Enging nightmares

[SilverBulletES]

Hong Kong is like the coolest place in the world.

 

[xelderx]

I could build you another stock motor for cheap, but it still doesn't get it to you and get it installed. My suggestion is to sell everything you don't need. Cancel your cable and sell your TVs. Sell the computer you are using. Sell all your CD's and DVD's along with any stereo equipment you have. I just sold over a $1000 dollars worth of guitar equipment for less than $500 because I was getting behind on bills. I don't have cable and I eat a lot of ramen noodles. It's time to make some big sacrifices.

 

[PHRiSCo]

Yeah when my FS-DE(Protege5) engine blew I paid $250US and $250US shipping from Wisconsin to North West Washington. I bought mine off of eBay Motors.

www.ebaymotors.com

I just checked and there's nothing right now, but the engine cheap isn't rare on eBay.

I'm in Vancouver, BC, Canada and a friend locally is trying to get rid of an extra one for $300Cdn, I don't know if it's running or not. I'll check.

Another option, My car is off the road due to a heavy knock, I think one of the rods is bent, but don't know for sure, haven't opened it up. I'm having a new engine built right now.

The engine still runs, and if it is a bent rod I'm sure a member of the boards here has an extra stock rod for cheap or free you could replace it with.

You sound sincere and I'll send you what I can if everything is ok, goods will be free, but you pay shipping. I need to reuse my head but I have another one I think with one bent valve that might be easily and cheaply repaired as well.

I don't recieve my new engine for another 4-8 weeks so we have to wait until then to see whats wrong and what could be repaired.

PM me and we'll keep in touch if you'd like.

 

[willowmariah]

Phrisco, that is really sweet of you. I'll definately keep in touch!




Xelder.... My husband and I live with my mother...I think she's be pretty pissed if we sold her computer and canceled her cable!

BTW, we have already DONE the whole "Sell off everything you own" thing. Thats why we moved in with my mother.... so we and our kidsw ouldn't be evicted and thrown out int he street (which is what we were facing on our apartment) We sold EVERYTHING, when we moved...furniture, electronics all our housewares...everything. I'm antique dealer since we can't afford childcare...I can work out of my home and on the weekends.

We've spent the past six months paying debt like mad because we would like our children to have a nice house (I grew up in a one bedroom mobile home...I won't put my kids through that) We're going to be here at least another year. My husband has a decent job with good pay...thats how far behind we are.(Not two mention that we have two kids still in diapers) Unfortunately, he works for a goverrnment office that requires security clearance..if we file for bankruptcy, he looses his security clearance (Read, Bankruptcy=Loss of Job) I get really mad when every person we talk to reccomends bankruptcy.

I keep wondering how much the car would bring at auction if we sent the car back.. does anyone know?

 

[SlowPro98]

^^Bankruptcy is for quitters

you just have to be smarter with the money that you have. I've been working on a system for almost 3 years, and I'm starting to see some serious results.

I was pretty heavily indebted, 2 credit cards, a car loan with bad equity, wicked cell phone bill ($500+ cause I was popular) and I started writing everything down on a spread sheet, and I found that the first week and the last week of every month I had bills that were double to the amount of income I had coming in. I started cutting my bills into 1/4s because it was easier to pay a little each week rather than waiting till the bill was due. I also found that this reduces in amount of daily compounded interest I was paying because it was being calculated on a 7 day basis rather than 30 days. I found that there are 4 months that have 5 pay weeks, thus equals an extra month of payments. Example; if my credit card payment is $100 a month, I send $25 a week, and at the end of the year I've paid 1300 rather than $1200 (this is just round numbers, I didn't get into the interest calculations)

