MyNightmare
Test Drive
- Location
- Tucson, Arizona
Hi there everyone, I'm currently in Tucson , AZ and have been driving a 2006 Xterra for the past 3 years. This vehicle has been a beautiful nightmare from the moment I purchased it from what I found out too late was a shady used car dealership. Day two owning the vehicle, the transmission went and the dealership very reluctantly had it repaired (NOT replaced). Pretty soon after that I had problems with the engine and since then have had a multitude of problems. The check engine light is and has been on for a while. I realize it's not good to let that go however events of this past year made finances incredibly tight. I need to get the vehicle registered and in order to do so I have to pass the emissions test. In Arizona you automatically fail the emissions test if your check engine light is on. I went to a shop yesterday which was recommended by a friend in order to get the problems fixed and the check engine light shut off. $3500 later the check engine light is Still on and the mechanic is now telling me that I need to get the timing chain replaced. They quoted me $3200 to do this. That seems ridiculously high to me. Obviously I do not want the car to die on me and the reason why I spent the $3,500 on other repairs is because the price of new and used vehicles at the moment are ridiculous and I simply do not have means to purchase a different vehicle. $3200 simply to change a timing chain sounds pretty steep to me. Yes it is a very important part and requires a lot of labor but 3200???
As far as the $3500 they already charged me- catalytic converter, engine valve covers due to oil leaking, cam shaft sensor on passenger side, 2 hoses, 3 used tires plus mounting, tune up, and rest was labor. Unfortunately the things that they threw at me to fix did make sense and a few of them were things that someone else had attempted to fix in the past but apparently had only half-assed it...that character trait may be due to why that "mechanic" is no longer married to my friend.
Anyway I would not be surprised if somebody told me that I got fleeced on the repairs already. I need to keep this car going for as long as I possibly can. It already has 172,000 miles on it, I'm an adult student going through a career change, and have a 4 month unpaid internship coming up so really don't have money for constant repairs or new vehicle.
Please help, advise, anything...
As far as the $3500 they already charged me- catalytic converter, engine valve covers due to oil leaking, cam shaft sensor on passenger side, 2 hoses, 3 used tires plus mounting, tune up, and rest was labor. Unfortunately the things that they threw at me to fix did make sense and a few of them were things that someone else had attempted to fix in the past but apparently had only half-assed it...that character trait may be due to why that "mechanic" is no longer married to my friend.
Anyway I would not be surprised if somebody told me that I got fleeced on the repairs already. I need to keep this car going for as long as I possibly can. It already has 172,000 miles on it, I'm an adult student going through a career change, and have a 4 month unpaid internship coming up so really don't have money for constant repairs or new vehicle.
Please help, advise, anything...