Taking vert for professional analysis

[Billyvannuys]

My vert has been sitting for theee months with large amount of fluid leaking underneath. I'm so angry at myself for allowing my neighbor to work on it. But, he replaces motors for people and has flipped several cars. Problem is, after getting to know him little- by- little over the past two years, I have discovered he's a pathological liar and a cheat. He did help with some things, but I've had enough now.

We'll see what a real mechanic says next week. Hopefully it's not too expensive and I can continue with fixing car.

If mechanic says I need a new motor or something. I'm afraid I'll have to bail on this thing.

I'll post more next week. I don't need any lectures about "all old cars need repairs" or " you shouldn't buy a car if you can't fixit yourself." I have paid and wasted a lot of good money on this car and must now reassess where to go next.

[Galaxie500XL]

What is leaking, and how is the car behaving?

[Billyvannuys]

Hi Galaxie: thanks for your interest. since my driveway is on a slant, I have not jacked vehicle. However, leak seems to be oil. Car was running fine when I parked it last summer.

[MemphisMan]

I hate that for you man. Nobody wants to sink money into a car and not get to drive it. It seems like you've had more than your fair share of issues with it. If you could just get it baselined, I'm sure you could maintain it from there. I hope it works out man. Let us know what the mechanic says.

[Galaxie500XL]

Be sure to check the fluids carefully before moving the car...I wouldn't be surprised to discover the fluid is transmission fluid, coming out of the axle seals....

[95GS]

Get some white cardboard (dollar store) and 4 stones.

Leave under leak to determine the oil color & type.

Compare to dipstick or reservoir fluid colors.

 

Gotta be one (or more) of:

* Engine oil 

* Tranny fluid

* Power steering fluid

* Brake fluid

* Engine coolant

 

Might as well do this cheap test, since you need to top up before moving it.

 

Two similar fluid leaks for me were rusted oil pan (10W30), and rusted power steering cooler line.

Neither was a monumental repair.

Rust might be less likely in California, depending where you are.

[cdn_olds_94]

Get some white cardboard (dollar store) and 4 stones.

Leave under leak to determine the oil color & type.

Compare to dipstick or reservoir fluid colors.

 

Gotta be one (or more) of:

* Engine oil 

* Tranny fluid

* Power steering fluid

* Brake fluid

* Engine coolant

 

Might as well do this cheap test, since you need to top up before moving it.

 

Two similar fluid leaks for me were rusted oil pan (10W30), and rusted power steering cooler line.

Neither was a monumental repair.

Rust might be less likely in California, depending where you are.

 

I was going suggest the same thing with the cardboard to check the type of fluid leaking. Please keep us posted as to whats going on with your car.

[kennyb13126]

i don't believe the dont own it if you cant fix it line. theres a lot of things I can fix...but engine and tranny arent one of them. leaks on anything with an engine are common, and it could be just about anything, so go ahead and try to narrow it down yourself if you can. it could be something like a tranny or barke line, just keep track of you fluids and see what getting low. the trouble with any mechanic is they want to fix something, and they want you to pay for what they fix. sometimes the guy next door knows what hes doing, sometimes it needs to go somewhere different.

 

i knew a guy that drove his van for a year with a blown head gasket...he just made sure the coolant was topped off all the time. his way of thinking was that he wasnt going to pay to get it fixed, just to have smething else go wrong with it. my point is, different people have different tolerances for fixing things....so fix what you want, if it gets to hard to fix sell it.