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Sell the beast?
Topic Started: Jan 13 2012, 10:46 AM (1,328 Views)
m3t4lm4n222
New Member
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Well today my father, a mechanic for 15 years told me that my 1994 Suzuki that I bought it going to need a clutch and clutch wire sometime soon, as well as new axels. He says all-together it's going to cost me $1000 to fix. I bought the car for $650 and probably put $100 into it replacing the window, ignition and door handles. So basically, my option is to sell the Swift for ~$750 and buy a $750-$1100 car, or keep the swift and put $1000 worth of work into it. My concern is that i'm going to put $1000 worth of work into the car then something like the engine or transmission is going to go out. But I also think if I buy another ~$1000 car, i'm just going to run into the same problems. There is no signs of anything like that being close to happening, aside from the check engine light being on. My father said "I could probably make the clutch last 2 years because i've been driving manuals forever, but since this is your first manual, chances are it would go out within' a couple of months"
Edited by m3t4lm4n222, Jan 13 2012, 10:49 AM.
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myoldman2
Elite Member
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fix it yourself everything your dad said is not to bad to fix and it will cost that a third of that amount these car simple easy to work on and will last a very long time :rocker ;) ;) this the place to get help when you need it :bump2 dont be afride :scared :) :thumb
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Spock
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Live Long and Prosper.

Clutch replacement is easy, it's just hard work. Some folks on here can pull a transmission in about an hour. It takes me about 2.5 hours. The axles have to come out when you pull the transmission so you can do all that at the same time. Parts will run you about 100ish dollars for the clutch and about 50-75 bucks a piece for the axles. Don't know how much a clutch cable is, but I doubt it's very expensive. Check out Rock Auto.com. They have competitive prices and helpful customer service. I think there is 5% coupon on this site somewhere :hmm

Don't be scared. It's not a bad job, just a lot of work. If you have a few tools, a floor jack, and a positive attitude, you can knock it out in a weekend very easily. Give a shout if you need help. We can all walk you through it just about step by step.

You're right that another 1000 dollar car is going to give you troubles too. My opinion is that you should keep the car you have and fix it because at least you know what condition it's in and what you have to deal with.....but that's just my opinion.


Good luck! :thumb


Rob
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idmetro
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If you're Dad is a mechanic then your response should be "I'd like to take a stab at fixing those things myself. Would you be willing to help me out if I hit a tough spot?" His answer should be some version of Yes... Then, do your reading here, get ready, do the work - with luck you will not have to bother him and he will be downright impressed. if you do need his assistance you will be able to formulate an intelligent question describing the difficulty and he will still be impressed. Good Luck!
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bansheetaz


you could replace 2 axles and a clutch for less than 300 bux
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vr4


bansheetaz
Jan 13 2012, 12:45 PM
you could replace 2 axles and a clutch for less than 300 bux
this. halfshafts are about 50 each. cable is 10-15. clutch kit is about 125.


why is he even charging you to do the job anyways? he should be offering to help so you learn how to do it yourself.

labor time on the job should be no more than 6.5 hours per book time (5.1 for the flywheel R&R if you resurface it, 1.4 per axle R&R, .7 clutch cable) but being generous with the overlap involved gives you about 6.5


honestly it can be done in about 3 by an experienced tech. if i were to charge for this job it would be 325 labor + parts.
Edited by vr4, Jan 13 2012, 03:29 PM.
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m3t4lm4n222
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My father has gotten lazy over the years. He was promoted to the regional manager so now all he does is drive from store to store all day. It took him 3 weeks to get around to installing my subwoofer and it took me forever to get him to pull the ignition tumbler out to get the Suzuki re-keyed and those are easy jobs compared to removing a transmission. He was pissed off when I bought the car in the first place.
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bogs
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Duct tape heals all wounds

Not for nothing, since I don't know you, or your father, nor your family, nor how you grew up, and I don't want to insult you, so I hope you don't take what I am about to type as an insult, slur, or anything else negative.

The car is your car. You have 'some' time before the job *has* to be completed to learn just what is involved in doing it. The statements above are a pretty accurate depiction of the costs that will be involved for the parts if you take on the job yourself, and the tools that are going to be needed.

Your father has told you what needs to be fixed, but I don't think he is lazy for not wanting to get under it and fix it for you. Instead consider it an opportunity for you to learn to start standing on your own two feet and do things for yourself. The fact that he was promoted to that position means he put in the time to get there, and I'm sure he didn't earn that by sitting on his rear letting the grass grow under his feet.

