Well, there goes our emergency savings
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| Mon, 04-14-2003 - 10:46am |
Well, the shop we're using this year tells us that the O2 sensor is bad. Dh told them that we'd just had it replaced last year, and they said they hoped we had a warranty because they tested it and it's bad. Apparently, there's a diagnostic you can do--first of all, why didn't the shop last year perform a diagnostic, instead of telling me "we just had to try stuff"? More importantly, I'm just sick that it has to be replaced, and I can't find the manual or warranty information. Also, I'm wondering, since the shop last year didn't bother to run a diagnostic, if the O2 sensor was bad to begin with, and they just didn't know. If we had known then, we could have taken it back immediately and gotten it replaced! The shop this time is telling me it will be $260 to replace. I'm afraid to go get one at Auto Zone again.
AND, I looked up info about the O2 sensor and it says it can cause failure of the catalytic converter, in which case we'll have to replace it too. I just lost my job, so we don't have extra cash around, and our entire emergency savings is just under $500. If we have to replace the converter, it will wipe out our entire cushion. :(
Now I'm feeling that old familiar anxiety creep up on me. I won't be able to sleep for a week, and I'm already sleep deprived. I just feel sick.
Encouraging words?
Heather
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My van was leaking power steering fluid (what is it with cars breaking when people are out of work???), we had the extended warrenty so that helped BUT these people (it was a dealership) were trying to get us to pay for all sorts of stuff that there was nothing wrong with it.
PLUS...we had a coupon for free oil change from them since they were a "new" dealership in town. On the work order it appeared that the did it but when DH looked at it they hadn't touched it (DH usually does the oil changes and uses Purolator filters, that is NOT the standard filters you are going to get at a dealership)..anyway he called the next day and basically did a "Hey buddies, you said you did an oil change but you didn't" and they took it in right away and went 'uh-oh'. IF he hadn't looked, we would have had no clue that they didn't do what they said they would do. So, I'm not even 100% convinced they did the power steering thing correct.
Anyway, there *is* a point to this, is that I wouldn't just right out believe that the new O2 sensor you got was bad...now it *is* possible because occasionally bad batches of things will happen (I've gotten things in general and it won't work when you first get it, so I'm not saying it doesn't happen) but is there any other mechanic that you could take it to that could do just the diagonstic thing? Unfortunately, I'm sure you would have to pay for that but after our last fiasco, I would rather charge an extra $40 to find out for sure than pay out a ton of money more for something that really dosen't need replacing.
HUGS....Other than that I have no advice for you since I know nothing about cars. Hmmm...don't know if the Car Smarts board could help you...might want to get that a shot!!
http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-mlcars
Becky
Becky
CL of 4th, 5th & 6th grade Scoliosis
One positive thing to think about is this: at least you have the emergency savings to cover this! That's what it's there for, right? If you didn't have that savings, you'd have to put that repair work on your credit card...a much more difficult situation.
Hugs to you -- and good luck!
~Stephanie
that failed emissions. We read somewhere that using octane booster will
make it burn cleaner. Just pour a bottle in the gas tank, fill it with the highest
octane gas you can find, let it cycle through for a while and see if you can pass.
My husband had no problem passing. The guy said "I don't know what you did but it's much better"!
I realize it's a temporary fix but if it's passing emissions that's the trouble, it might get you by for the moment.
And if you have to fix it, at least you have savings! I know it's hard to use it
but at least it's there.
At least you had the emergency fund to help you out of this situation, and you are ahead of the game because you know the importance of having such a fund. It will take time to rebuild it, but it'll happen. Maybe we can start "snowflaking" to our respective emergency funds while we work down debt :-)
Heather
They did say that they would be willing to put in an "after market" part, but it won't come with the same warranty. Still, it's $200 less, so we're going that route. It still puts us out nearly $200 (after labor costs), and we still have to pay for the catalytic converter if it's gone out, but here's hoping it hasn't.
Thanks for your help and encouragement!
Heather
Thank you for your words of encouragement!
Heather
Thank you for your response. It's good to hear the encouragement.
Heather
Thanks for responding. It's nice to hear others have been in the same boat (I know they have, but it's nice to hear anyway), and are making it by. At least we have the savings.
Heather