96' Neon Project thread

[MrH]

I could never own something so impractical......

Your car preferences bore me.  You could always have two cars too.  Then you can be as impractical as you want with one of them.

[2o6]

Your car preferences bore me.  You could always have two cars too.  Then you can be as impractical as you want with one of them.

I can't afford that.

[MrH]

You said you could never own something so impractical.  You'll be able to afford it later in life (well, I hope so at least).

[2o6]

Should I get new or used? I would like to get a new alternator, but I don't have the $$$. I also don't want to get a used alternator only to have it not work and me have to take the car apart.

[Secret Chimp]

Should I get new or used? I would like to get a new alternator, but I don't have the $$$. I also don't want to get a used alternator only to have it not work and me have to take the car apart.

It's an old shitty car. Get something from the junkyard.

[2o6]

It's an old shitty car. Get something from the junkyard.

My brother told me I shouldn't.

[Laconian]

My brother told me I shouldn't.

Then why bother asking us?

[2o6]

Then why bother asking us?

Because I want to know if he's wrong or not. I can afford a used one and new belts easily.

[Middle_Path]

Junkyard, dude, actually here I like the pick and pulls even better(real junkyards that is.) Those will save you even more money, but you sort of need a clue as to what you're doing there. Put a new part on a 1996 Neon, hell no. You've got an old car and you'll have to learn how to fix it. Enjoy the learning process and PITA.

[r0tor]

Christ, a new alternator would cost about 20% of what your car is actually worth...

[2o6]

Christ, a new alternator would cost about 20% of what your car is actually worth...

Junkyard, dude, actually here I like the pick and pulls even better(real junkyards that is.) Those will save you even more money, but you sort of need a clue as to what you're doing there. Put a new part on a 1996 Neon, hell no. You've got an old car and you'll have to learn how to fix it. Enjoy the learning process and PITA.

Pull a part is $15.00, that is if they haven't all been pulled already. Not only that, but I really don't want to do this three times.


I'm either getting the used one, or calling a shop to see how much $$$ it is to get it rebuilt.

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

Don't waste your time trying to get it rebuilt. I'm pretty sure that you can buy a new one for what that rebuild will cost.

[hotrodalex]

Don't waste your time trying to get it rebuilt. I'm pretty sure that you can buy a new one for what that rebuild will cost.

That's usually the case with things.

[Rupert]

2o6: "I have a flat tire! What should I do?"
Everyone: "Change it, fix it, put it back on."
2o6: "Do you think it could be the brakes?"

[2o6]

2o6: "I have a flat tire! What should I do?"
Everyone: "Change it, fix it, put it back on."
2o6: "Do you think it could be the brakes?"

On the plus side, I almost got my V-belts off. Until I ran out of daylight and I had HW to do.


Stupid adjuster bolt is a bear to get at. I started loosening it up, but I could only get so far.

That's usually the case with things.

Yeah, it was super expensive. Used one it is.

[Laconian]

2o6: "I have a flat tire! What should I do?"
Everyone: "Change it, fix it, put it back on."

2o6: "My brother thinks it's the brake rotors."

[Rupert]

2o6: "My brother thinks it's the brake rotors."

Or,

2o6: "The Neon forum thinks it's the brake pads."

[2o6]

2o6: "My brother thinks it's the brake rotors."

I looked at my brake pads while my wheel was (is) still off. I need new pads.



My brother says I need calipers, too. 

[Rupert]

You're killing me, here, 2o6.

[2o6]

You're killing me, here, 2o6.

Seriously. He told me that.

[Rupert]

Well, maybe you do, but I bet you don't. If they work, they work.

How come your brother thinks he knows so much?

[2o6]

Well, maybe you do, but I bet you don't. If they work, they work.

How come your brother thinks he knows so much?

Because he's always fixing something on his Tahoe that all of us told him not to buy.

[Rupert]

Ah, yes, that's a clue, right there.

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

Ah, yes, that's a clue, right there.

[hotrodalex]

Very, very rarely do you need new calipers. Rotors, yes; calipers, no.

[2o6]

Very, very rarely do you need new calipers. Rotors, yes; calipers, no.

My rotors are smooth. They have a tad bit of surface rust on them (It was raining) but generally they're ok.

[Rupert]

It's not so much the smoothness as it is the thickness. Find the spec for how thick they need to be and measure them. Like brake pads, the rotors experience wear. The calipers are fine, unless they're not. (That is, unless there is a real problem, they're fine).

