The Plan, as it stands now.

[apocalypticbob]

Okay...so...a couple of glasses of wine and I'm a little more calm now. Mom called Dustin, and he said if we can get it to Cushing, he (and a handful of his friends, most likely) can do the labor and replace the head gasket, if the head isn't cracked or warped. I am pretty sure it is the head gasket, as white smoke was billowing out of the tailpipe and water was dripping steadily from the tail pipe when we started it up the last time. Since I stopped driving it as soon as possible, and turned the heater on as soon as it started overheating to pull the heat of the engine, I'm hopeful that it isn't cracked. Only getting into the engine will tell.

So, plan of action is as follows:

1) Talk to Allen and see if we can borrow his trailer and borrow a truck with a trailer hitch and go to Tulsa on Monday.

2)Load up Equinox onto trailer and tow it back to Mom's house.

3) Buy head gasket kit and Chilton's and let my brother tear into it and see if he can replace it.
a) Advantages: Far cheaper than mechanic.
b) Disadvantages: Must be done on brother's schedule and when weather permits

4) If head is warped or cracked, talk to local mechanic that Mom has had good luck with and see what he can do for us.

Contingency: Have had offer of short term loan of car should we be unable to get it operational before Mom goes back to work so I am not left here carless. Hopeful it won't come to that, but so nice to have a backup.

Failsafe: If is completely irreparable, tow it back to Tulsa, drop it off at the dealership where I bought it, give them a chance to make it right (which I frankly doubt they will do, as they have little incentive to do so). If they don't, tell them they can stick it up their arse and refuse to pay them another damn penny on the money sink.

So that's the plan.

Thoughts?

Comments

[firesign10.livejournal.com]

I have no words of advice re: your vehicle, but I am sorry you have to deal with all this! :-(

P.S. Icon love!! It's a really nice icon, plus I LOVED that show and I was SO mad when they yanked it!

[klingon007.livejournal.com]

Typically when a vehicle is still being paid for, one of the requirements is full coverage on the insurance; does that have any provision for this kind of thing?

(the 'dropping the vehicle off at the dealership and refuse to pay' plan won't end well. They'll have it towed and send you the bill, and if you refuse to make payments, they could probably take the matter to court. Call first, explain what's happened, and see what they can do for you.)

[renniemom.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, full coverage insurance has no benefit for mechanical failure. If apocolypticbob has towing on her insurance it should pay the tow bill, though.

[bleuberi21.livejournal.com]

*nod* It sounds like a good plan to me. *hug*

[grizesme.livejournal.com]

Yep, head gasket o.k.. I will be crossing fingers that nothing warped. If your guys have the know how.. kits aren't SUPER expensive, it's always the labor that gets you. {{{HUGS}}} are all I can offer in the way of help at this time.. I love you darlin.. you are an amazement of strength and knowlege and just plain common sense getterdone.. and I love you for it!!

[the-terrible.livejournal.com]

Call the delaer before dropping the car off with them; if you just leave it and then refuse to pay for it, even with the problems it has, they can really nail you for it.

The rest of the plan sounds good, though.

[vamprayne.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a reasanable, if not teeth grindingly long, plan.

Been there, done that (more than once I'm afraid)
I'll keep you in my thoughts and send *fix it quick with a minimum of more stress* vibes.

[morpheus0013.livejournal.com]

Thoughts? I think you're one of the most friggin' awesome people I've ever had the privilege of knowing, how that for thoughts?

This situation has been full of The Suck, and I for one am floored by the grace and determination you've summoned to kick its ass with. I want to be more like you when I grow up.

[okgirlnextdoor.livejournal.com]

We have truck and trailer both...just not enough money for diesel to fill the tank to get it there.

*crosses fingers on head gasket*

[sargon999.livejournal.com]

I reeeeaaally urge you to not just ditch on the loan. That will fuck your credit forever, really fuck it.

[rougewench.livejournal.com]

Not forever, actually. 7-10 years, yes, but not forever.


D.

[flewellyn.livejournal.com]

I sure hope it's reparable.

[ayeamspartacus.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, you are still legally liable for payments on a vehicle that is damaged beyond repair. That sucks, I know, but I've seen that situation many times.

However, if you talk to the dealership, they may be willing to work with you in some way to prevent hurting their reputation. Many car dealerships care a great deal about their reputation. They aren't all crooks.

As someone going through car problems right now too, I send my sympathy.

Maybe we should all go back to horses???

[spacezombie.livejournal.com]

I wish I knew something to help, other than praying for a best-case scenario.

[batgirl1941l.livejournal.com]

The experience that I had of replacing the head gasket my self (um I mean with my mechanically inclined boyfriend) did not turn out well - ended up having to tow it into a mechanic that had to do it over - and then it blew the head, and I had to get that bored - and then it cracked. So I had to replace the whole car.
There isn't some kind of clause in your contract about mechanical failure? 'cause this would be it.