Car Repair/Diagnosis/Maintenance Questions/Car Purchasing

[Schadenfreude]

I've been thinking about making this thread for awhile -- if you have any questions about any particular make/model of a vehicle, ask them here. I currently work at a dealership as a technician, I was an Audi and Volkswagen master tech, I've been transferred to a bunch of dealership brands in our dealership group to cover a technician shortage at a particular brand (includes Chrysler, GM, Ford, BMW, etc), and I currently work at a Lexus dealer. I'll add this thread to my notifications -- I'll respond as often as possible so y'all brehs know what the deal is with your car, or your relatives car, or if a shop or someone is trying to screw you over. If you have any questions about possibly doing some maintenance or repairs to your own vehicle, I can help guide you in the right direction or *possibly* send you the step by step instructions on how to do certain repairs to cars, and what the labor book rate is (what shop's should charge for labor times).

 

[ORDER_66]

Looking to buy a used dodge caliber tomorrow... we'll see how it goes.. I just need a temporary car to build up my courier business...

 

[Schadenfreude]

Looking to buy a used dodge caliber tomorrow... we'll see how it goes.. I just need a temporary car to build up my courier business...

How much you looking to spend? The CVT's in those cars tend to crap out, and I would DEFINITELY look underneath the car if at all possible to be sure that the subframe/quarters/rocker panels aren't starting to rot out.

 

[ORDER_66]

How much you looking to spend? The CVT's in those cars tend to crap out, and I would DEFINITELY look underneath the car if at all possible to be sure that the subframe/quarters/rocker panels aren't starting to rot out.

I just need a beater i can use for a few months until i get a new one.. dude said$1500

 

[Schadenfreude]

I just need a beater i can use for a few months until i get a new one.. dude said$1500

I get it; it's as-is obviously, but make sure it'll actually get you thru the winter - that the brakes aren't metal to metal, that it's got tires to at least get you thru the winter, and that the frame isn't fukked. If he doesn't let you at least drive it a bit, walk away breh. If you have a friend who's mechanically inclined or knows what he's looking at when it comes to cars, take him along with you.

 

[the cac mamba]

got a cadillac DTS. the engine temp gauge has always crept up sitting in drive thrus/traffic, but the other day it hit the 3/4 mark then when i got it on the road it was fine and went back down

i was reading up, lotta people say the radiator fan might be going out?

 

[Schadenfreude]

got a cadillac DTS. the engine temp gauge has always crept up sitting in drive thrus/traffic, but the other day it hit the 3/4 mark then when i got it on the road it was fine and went back down

i was reading up, lotta people say the radiator fan might be going out?

Check the coolant level in the overflow tank first. (When the car is COLD, I doubt you want to get burned by pressurized coolant). If that's low/empty, you've got a cooling system leak. Depending on the year, Northstars had an issue with the water pumps leaking. Some of them also had liquid cooled alternators as well. A coolant pressure tester you can get from an auto parts store to rent will help diagnose that. The radiator fan usually will run at full blast to try and get some of that heat dissipated off the engine if there's not enough coolant circulated.

BTW: the normal coolant in a DTS is Orange (Dex-Cool). If you see any orange crust, that's the sign of a leak. What year is the car?

 

[greenvale]

thoughts on the 22 accord with the 23 right around the corner?

 

[Schadenfreude]

thoughts on the 22 accord with the 23 right around the corner?

Depends on the trim level you're looking for and what questions about the '22 vs the '23 you want answered.

 

[greenvale]

Depends on the trim level you're looking for and what questions about the '22 vs the '23 you want answered.

I’m looking at the sport vs ex-l I guess. I know the 2.0 engine is being discontinued but not sure how much that matters as I don’t drive much anyway. This would be my first car ever and was looking to put 15K down

 

[Embrehyo]

I’m looking at the sport vs ex-l I guess. I know the 2.0 engine is being discontinued but not sure how much that matters as I don’t drive much anyway. This would be my first car ever and was looking to put 15K down

15k down is stupid.

Buy a Lexus IS straight out and save yourself from losing half your money in depreciation halfway through your term.

 

[greenvale]

15k down is stupid.

Buy a Lexus IS straight out and save yourself from losing half your money in depreciation halfway through your term.

Used cars still wildly overinflated though right? I want some sense of modern tech in the whip.

 

[Embrehyo]

Used cars still wildly overinflated though right? I want some sense of modern tech in the whip.

Used cars are faring cheaper than new. Check cargurus.com.

Buying new is a shytty long term right now.

I would balance wants/needs and make the best decision.

By all means...if you love the car and you want it...go for it.

Nothing new is worth the money nowadays with inflation and high interest.

 

[Embrehyo]

When I say cheap...I mean interest and depreciation.

 

[greenvale]

Used cars are faring cheaper than new. Check cargurus.com.

Buying new is a shytty long term right now.

I would balance wants/needs and make the best decision.

By all means...if you love the car and you want it...go for it.

Nothing new is worth the money nowadays with inflation and high interest.

For a used IS or really any toyota/honda how many miles is "too many" when the car is like 10 yrs old?