Car troubles :-(

C

calcium

0
On my way to work my '91 Camry started reeving once I hit 30 mph. It was really weird and this has never happened. It's an automatic but it's like it can't get out of first gear or something. It seems fine but the second I go faster than 25 mph it stops accelerating well and there is this loud "REEVVVVVVVVV" noise.

I'm freaked :( I left my car at this place called multistate transmissions since it's the only trans shop close. I'm probably going to get screwed. Anyone have any idea on what could be up?

Oh, and a week ago all my dashboard lights went out :confused:
 
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calcium said:
On my way to work my '91 Camry started reeving once I hit 30 mph. It was really weird and this has never happened. It's an automatic but it's like it can't get out of first gear or something. It seems fine but the second I go faster than 25 mph it stops accelerating well and there is this loud "REEVVVVVVVVV" noise.

I'm freaked :( I left my car at this place called multistate transmissions since it's the only trans shop close. I'm probably going to get screwed. Anyone have any idea on what could be up?

Oh, and a week ago all my dashboard lights went out :confused:
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Its probably the torque converter letting go. that could be caused by a few other reasons though.
 
Granted my example is a very different car, I'll still mention it. My car was also a 91, a Lincoln Mark VII. Nowadays the accelerator is all based on sensors and shiz, but in older cars there is an actual cable that connects to a throttle body. Basically when you push the pedal, the TB opens up, sucking in air to the engine...

That cable on my car also was what dictated when the motor would shift. Of course Ford put a ****ty little plastic thing in there which broke so my car would rev outta control rather than shift into the next gear. $2 later, had a metal piece put in, never had a problem again.

I'm just sayin, there is hope that it's something minor. Get it checked out, hopefully it's not bad.
 
freak - I know nothing about cars. Is a torq converter part of the transmission? If exchange the transmission would that fix that problem?

mark - Well I'm sure that if it's something that minor the mechanic is going to screw me anyways and tell me that it was something that costs $1000 :( Thanks for the story.

Flying free- Actually it was a year and a half ago. My Saturn was spraying oil everywhere and was about to completely crap out. Turns out it was just the oil filter not fitting correctly. Cost under $20 to fix.
 
calcium said:
freak - I know nothing about cars. Is a torq converter part of the transmission? If exchange the transmission would that fix that problem?
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Yes. It's the part that transmits the power from the engine. there's a lot of things that can break that will cause the torque converter to not work. If its something major expect to be paying a lot to get it fixed but like MMW said, it could be something cheap as well. When they call just make sure you are asking them lots of questions and try to sound like you know what you're talking about. will give them less of a reason to try to screw you...or bring your father or boyfriend or whoever...sounds sexist but that's how it is unfortunately.
 
They said they can't find anything that will fix it that's little :( $1500 to rebuild the tranny.....

Should I do it? '91 Camry 155,000 miles on it......I love this car :( It was cost about the same aount to get another beater.
 
kbb the car and see what the car is worth before dumping 1500 into it. that could just as well be used as a down payment on a new car or a newer used car.
 
Yeah, good advice. During my college years, I was driving a crusty, rusty old 89 Ranger that I bought for $1100. It was great, and never really gave me any issues. On the other hand, I've known people who went through $1000-$2000 cars like toilet paper rolls.

So it can be risky to get a beater, you never know how much you'll get out of it. If your car is pretty sound other than this current problem, it might be worth fixing then driving well beyond the 200K mark.
 
With this economic crisis there are so many good deals on cars out there! Dealerships are trying to get rid of everything, including used cars.
 
and even greater savings on 08 models that didnt sell to make room for 09s.

they usually always have a 0% financing on the remaining 08s
 
can't have your cake and eat it too. spend $1500 (at least) and get another 50,000-75000 miles out of it (maybe) or dump the car, spend $4000 and get a car with another 15000 to 20000 miles on it.

It's her choice, if you can only afford 1500 bucks then maybe you should just repair the car.
 
MarkMyWords said:
I get the impression from her posts that she is only trying to spend 1 to 2 grand for a little beater though.
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This is true.....

I honestly seem to get more for my money out of the cars that I get for 1500 then people who have newer cars. I spend 1500 and usually get a good 2 years out of the car (I did a lot of vacation driving with this camry though). Alot of other people that I know that drive regularly get cars that cost them 5000-9000 and they end up with the same issues as me! The only difference is that they are paying off a loan whiling getting the tranny or something else fixed.

Just my thoughts on the matter.

I told the dude to get the job done. I'm getting my car the surgery it needs. Thanks for everyone's advice. I read through it all and found it extremely helpful as usual.
 
I have never been able to afford a new car or even anything BUT a beater except for once in my life of buying a newer used car, then that got repossessed when I was injured & missed 2 payments & called them telling them about missing the payment & told them why! (It disappeared from my parking space filled w/ my only winter coat, clothes, a box of important things, several canes, etc the next day.) Through repeated mistakes of burning myself by getting gas hogs, cars that broke down w/in the first month or needed nonstop new parts, etc. I have LEARNED what to do.

It is worth a little extra money spent to pay a reputable mechanic to check out a car before I buy it. Kind of along the same lines as having a house inspector check a home before you buy it, and it only costs bvetwen $100 - $200 or even less to do! That way, I know in advance what will need to be replaced or what to look for later on if it starts giving me trouble.

Don't listen to why people are selling cars. People lie. If the car is a good one w/ no problems they probably wouldn't be selling it. Plain & simple, especially if they wanna get money for a (sick) car so they can buy another *healthier* one!
 
olgappetra said:
Don't listen to why people are selling cars. People lie. If the car is a good one w/ no problems they probably wouldn't be selling it. Plain & simple, especially if they wanna get money for a (sick) car so they can buy another *healthier* one!
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That's not always true. A lot of people want a new car every four years and want to get rid of the one they have. It happens all the time up here.
 
i_love_muscle said:
That's not always true. A lot of people want a new car every four years and want to get rid of the one they have. It happens all the time up here.
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+1 ILM. My '96 civic was a great car with only 91,000 miles on it, no mechanical issues, paint was in decent shape thanks to my painstaking care over the 5 years I had it. I sold it cause I wanted something quicker and sportier. I got a great price on it too, selling for $4250. was asking $4500. The car easily had another 100k+ miles in it.
 
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