles on it. It's a Dodge Neon.... this sucks.

 

[jlee]

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/cto/2846682254.html ?

 

[janas19]

Whoa slow down... Who told you that a slipping PS belt will require a "bunch of parts" to replace? That's not true.

I have an idea. Why not, instead of spending 3K on a new car, you spend $20 on a Haynes manual? Then you can fix the belt yourself.

 

[HarryLui]

Location? What's the quote for "bunch of work"?

 

[anotherblusi]

If you want a beater pick up a honda civic. One of the most reliable daily beaters out there. Great gas mileage, super cheap to do repair work, and excellent retail value. I know a lot of people that have picked up older civics 96-00, for less than 3g's driven them for a few years or so, and then resold them for the same price. As long as the body is good and engine is running the value of the car won't dip below the $2000 mark

 

[thedarkwolf]

What else does this power steering belt go too? If it is just the power steering pump cut the belt. Problem solved.

 

[tarheel1983]

Personally, when I am in a bind I go find a Dodge Neon somewhere. I have purchased a total of 4 and all together they cost me less than 3k. Each one ran for at minimum 125k miles with the best lasting over 250k. Not bad for the money

 

[NutBucket]

What else does this power steering belt go too? If it is just the power steering pump cut the belt. Problem solved.

In every car I've owned, one belt for PS and alternator and a separate belt for the AC.

Another solution might be to buy a shorter belt for the alternator and bypass the PS.

 

[3chordcharlie]

You have a dodge neon, and wouldn't consider a ford?

Really?

Aplogies if Henry Ford shot your great granddad or something (which is always possible!), but this doesn't make sense to me.

Anyway, get a second opinion on the repair, then if you're going to go dirt-cheap beater-shopping, brand isn't too important compared to overall condition, and know problems with specific models you might be looking at.

 

[thedarkwolf]

In every car I've owned, one belt for PS and alternator and a separate belt for the AC.

Another solution might be to buy a shorter belt for the alternator and bypass the PS.

There are plenty that do have a lone belt for the PS though but yes bypassing would also work.

 

[VinylxScratches]

Good news, the powersteering is fixed. Bad news, Head gasket leak

 

[NutBucket]

If its really a beater you could try stop leak.

 

[5150MyU]

Oil leaks are sometimes mis-diagnoised as head gasket on them.
Check the cam sensor seal at the rear of the cylinder head.
They could both be leaking but the cam sensor seal can leak worse than the headgasket.

 

[Eli]

It's almost always cheaper to fix the car you have than to buy a new one.

 

[VinylxScratches]

I am going to take the car to a local repair shop and see. but anyways, I am still going to find a second car. It has been hell borrowing someone's. I don't like it.

 

[Black2na]

if your dead set on a second car i would go 99+ crown vic cheap to fix and comfortable to run and you can find them Cheappp