chowdude

OK guys this is what I have
I went to get the Max smogged and it failed the pretest
I had the mech see if he can fix it to pass california smog
He said he is seeing low compression on the cylinders and oh yea it has 389k miles
He says it needs a new motor
I was trying to check some connectors and they are brittle
should I get a used motor or just put her out to pasture I've owned her since she had only 100 miles
She has been chugging intermitantly with no codes I've changed vacuum lines Maf spark plugs wires and coil
thanks

Hectic

iTrader: (20)

Fix it. Not many people can say they have a car with 400k miles on it and are also the original owner.

7mJoe

These motors aren't too expensive. Just wrench a new one in and call it a day.

maximo018

iTrader: (6)

I say fix it. Its not like its totaled. (anything besides physically undrivable is no reason why a 3rd gen should not be driven) If it took care of you this long then its time to return the favor. Take care of a car and it will take care if you.

chowdude

Update my mechanic said he is able to get it to pass smog. He said he will check to see if the cat is ok but he was able to get it to pass the pretest. He said that that he found a loose connector on the maf i thought i checked that but hey if that is all that was needed was a second pair of eyes so be it. Thanks for the encouragement...

Rods03Max619

iTrader: (5)

Good Luck Man, hoping to get my bros after he wants to get rid of it .......

shiloh51933

iTrader: (5)

Original owner from 100 miles to 400,000, that's aewsome!!

maximo018

iTrader: (6)

Oh yeah if the 2 of you have lasted this long its made somewhere in heaven that the 2 of you are destined for each other til death do ya'll part (Hopefully it be the car 1st. Shh don't tell it I said that lol.) Idk why I thought that it said 100k miles the first time.

Cliff Clavin

iTrader: (11)

Even if it passes now, with low compression you are bound to have a need for a new engine in the not too distant future.

I would start saving for it.

Unless your car is all dented up or rusted (not likely in CA), it sounds like you should definitely keep it and keep it running if you can.

maximo018

iTrader: (6)

See this as an early warning. You start saving and get the motor (if time lines up right) the other will give out just in time for you to swap on a weekend. Take advantage of the opportunity while you can.

chowdude

Any suggestions on where to get jdm. It seems that the pickings are kinda slim from some of the places on the internet. Or would a rebuild be better?
The good thing is my daughter is using the car to get back and forth from work and its only .5 mile from home so not too much hard running also. My plan was to get her smogged and then change the timing belt. The mech said the was going to check the cat and make sure i didnt overheat it. So i will know more tomorrow.

maximo018

iTrader: (6)

Whether you swap in a Japanese motor or keep yours change the timing belt regardless. If not you take the chance of rushing that deadline of you replacing the motor. You don't want yourself or daughter for that matter to end up stranded because of neglect.

chowdude

Hey Guys,
Good news. I went to the junk yard yesterday and decided to try another maf from a car that had about half of mileage that mine has.
I installed it and after driving it for a few miles the cel went off and it has now stopped with the horrible idle.
I guess its a crap shot with a rebuilt maf from the parts store.
We drove the car all over about 100 miles in 100+ heat and no more chugging. Its good to have the car driving properly again. So even thou you have changed the maf it might still be the problem. I have now changed it 3x.
I was also going to do the pigtail but now wont have to......

T_Behr904

Glad to hear the good news.

arsonist63086

if your engine is high on milage like that best you can do to help the compression a bit and reduce more wear is put in thicker oil 20-50 and also clean out the corrosion from the connectors.