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

I'm going through an issue with my uncle as we speak and this thread reminds me of him.
GQZ ~ Uncle I'm hearing a clicking sound when I turn in the Work van. I'm pretty sure it's the CV joint on the driver side!
Uncle ~ Ok I'll take it to the shop. OK the guy at the shop says that van (2008 Town and Country) doesn't have CV joints. He said it's the bushings so I had him fix that!
GQZ ~ Unc I've never seen a fwd car that doesn't have CV joints.

2 Days later
GQZ ~ Unc the van is still clicking. I'm telling you the CV joints are bad.
Uncle ~ I took it back in and the guy told me it's the struts. I told him to order the struts,they'll be in next week.
GQZ ~ SMH! OKAY! But don't bring my van back till it's fixed! Make sure it's not clicking when you pick it up!!

Today
GQZ ~ Imma stop by and pick up the van in a couple hours unc.
Uncle ~ UMMMMM! Just keep the silver one till Monday.
GQZ ~ Whats wrong?
Uncle ~ The van is still clicking when I turn! I called the guy back and he said he thinks it's the axle. Imma just take it to the dealership Friday.
GQZ ~ I TOLD YOU IT'S THE CV JOINT! THATS CONNECTED TO THE AXLE!!! THATS WHAT I'VE BEEN TELLING YOU FROM THE START
Uncle ~ (crickets chirp)

[2o6]

I'm going through an issue with my uncle as we speak and this thread reminds me of him.
GQZ ~ Uncle I'm hearing a clicking sound when I turn in the Work van. I'm pretty sure it's the CV joint on the driver side!
Uncle ~ Ok I'll take it to the shop. OK the guy at the shop says that van (2008 Town and Country) doesn't have CV joints. He said it's the bushings so I had him fix that!
GQZ ~ Unc I've never seen a fwd car that doesn't have CV joints.

2 Days later
GQZ ~ Unc the van is still clicking. I'm telling you the CV joints are bad.
Uncle ~ I took it back in and the guy told me it's the struts. I told him to order the struts,they'll be in next week.
GQZ ~ SMH! OKAY! But don't bring my van back till it's fixed! Make sure it's not clicking when you pick it up!!

Today
GQZ ~ Imma stop by and pick up the van in a couple hours unc.
Uncle ~ UMMMMM! Just keep the silver one till Monday.
GQZ ~ Whats wrong?
Uncle ~ The van is still clicking when I turn! I called the guy back and he said he thinks it's the axle. Imma just take it to the dealership Friday.
GQZ ~ I TOLD YOU IT'S THE CV JOINT! THATS CONNECTED TO THE AXLE!!! THATS WHAT I'VE BEEN TELLING YOU FROM THE START
Uncle ~ (crickets chirp)

The mechanic was hosing him for all he's got.

[Secret Chimp]

I'm going through an issue with my uncle as we speak and this thread reminds me of him.
GQZ ~ Uncle I'm hearing a clicking sound when I turn in the Work van. I'm pretty sure it's the CV joint on the driver side!
Uncle ~ Ok I'll take it to the shop. OK the guy at the shop says that van (2008 Town and Country) doesn't have CV joints. He said it's the bushings so I had him fix that!
GQZ ~ Unc I've never seen a fwd car that doesn't have CV joints.

2 Days later
GQZ ~ Unc the van is still clicking. I'm telling you the CV joints are bad.
Uncle ~ I took it back in and the guy told me it's the struts. I told him to order the struts,they'll be in next week.
GQZ ~ SMH! OKAY! But don't bring my van back till it's fixed! Make sure it's not clicking when you pick it up!!

Today
GQZ ~ Imma stop by and pick up the van in a couple hours unc.
Uncle ~ UMMMMM! Just keep the silver one till Monday.
GQZ ~ Whats wrong?
Uncle ~ The van is still clicking when I turn! I called the guy back and he said he thinks it's the axle. Imma just take it to the dealership Friday.
GQZ ~ I TOLD YOU IT'S THE CV JOINT! THATS CONNECTED TO THE AXLE!!! THATS WHAT I'VE BEEN TELLING YOU FROM THE START
Uncle ~ (crickets chirp)

Lord help this guy if there's an unidentifiable sound from somewhere in the middle of a car he owns, he'd probably sign off on having everything below the windows replaced :P