Basically, I started paying all my bills weekly and over the past 2 years things have really started happening. I have consolidated and paid off my student loans and credit cards (I cut those F*ckers up as soon as I did), my wife's student loans and medical bills. by paying off all of our debts, both of our credit scores went from high 400's to over 700, thus allowing us to get a decent rate for our mortgage. We have credits with almost all of our major bills. My mortgage is paid at least a full month ahead, 2 months ahead on my electric bill, cell phone has a big credit. Basically, everything is paid ahead so incase there is ever a problem, we have at least a month before we run into problems.
I've had a lot of people who say "on that's crap, just keep the money in the bank" and I tried that, but I'm really tempted to spend it on other things (I could always use a turbo) but I'd rather pad my accounts and know that we're paid ahead on everything. In terms of car and other loans, the more I pay, the sooner it's paid off. if it's paid, off, it's MINE and no one can take it away, and that is our plan.

so this may not get you cash right away, but it definitely helped me when I was in over my head, and if I knew then what I know now...

 

[Dimitrios]

Did you ask them for an engine on a Protege5, or for a FS-DE 2.0L engine? Why am I asking? This engine is the exact same as
* Protege5's
* Mazdaspeed Proteges
* Mazda Protege (forgot which trim)
* Mazda MP3

My buddy up north by Chicago found one for 400. Was the shipping you figured from this area? What radius?

What happened to the engine? Find a friend who's a mechanic and have him/her look it over. For all you know, it's as simple as a vacuum leak.

Don't forget, you can look at:
* Mazda 626 (someone correct me on the years - anything after 2000 would be OK I believe).
* Ford Probe 2.0 (not sure about the years either).

And also, agreed with the post quoted: get a mechanic, not your "fast and the furious' brother (with all due respect there). Get someone that would look at it for cheap/free and give you something more concise than "that there engine no workie". Check the simple stuff to make sure it truly is seized up - you could save yourself a lot (more) heartache if end up pulling the motor and find out it was just something simple.

 

[TampaSport20]

You live with your mother and you have NO money ???? (boom07)

Sounds like someone needs to get a better job, or a second job.....if you don't have enough money to even BUY the engine your problems are more serious than this car......

Do you BOTH work ??? If not you should......

 

[TampaSport20]

Don't forget, you can look at:
* Mazda 626 (someone correct me on the years - anything after 2000 would be OK I believe).
* Ford Probe 2.0 (not sure about the years either).

Wrong on the Probe....it is a Distributor based ignition with a different style intake too...it will NOT work with a simple swap...It MAY work if all that is needed is the block, and the person doing the swap is skilled enough to transfer everything over

 

[mopiko]

First of all, best of luck to your situation. I'm sorry I can't offer you any help in your situation and all I can say is wish you well and hope everything will come out okay.

Second, SlowPro98's suggestion is good, but I'm sure it's tougher for you and your husband since you have 2 kids. I'm single and still paying for my college-days mistakes so I definitely feel how frustrated you are when you try to get some loans to take care of fixing your car.

I do have a question for SlowPro98... when you say your credit scroe went up from high 400 to 700 after you pay off your debt, did you recover your score immediately? Or did it take several years to do?

^^Bankruptcy is for quitters

you just have to be smarter with the money that you have. I've been working on a system for almost 3 years, and I'm starting to see some serious results.

I was pretty heavily indebted, 2 credit cards, a car loan with bad equity, wicked cell phone bill ($500+ cause I was popular) and I started writing everything down on a spread sheet, and I found that the first week and the last week of every month I had bills that were double to the amount of income I had coming in. I started cutting my bills into 1/4s because it was easier to pay a little each week rather than waiting till the bill was due. I also found that this reduces in amount of daily compounded interest I was paying because it was being calculated on a 7 day basis rather than 30 days. I found that there are 4 months that have 5 pay weeks, thus equals an extra month of payments. Example; if my credit card payment is $100 a month, I send $25 a week, and at the end of the year I've paid 1300 rather than $1200 (this is just round numbers, I didn't get into the interest calculations)

