Guys I need your help pleaseee.
So I bought this car brand new drove it for 6 years and then moved and left it with my parents. Car currently has 120,000 miles.

-I have been using synthetic oil since about 50,000 miles and my dad kept up changing it every 5K.

-I performed 60,000 service at the dealer. They flushed tranny fluid, changed the belt, bunch of other stuff I forget now...

Car currently has 120,000 miles! With ONLY the above maintenance done! I would like to still use this car, but it's pretty beat up because of lack of further maintenance (just oil changes since, tire changes...)

Here are the current issues:
1) Suspension has NEVER been changed and the car bounces around like crazy
2) Rotors never changed and the car shakes when breaking.
3) Haven't changed the belts since 60K miles
4) ABS, Traction control lights are currently constantly on
5) Drivers seat doesn't move any more

Sound system stopped working (I had Rainbow speakers and sub, with Pioneer Navi).

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Need your help fellas. What do I need to do to bring this car back to good condition? I know nothing about suspension, etc.. I don't need anything crazy just want it to ride like the original SE eidition that it is. Don't need anything stiff (whatever is cheapest).

I was thinking of finding the driver's seat at a junk yard or something?

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Also, can you guys let me know approximately how much all of this might cost? I am trying to weigh the benefits of fixing it up, or just driving it now and letting it die and then leasing a honda or something after... Want to save money in the long term. Car seems to be running great otherwise.

 

I would fix it. If you know how to do the above items, you can fix it and have reliable transportation.

1. You probably need new shocks, either front, or both front and rear.
2. You need new rotors and pads. Again, most likely front, but you could also do all 4.
3. Change the belts with new ones. Very cheap and easy to do.
4. I am not sure on this one. Never had this problem.
5. Start by checking the simple things first. fuses, relays, the motors on the power seat.

Let us know what you decide and how fixing things up is going.

 

Guys, I don't have time to do any of this work and I don't even know how to do it. I am working 6 days a week these days about 10 hours a day. It would be nice to be able to have an extra car for reliable transportation like you said. But I would need have all this done at a Mechanic...

I probably need to change out to an all new suspension. I have matured now and would like a software ride, similar to a Lexus if possible, especially if that means cheaper suspension parts. I'm not sure what's part of a suspension (Shocks, struts) how to buy them and how much they would cost and even install...

 

You are going to have a h*ll of a time doing all of that, you just need to ask off like a week to get started, i would suggest for the suspension, changing all the suspension parts, this is going to cost you a lot, i would go on amazon and look up the kyb suspension kit that has all four shocks and struts you need, i would invest in a 1/4'' impact driver, deep sockets, you will also need to buy mounts for each corner of the car, also will need shock and strut boots for each one as well, i would suggest bleeding the brakes as well, get new rotors and while your at it do a brake change, never auto zone brake pads though, also replace your control arms, you may need to replace your drive axles, and while your changing your control arms, i would also change out your sway bar links, this is a lot and is going to be a lot of work, but if you do it yourself and rent the tools that you need and get a buddy or two to help you, it won't be so bad, it will run you about $950 for all the parts, but if you have a mechanic do it, this bill will be enormous! trust me, quality parts rule out every time, cheap parts never work long and end up costing you more in the long run
thats just my advice

 

Guys, there is no way that I am doing this myself. I will have to have a mechanic do all of the work..

 

thats going to cost you around twice what the car is worth...
if not three times as much...

 

Ouch.. sounds like you're in a bit of a pickle. If you really love the car just have it repaired gradually. Belts and rotors at the same time first, then suspension... and everything else. Just keep following up.

 

Guys can I get a ballpark on the suspension stuff? I would think that would come first because right now its unbearable to drive the car. When I sit down it almost feels like the car is slanted at an angle lol.

What am I talking about price wise? Is it best to order parts online and then find a shop to install it?

And is this normal to replace suspension after 120,000 miles/13 years?

 

where you at? I will help you if you are close. Im in Philadelphia

The first 3 questions are easy and can be done in no time. The suspension will take no more than 2 hrs, the belts less than 1 and brakes (rotors) half an hr the most. Good luck

 

Rotors, will go from 22 to over 150 depending on what you are looking for. The pads will go for 35 to 75, Hawks are best in my opinion, around 65
Suspension wise, struts a good set could run from 250 plus.
Belts 18 bucks OEM, only use OEM on those.
As for the lights on, could be a few things, but with the proper codes its an easy fix.

A Mechanic will have a party with your money as they will charge you by their book, 2 hrs here, 3 there, while they can finish the job in 30 minutes...

 

Thanks guys. I'm in NYC/LI, thanks so much for the offer though.

So it's the struts I need replaced, not the springs? Is it because the springs last much longer? Also, I don't care to have the car lowered. It's an SE with 17" wheels. Again I just want a reliable mode of transportation that drives nice and as good as stock. Would OEM stuff be cheapest? Or are there aftermarket stuff I should look at that's cheaper but still good?