He may not be pleased with your decisions such as buying the car (and I'm not by any means implying that you should make your decisions based on that criteria), and that is fine and healthy, but ultimately learning about the car and fixing it should fall to you and not him since it is yours and not his.
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m3t4lm4n222
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bogs
Jan 13 2012, 06:15 PM
Not for nothing, since I don't know you, or your father, nor your family, nor how you grew up, and I don't want to insult you, so I hope you don't take what I am about to type as an insult, slur, or anything else negative.

The car is your car. You have 'some' time before the job *has* to be completed to learn just what is involved in doing it. The statements above are a pretty accurate depiction of the costs that will be involved for the parts if you take on the job yourself, and the tools that are going to be needed.

Your father has told you what needs to be fixed, but I don't think he is lazy for not wanting to get under it and fix it for you. Instead consider it an opportunity for you to learn to start standing on your own two feet and do things for yourself. The fact that he was promoted to that position means he put in the time to get there, and I'm sure he didn't earn that by sitting on his rear letting the grass grow under his feet.

He may not be pleased with your decisions such as buying the car (and I'm not by any means implying that you should make your decisions based on that criteria), and that is fine and healthy, but ultimately learning about the car and fixing it should fall to you and not him since it is yours and not his.


The problem is i'm a full time student that works part-time, so sometimes I have even less free-time than someone who works full time. I go to school for 7 hours, then work for 4-7 hours on some days. Most people don't understand that even though sometimes I only work 20 hours a week, I go to school for 35 hours a week as well. I also don't have the resources to lift the car. You guys have been doing this for a long time, I on the other hand have no mechanical experience what-so-ever. Our house also has no garage, we live in a 2 bedroom 1 bathroom house. I had a 83 Chevrolet Citation and was going to replace the engine mounts and transmission mounts myself, but the engine began knocking so that flew out the window.
Edited by m3t4lm4n222, Jan 13 2012, 08:26 PM.
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Johnny Mullet
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Fear the Mullet

I wish you lived closer to me. Have you checked the mechanic's list to see if someone near you could help you out? There are lots of West Coast guys here who could offer help if you take care of them.
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Jittney
Anchorage 92 XFi

If you sell the beast, it won't take long.
Probably longer to get over selling it. ;)
Pity you didn't do the swap over the holiday break.
If you can baby it along, you might make it to spring break.
If this is your first clutch replacement, figure on a half day alone.
Yes, you can do it 'all by yourself' :)
Good luck.


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rmcelwee
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I am not mechanically inclined but I still do all car work myself. I schedule one day to pull it apart and one day to put it back together. Take tons of pictures and keep geometroforum.com loaded up and ready to ask questions. There are a ton of guides on here that will show you how to fix it.

My engine rebuild / clutch page:
http://www.lightweightmiata.com/geo/engine/

There are usually deals on a floor jack / jack stand set at most auto parts stores. I'd probably check craigslist first. I had a floor jack on there for 3 months for $25 before I ended up just giving it away to get it out of here.

Good luck!
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m3t4lm4n222
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Johnny Mullet
Jan 13 2012, 09:01 PM
I wish you lived closer to me. Have you checked the mechanic's list to see if someone near you could help you out? There are lots of West Coast guys here who could offer help if you take care of them.
I look at that list and unfortunately the only one in Washington seems to be a good 5 hours away. If I could get the job done for $~400 i'd be all over it but I doubt that'd even be possible with cheaper mechanics. I did list it on craigslist for $825 (175 more than what I paid for it) and I have been flooded with calls. Its really hard for me to decide whether or not I want to sell it.
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Memphis metro


1.3L, sell it. Find you a 1.0 five speed.
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Horn


Metalman dont get too intimidated by the job. If the clutch will still last a while try thr replacing the clutch cable first.

Ideally u would want to replace the cv shaft the same time you change the clutch but if the clutch can last a while replace it when it gets warmer...

These cars are the best cars by far to learn on. Take a few hours and search the website on,the "how to's".....the cv shafts are easy to replace. Gotta break the cv shaft nut loose. Its a 30 or 28mm socket. Use a big cheater bar. Take out the bolt for the lower ball joint. Use a pickle fork and disconnect the lower control armfrom the hub. Pull out the hub enough to slide the cv shaft out of the hub. Then pull the hub ou the trans. May need a screwdriver to pop the cv shaft out the trans. Then put the,new ones in.
Like everyone else said no more than 300. I like ebaymotors for cheap clutches. Rockauto has good prices. Also you can get good deals at advance auto parts.
Edited by Horn, Jan 13 2012, 11:10 PM.
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