Basically, I started paying all my bills weekly and over the past 2 years things have really started happening. I have consolidated and paid off my student loans and credit cards (I cut those F*ckers up as soon as I did), my wife's student loans and medical bills. by paying off all of our debts, both of our credit scores went from high 400's to over 700, thus allowing us to get a decent rate for our mortgage. We have credits with almost all of our major bills. My mortgage is paid at least a full month ahead, 2 months ahead on my electric bill, cell phone has a big credit. Basically, everything is paid ahead so incase there is ever a problem, we have at least a month before we run into problems.
I've had a lot of people who say "on that's crap, just keep the money in the bank" and I tried that, but I'm really tempted to spend it on other things (I could always use a turbo) but I'd rather pad my accounts and know that we're paid ahead on everything. In terms of car and other loans, the more I pay, the sooner it's paid off. if it's paid, off, it's MINE and no one can take it away, and that is our plan.

so this may not get you cash right away, but it definitely helped me when I was in over my head, and if I knew then what I know now...

 

[nealric]

as for the continuing to pay insurace thing, couldnt you get it declared undrivable or totaled or something to keep from having to pay insurace?

It seems with the insurance $ you have been paying you could have bought an engine by now.

 

[SlowPro98]

I do have a question for SlowPro98... when you say your credit scroe went up from high 400 to 700 after you pay off your debt, did you recover your score immediately? Or did it take several years to do?

it takes about 60 days from the date of pay off to the Credit bureaus to bump your score, but when they do BANG! I started getting a million credit card offers in the mail. I still get a daily dose of junk mail for people who are trying to get me to take out a car loan, or a new mortgage or a new credit card.

Must resist MAM build motor till 2nd mortgage is paid off... DAMN!

 

[mopiko]

Cool! I didn't know that... my "mistake" is almost paid for... now that I know what it will do, hell I'll pay it off in full tonight!!! Thanks!

 

[02MazPro5]

Have you just thought about selling the car for a couple of thousand and then you wouldn't have insurance to pay and maybe some to pay that would be left on the car. Also have you called your financing company? Or your insurance company? Either of them would be able to work with you, most likely the financing company would be able to put a hold on payments for like 6 months or so to help you out. When you bought the car from the dealer how long after did the car die? Did it come with a warranty? Did you ever think of writting to Better Businesss Buearu's? They helped me get my MP5 fixed pretty quick. I should get mine back tomorrow. THis is after 3 weeks of the dealer i bought if from screwing around with me. Also you could look at contacting local churches, or submitting your story to news and someone should be able to help you.

Awhile ago my parents lost their house, and both of their jobs. They lost their car and had noway to get another job, someone told a local dealer and now they got a used car, It's not the best but it got them jobs again and they now live in apartment and are doing very well. Just keep your head up and remember, It will get better!

 

[kcbhiw]

The engine isn't terribly hard to swap in the Protege. If it really comes down to it as you said, you could work on it in your free time. I helped a friend change out the engine in his Protege (ran it two quarts low on oil) and had it done in a week (about 20 hours worth of work). Only basic tools are necessary outside of an enging hoist.

If you're willing to give it a try, it'll save you a ton of money and you'll learn a thing or two in the process. Be sure to label all of the hoses, wires, and bolts that you remove.

 

[willowmariah]

You live with your mother and you have NO money ???? (boom07)

Sounds like someone needs to get a better job, or a second job.....if you don't have enough money to even BUY the engine your problems are more serious than this car......

Do you BOTH work ??? If not you should......

Ok, why you are being such a jerk is beyond me.

My husband, as I mentioned, has a VERY good job and I had one also until my boss CANNED ME the day after I told him I was pregnant. You try finding a damned job when your pregnant...oh wait, you're probably a MAN you wouldn't understand that.

We got into debt before my husband got the job he;s in now. We moved in with my mother so we could start paying off debt instead of paying high rent (which, unfortunately, is a fact of life in my area)

Yes, I am a stay at home mom. If, by some miracle we found a SAFE daycare that was even REMOTELY affordable, AND if I could find a job that would PAY enough to put two children (a 28 month old and a 6 month old) in daycare full time (about $400 a WEEK in this area) then, yes...I WOULD go back to work. If you want to help me pay for daycare, BE MY GUEST!