If I can get another 100K on her trouble free I would invest a coupe of thousand now to give me that many more miles...

Any ideas on shops in NYC area? Also, what am I looking to spend at the mechanic on this?

 

I gave you the options you have to do the job yourself. Now that you have an idea call different shops and get quotes, it is going to cost you a lot of money to pay a shop to do it for you, there are a lot of videos to do this and you can use them as reference. A shop in Philly try to bang me for 150 to replace 2 front struts, I lost all my tool on my move from Florida, so I went and bought them again, and still I saved money in the jobs I have done since I moved to Philly. Im assuming that NY is going ot be a little more expensive, so shop around, my offer still stand if you decide to do it yourself. just trying to help...!!!

 

Lontar1 thanks so much for your help. I may have to take you up on the offer at some point. I need to figure out what exactly I need to replace. Is it the Struts? Springs? I know nothing of these things. reading djfreestyl's suspension thread now and feeling a bit overwhelmed. Not even sure what a "boot" is or if there is anything else that I will need to replace...

I'll call some shops around here as soon as I have time, and I'll shoot you a pm at some point. Is that cool?

Thanks so much.

Would you guys bother replacing any coils or anything else that can go bad soon? Thanks

 

OEM springs should be ok, for now you need the struts front and back, boots oem better, but if yours are in good shape no need to do it. I replace my front struts not long ago and the boots were in good shape, my car has 246k miles on it. You will have to look for these:

$175 shipped - Front Pair of KYB Excel-G (GR-2) Struts
Front Right
http://www.importrp.com/product.php?...47&cat=&page=1
Front Left
http://www.importrp.com/product.php?...48&cat=&page=1

and you will need the back also. I got the front only as Im running Illuminas in the back.

$70 - Front Pair of KYB Strut Mounts w/ Bearings
Front Right
http://www.importrp.com/product.php?...62&cat=&page=1
Front Left
http://www.importrp.com/product.php?...63&cat=&page=1

Call them and ask for prices, ask for Mike

Here are the different ways you can place the order and get the maxima.org discount:

1.) You can place the order online on our website and then PM me or e-mail us back with your Order ID# and we will adjust the total for you to reflect this discounted price.
2.) You can send us a Paypal payment to: paypal@importrp.com. Or we can send you a Paypal invoice to your Paypal account, but need to know what email address.
3.) To order by phone with your Credit/Debit card, feel free to call us toll free at 1-888-378-7278 (or 425-357-6818 local/international calls).

 

^^ As of this morning, KYB struts (all 4) can be had for $276+tax from Amazon. Stay far far away from KYB mounts.

I've already replied to the OP's PM to me about the suspension.

 

Thanks for your help guys.

I thought it would be easy to find a replacement power heated driver's seat on ebay but it turns out it's not. I think the motor is broken that's why the seat isn't moving. I remember 3 years ago I was able to get the seat to move if I pushed on it while simultaneously pressing the forward button. But now nothing works.

If I'm going to fix up this car this is a priority since I can't even sit in it comfortably (It's stuck on my father's seating position).

Can someone help me out with this?

 

Need more details. What specifically is happening. Does the motor click when you hit the buttons but no movement? Or seems like no electrical connection at all?

Is it the top part or the bottom part (or both)?

Some people have luck smacking it around - hit the seat, the switches, underneath, etc.

 

^^ As djfrestyl said, get a screwdriver and hit the motor under the seat. You can access it from the front of the seat, it is visible. That's what I do when it stops working.

 

Wow, you guys are great! Still have an issue though.

Hit the motor from the front (thanks for telling me I can access it from the front) with a hammer, and it started working! The seat move back and forward and I can recline the back, however, I cannot get it to move the actual seat up and down! It still stuck. It just moves forward and backward and I can recline the back...

Any ideas? I need to fix this because my father sat very high and I can;t bring the seat down.

 

Don't quote me on this, but the functionality that moves the seat up and down might be a different motor. IIRC there are more than one motor under the seat. Try to find that one and take the same approach.

 

Get new spark plugs too (every 100k miles). As for your sound system, get a new head unit. I recommend Alpine as it can handle more power.

 

This makes no sense. The OP already stated he has a Pioneer HU with navi. Certain head units don't 'handle' more power over others.

 

Pioneers are garbage. Alpines have equalizers built in to them.
I had a pioneer but it kept cutting off so I switched to an Alpine and it sounds better and doesn't cut out.

 

Opinions are relative and subjective, and often tunnel-minded. Yours is based on your own personal experience. I have no idea how the topic of equalizers entered this conversation, but Pioneer decks have EQ capabilities too.

zgrm, keep proceeding with the plan we discussed via PM.

 

Yeah I had to get rid of my Pioneer as it kept cutting out aswell, but it was pretty cheap tbh. I switched to Kickers and it sounds pretty awesome