I think I blew my engine, what should I do?

[cereal83]

Hey all,

Well last Friday, I was on my way back from from Playdium and I down shifted and red lined the crap out of one of my cars and it seemed ok but when I turned down my radio, I heard what sound like marbles or rocks are bouncing all around in my engine. I have no clue what is wrong. I am not sure if it is worth it to fix it and sell it or just try to sell it as is. I called a mechanic today and let him hear it over the phone and he said without seeing it, it sounded like I needed a new engine which is around $2000 with labor. He said just to bring it in to make sure.

I don't think the car is worth $2k even with a new rebuilt engine or a new used engine. What should I do? Anybody have any suggestions? I would love to sell it for as close to a $1k as I can get it. Any tips would be nice.

99 Sunfire GT 2.4L A/C and fully loaded

Let me know if you have any advice.

Thanks


P.S. I only have until the 22nd to decide as insurance is over

[b]

I don't know much about engines... but when mine blew it did sound like what you describe. Hope it isn't as bad as you think.

[cereal83]

Yeah either do I, I just want to get rid of it and get some money for it but I am not sure about how I should do this. I work 8-7 everyday almost and I don't have the luxury or driving it around all day and seeing what is wrong with it and getting it fixed and then selling it.

A quick sale would be great but I have no clue on who/where

[b]

Watch/listen to the vid's I posted about my engine. If yours sounds like the ones I posted here then I dunno what you should do...

http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=15143

[Skarbro]

99 Sunfire GT is only worth about $5,000. You have to ask yourself it is worth it.

Sounds like you beat the shit out of it.

You should post on j-body.com or j-body.org if you want technical help for this car. The j-bodys are quite different than the Mazda3's (I had a 2000 Z24 for 6 years) and you'll get the best advice on one of those other boards.

[cereal83]

Hey and thanks for replies.

Blackman, it kind of sounds like your car but only when you got in and started to rev it. That sounds more like a constant ticking while mine is random and it sounds like when you put dice in your hand and shake your hand. It gets louder as you go faster or rev higher. I think I am SOL

Skarbro, Yes it is work about $5000, if I am lucky. Is it worth it to fix for around $2k and sell for $3k?

I don't really beat the shit out of my car, I just down shifted when I was going to fast, everybody makes mistakes.

I will check out a j-body forum Thanks all

[TheProfessor]

Are these cars popular with any kind of of motor swaps? If so, you might find a buyer who wants to do a swap?

[cereal83]

Not that I am aware of. The only thing is punk wanting to go from the 2.2l engine to the 2.4l :(

I am screwed

[Sean80]

Is it too late to trade it in as is? That might be the easiest way to get some money for it, without having the hassel. Or try calling a wreckers for a new motor? I wouldn't dump money into a car just to sell it. Sell it for 2,000-3,000 as is. Someone might come along that wants it and will be able to fix it easy. You'd be surprised what people will buy sometimes.

[chinsterr]

Someone might come along that wants it and will be able to fix it easy. You'd be surprised what people will buy sometimes.

+1

Try a local sunfire or cav board. I dont know if one exists, but if it does im pretty sure someone there would be interested/help you with the problem.

[wtom]

Hope things get resolved soon!

... and where the fark is Weasel??? :D

[cereal83]

I made a post on a j-body forum, they are telling me to rebuilt it myself which I am not going to do.

I should try to sell it "as is" for $2000 and see what happens.

[Skarbro]

Yeah that sounds about right. The 2.4 is a great engine. Tons of low end torque. You could rebuild it yourself with the right know-how.

[Wild Weasel]

Forget rebuilding it. You can probably get another engine from a wrecker for around $500 and then drop it in with the help of some friends.

As for engine swaps... people put in 3400's and even blown 3800's but it's not an easy swap. You need some real know-how and custom work. I wouldn't expect to be able to easily find someone looking to do this.

If you're really not mechanically inclined in any way and don't have any friends that can help, then I'm not really sure what you could do. Do you need to get rid of it right away or would you have room to store it and part it out slowly?

It's too bad I don't have room to store a parts car. It may have been useful to me. :)

[cereal83]

Hey,

I am not mechanically inclined to do an engine, my friends want to rebuild but I don't have the room to store as I live in an apartment.

I really just want to get rid of it and fast as insurance is over in a week or so. Will wreaking yards give me a decent dollar? I am looking to get atleast $500 as everything else is perfect except the engine.

[Wild Weasel]

Damn... I'm tempted to take it myself for $500!

What colour is it??

[FLIPDADY]

WW parts car!

Time to move up to a Mazda 3 cereal.

[cereal83]

It is black, if your interested, let me know!

Yes, time to move up, just 1 more week from 5 pm and I will have my new car.

:bana

[Wild Weasel]

If that's seriously all you're asking for the car, post it up in the regional forum on j-body.org and I'm sure you'll find a taker in no time.

If it was red and rust free, I'd jump on it. As I said earlier though... I really don't have space to store a parts car so I think I'll have to pass.

[cereal83]

I posted something but people are trying to low ball me. Well I might as well keep on trying

[Wild Weasel]

I posted something but people are trying to low ball me. Well I might as well keep on trying

I don't see your post.

http://www.j-body.org/forums/list.php?f=22

[TheProfessor]

People are low balling you and you only asked $500?

[Caz]

Always ask for more than you want with something like this. Then when you get lowballed it isn't as bad.

[cereal83]

I posted it elsewhere first. Now I posted it there along with an Ontario forum.

Thanks for the help guys.

Some guy offered me $100 in a pm

[Wild Weasel]

Nothing really wrong with lowballing. Worst they can say is no, right?

[cereal83]

Well now I put it on Craiglist and I am getting better offers now. Some people want to come by and look at the car and then hopefully it will be gone!

[cwp_sedan]

I would definitely just try to get rid of it as is. I made the mistake of rebuilding when my motor had "issues" and it cost me way too much and will never get my money back out of it. Even getting someone else to drop in a used motor will be $1200+, and I think that's even too much.

No offense to WW but I know that j-body members will low-ball for sure since they all think they could probably get it for cheaper elsewhere. That's just how it is.

Make sure it isn't something minor before you let it go. Unless you really don't care. Even if you got $2000 as is for the car it would be worth it to a buyer, if the motor is shot that is. There are tons of used 2.4s around for cheap. Hopefully you get rid of it for a decent price

[cereal83]

I sold the car :) :) :) :)

[S.F.W.]

what did you end up getting for it? If you don't mind sharing.

[cwp_sedan]

Sweet...did you get what you wanted or at least something close to it?

[cereal83]

As per my post on j-body, I got $1300 for it :)

Now i have $1300 more for a new system, maybe something else!

Thanks for the tips and advice!