As far as the insurance, they don't care if the car is drivable or not. Until it is paid off, you have to keep insurance on it (Yah know, just in case we decide to push it off a cliff and they would be out the car and the money) Sucks like that. We had been wanting to drop the stupid full coverage insurance.


I really don't appreciate anyone making us out to be some kind of spendaholics. Yes, we made bad choice early one.... but unlike most people who b**** about money, we DON'T have a cell phone, or iPods or club memberships, or tons of stereo equipment, or expensive clothes (well, out KIDS do...not us) We don't go out and see movies or eat at restaraunts every night, or go out buying CD's or gadgets. We are, instead, living with my mother (which is NO picnic, believe me.) and paying off debt like mad. Unfortunately, while it seems like we're paying off alot of money... if we don't pay them our life would be a living hell.... we just can;t scrape together $2000 at once. Hell, after bills, groceries and diapers (oh... and GAS) there isn't much left at the end of the month.

As for my "fast and furious" brother, he happens to be VERY skilled. He has switched engines out before (when he was living in Arkansas and had access to the tools) He has done all of his own engine work and most of his own body work, so please don't talk like he's some punk teen. He used to ...i guess the word would be "flip" (maybe?) cars...buy them wrecked, fix them up ,pimp them out, and then resell them. He knows what he's doing.


I came in here asking for advice and all I got was a bunch of people basically calling me a lazy, compulsive spender. I thought, since this board had so many enthusiasts that I might get some advice. To those of you who gave me that advice, thank you so much.

To the rest of you, I'm outta here.

 

[willowmariah]

Have you just thought about selling the car for a couple of thousand and then you wouldn't have insurance to pay and maybe some to pay that would be left on the car. Also have you called your financing company? Or your insurance company? Either of them would be able to work with you, most likely the financing company would be able to put a hold on payments for like 6 months or so to help you out. When you bought the car from the dealer how long after did the car die? Did it come with a warranty? Did you ever think of writting to Better Businesss Buearu's? They helped me get my MP5 fixed pretty quick. I should get mine back tomorrow. THis is after 3 weeks of the dealer i bought if from screwing around with me. Also you could look at contacting local churches, or submitting your story to news and someone should be able to help you.

Awhile ago my parents lost their house, and both of their jobs. They lost their car and had noway to get another job, someone told a local dealer and now they got a used car, It's not the best but it got them jobs again and they now live in apartment and are doing very well. Just keep your head up and remember, It will get better!

HI. The motor blew just over a month (give or take) after the warranty expired. The company was able to refinance the car to get a lower payment, but I doubt they'll put a hold on it. We called to ask them about the engine when it first happened, we were told "Its your responsibility to buy extended coverage...you're SOL"

Are mazdas prone to blowing motors? If they are, I could see how complaining to the BBB might help.... if not, I don't think we'd have a case.

 

[Lord_Zath]

only if the motor's turbo'ed. I haven't seen tons of cases of blown motors stock...

 

[p5-lamboneon]

if you still have full coverage on it, you could try calling them and telling them, some instances your insurance will cover the damage, my freind sucked up water and hydrolocked his motor, insurance replaced it, all he had to pay was his deductable, his new motor was straight from mitsubishi (eclipse)

 

[willowmariah]

We thought of that right away and called the insurance agent. They don't cover ANY engine work unless it is the result of an accident or theft. Obviously, we weren't going to file a fake police report and risk going to jail. You'd think they might cover something like that, but no dice. I guess its to keep people from abusing it (like, blowing the motor doing street racing or something)

 

[willowmariah]

***Begin Hijack***

Zath, where is Gurnee, IL? Is it anywhere near St. Louis,MO?

***End Hijack***