On Tue, 8 Dec 2009 11:47:11 -0500, JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
"AZ Nomad" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 8 Dec 2009 11:13:47 -0500, JoeSpareBedroom
wrote:
"Larry Fishel" wrote in message
...
Unless one of the sparkplugs was changed just before starting it up
that time, that seems unlikely.

You didn't give us very much info about the problem... Was it running
badly or just making noise? Can you describe the noise at all? Are you
mechanically inclined enough to at least remove the spark plugs and
accessory belts and run the starter? That will narrow things way down
with a minimum of effort. (A lot of horrible "engine" noises turn out
to be failed alternators, water pumps, etc...)


Update: She had a nearby mechanic (not the usual one) take a look at the
car. He pulled the plugs and in fact, one WAS broken. That's as far as it
went. He said "No way to determine damage without major teardown - $1500
or
so." Our usual mechanic says "More like $2500 - not worth it for a car
with
book value of $3000-ish". The latter guy is probably being cautious and
preparing her for worst case scenario.

Whoever replaced the plugs last or perhaps the plug maker owes you an
engine overhaul.


Spoke to her a little while ago. She's thinking they may never have been
replaced. She's checking through a pile of receipts, while complaining that
our mechanic should've told her to do plugs at the recommended interval.
This is one instance where one of our mechanic's best selling points may be
at fault: While working on our cars, he'll point out stuff that needs to be
done in the future so we can plan our budgets. For instance, if he's
rotating tires, he'll say "Think 6 months for front brakes, unless you start
driving a lot more than usual."

BUT: He leaves it up to the customer to keep an eye on the car's service
intervals and request certain things, which I like. If (and this is a big
IF) plugs can fall apart due simply to age, who's at fault? The mechanic for
never saying "tuneup time", or the customer, for not keeping an eye on the
service schedule in the owner's manual?

And why am I in the middle of all this? :-) Don't ask.


It's a little weird with today's cars. Except for spark plugs, there
really is nothing to tune up any more. Cars don't have points or
carbs. With unleaded gas, spark plugs last at least 50K miles. I've
replaced plugs after 50K miles that looked like they could have gone
another 50K miles.