the mitsubishi dealership said i had a problem with my transmission.... so i said oh shit. then they said they wanted $700 just TO LOOK AT IT!! so i was like fuck that. so i brought it to my mechanic about an hour away, and he called me today and said there was nothing wrong with my transmission but i blew a head gasket and its gonna cost me $1000 that i dont have to fix it!!

can any one tell me how critical this is and do i need to get it fixed like RIGHT NOW or can it wait a month? does this normally happen to our cars? what causes it? how does it affect the car?

any help would be appreciated.
thanks guys

1998 GS
Mods: Cold air intake, Ported/polished stock intake manifold, AFX 55mm TB, Pacesetter header,
Custom Magnaflow cat-back exhaust system, AFX Underdrive pulley,
B&M short throw shifter(cut/welded), Symborski Shift Kit, Solid front motor mount, Monster ground wire kit.

Status: Finally up and running!

get another opinion.

there is no way the dealership would say tranny and a mechanic would say headgasket. get another opinion, from at least 2 more places.

if it is the headgasket, it needs to be replaced immediatly.

I think that 95-98 420a's had the problem with the head stud on the firewall drivers side not being drilled deep enough at the factory, 99's had the problem fixed as far as i know. If you know your way around a tool box then i say go for the rebuild yourself.

Headgasket- 60ish
Head Gasket Set- 129-175
Thats just a few of the prices..im sure you'll need more, and i hope this helps

EclipsedChef was my first name..Member #460!

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http://www.cardomain.com/id/hunntyr


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FS: 2.5" Test Pipe 25 shipped

http://www.cardomain.com/id/hunntyr


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i appreciate your advice guys thanks. the problem is... im an idiot and i wouldnt even know where to start. the mechanic is going to let me watch him to learn, but there is no way i could do it myself.

DAMNIT!!!!!!!!!!

1998 GS
Mods: Cold air intake, Ported/polished stock intake manifold, AFX 55mm TB, Pacesetter header,
Custom Magnaflow cat-back exhaust system, AFX Underdrive pulley,
B&M short throw shifter(cut/welded), Symborski Shift Kit, Solid front motor mount, Monster ground wire kit.

Status: Finally up and running!

Joel Baldridge, ASE Certified Master Technician, Audi Certified Expert Technician

Yeah I heard the only HG problems were with the 95-97s. Has anybody with a 98 and up had problems?

____________________________
HAD: '98 Eclipse RS

HAVE: '04 Grand Prix GTP Comp G

That sounds like you didn't have that bolt shaved, or didn't get the head milled flat, or didn't use new head bolts.

Joel Baldridge, ASE Certified Master Technician, Audi Certified Expert Technician

well I have a 98 gs and my HG is fucked up.....I'm leakin oil but I haven't noticed any of the other symptoms but I am leakin oil....the dealership quoted me $1100 for HG, water pump, and something else. Took it to a local mechanic and for the same things with the triple layer HG for $600.....so most of the tax money will go to the that.....Is that a good price for the fix????

Yeah $600 is a good price, I'd ask him to change the timing belt for that price too (plus the price of the belt).

Joel Baldridge, ASE Certified Master Technician, Audi Certified Expert Technician

Damn I'm glad my dad is a mechanic. I think I paid 200 for my timing belt,waterpump and tensioner.(cost) and we did it together.So I learnt while already knowing about motors but the fact is. It's WAAAAAAAAYYY cheaper if you can get a 2GNT'er or someone who knows something to help you out. shops charge 40-60 bux an hour. The timing belt job is extensive just cause you have to remove cam gears and all that shit.....and it takes time to put it all back togeter of course.I think it took us 3-4 hrs with minimal beer breaks.

a headgasket.....don't you just remove cam sensor...TB cover.....coilpack and undo a few bolts?

I eat emo kids for breakfast

1995 Eagle Talon (SOLD)
72' SuperBeetle
72' Standard Beetle
56' Deluxe Beetle

mine is a 98... and what is all this talk about timing belts and water pumps and all that? i just had my timing belt replaced and i paid $100 with a coupon so that should be fine... right? and the water pump... what does that have to do with the head gasket?

and i dont know where you live man, but wherever it is i need to go there. the cheapest place they have hear is $96 an hour for mechanics. my dealership wants $149 an hour. the only time i use them is when they send me coupons

ok, so i ask for MLS head gasket(what does that mean?), and ask them to shave the bolt on the rear driverside...

they currently have my car an hour away and im driving "the loner", its a 85' chrysler pos station wagon so i dont really have much time, i kinda want to get it done today ya know... or tomorrow.

so is there anything else i need to tell them?

by the way, you guys are fucking awsome

1998 GS
Mods: Cold air intake, Ported/polished stock intake manifold, AFX 55mm TB, Pacesetter header,
Custom Magnaflow cat-back exhaust system, AFX Underdrive pulley,
B&M short throw shifter(cut/welded), Symborski Shift Kit, Solid front motor mount, Monster ground wire kit.

Status: Finally up and running!

Originally posted by ajcfalcon
mine is a 98... and what is all this talk about timing belts and water pumps and all that? i just had my timing belt replaced and i paid $100 with a coupon so that should be fine... right? and the water pump... what does that have to do with the head gasket? and i dont know where you live man, but wherever it is i need to go there. the cheapest place they have hear is $96 an hour for mechanics. my dealership wants $149 an hour. the only time i use them is when they send me coupons ok, so i ask for MLS head gasket(what does that mean?), and ask them to shave the bolt on the rear driverside... they currently have my car an hour away and im driving "the loner", its a 85' chrysler pos station wagon so i dont really have much time, i kinda want to get it done today ya know... or tomorrow. so is there anything else i need to tell them? by the way, you guys are fucking awsome

http://www.cardomain.com/id/hunntyr


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i just talked to him. he wanted 1200 but i talked him down to 1000. i told him no timing belt because i jsut had that done, and i told him if the water pump looks ok then leave it the hell alone. he said im not getting it back till friday or monday!!! he said he can only use the factory gaskets which he said is 3 layers, and he said he is replacing everything from bolts to spark plug wires. i still think its a friggin rip off and i wanted new wheels and i wanted to put my body kit on and get my car painted but it looks like none of that is going to be happeneing anytime soon. oh well, thats life i guess.... or its just the story of my life... either one take your pick.

1998 GS
Mods: Cold air intake, Ported/polished stock intake manifold, AFX 55mm TB, Pacesetter header,
Custom Magnaflow cat-back exhaust system, AFX Underdrive pulley,
B&M short throw shifter(cut/welded), Symborski Shift Kit, Solid front motor mount, Monster ground wire kit.

Status: Finally up and running!

http://www.cardomain.com/id/hunntyr


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Ask him how much he'd charge if you bought all the parts yourself. You can probably buy all the parts including the timing belt crap (which I STRONGLY recommend you replace anyways) for about $300.

If he still charges too much, get a phone book.

Then get on the phone and find out from various mechanics how much they charge in labor (not parts) for a head gasket job for your car. I imagine it should be about 300-400. Definitely NO more than that.

_____________________________________
Jason ESi-T

04' BMW 325Ci
91' Nissan 240SX
98' Eagle Talon ESi (sold)

If you're gonna go to a mechanic and you're gonna bring your own parts then you want to ask him how much the repair will be BEFORE you mention that you're bringing your own parts. The reason you want to do that is because sometimes they will quote higher for the labor to make up for what they lose by not selling you the parts (they get parts alot cheaper than we do and then sell them for more than we would pay at an auto store). Just ask for the quote, then ask him how much of that is labor, and then tell him that you're bringing your own parts when he has already commited to a price on labor.