HELP! Stranded - Red Temperature Light

[beej]

PM me the number if you don't mind...I practically live out of my car.

[HopeARK]

Kate - Thanks, that was SO nice of you! I wish I'd seen this earlier. My tow to the closest U-Haul was $104. I'm now home, just thought I'd update you guys, since you were my lifeline to car sanity all weekend!
I took her to the Chevy dealer by the hotel in the AM. The guy opened the hood and told me at first glance the "belt" was on backwards and there was "virtually no coolant". End tally, the thermostat, the water pump, backwards belt BUT there was no guarantee that was all the problems.
I called my mechanic at home. He told me to tow it to a dealer or home bc if any belt were on backwards the car wouldn't run and those guys shouldn't touch it.
Somewhere along the line she started leaking oil too and I know it's not the pan, it was just replaced. Could it be the Chevy guys or the tow guys did this somehow - it wasn't leaking that morning.
My poor little car. In the last five months she was sideswiped by a stupid teen, backed into in my mechanics lot (damaging the strut) and both her auto-windows quit auto-working.
I've had 4 friends, my mother AND my mechanic tell me to let her go, but that has only cemented my plan to fix her and maybe go overboard and fix her little paint scratches and nicks too! I'm stubborn - granted but I really love my car. She's seen me through a LOT and I just can't do it. I might get her a nice used "boyfriend" though. Something large with a tow hitch. LOL
My only fear is engine damage. That might break me. If it is, is it ridiculous to even consider getting a new one? Maybe a diesel?
Any other recommendations for a 100k mile Y2K girl, either now, or as ongoing care if her engine is ok?

[beej]

100k is about the time they start feeling their oats. Oil leakage? Check for pan damage, and for gaskets leaking..

And hugs from a 200K 2000.

[cep]

Originally Posted by HopeARK

Kate - Thanks, that was SO nice of you! I wish I'd seen this earlier. My tow to the closest U-Haul was $104. I'm now home, just thought I'd update you guys, since you were my lifeline to car sanity all weekend!
I took her to the Chevy dealer by the hotel in the AM. The guy opened the hood and told me at first glance the "belt" was on backwards and there was "virtually no coolant". End tally, the thermostat, the water pump, backwards belt BUT there was no guarantee that was all the problems.
I called my mechanic at home. He told me to tow it to a dealer or home bc if any belt were on backwards the car wouldn't run and those guys shouldn't touch it.
Somewhere along the line she started leaking oil too and I know it's not the pan, it was just replaced. Could it be the Chevy guys or the tow guys did this somehow - it wasn't leaking that morning.
My poor little car. In the last five months she was sideswiped by a stupid teen, backed into in my mechanics lot (damaging the strut) and both her auto-windows quit auto-working.
I've had 4 friends, my mother AND my mechanic tell me to let her go, but that has only cemented my plan to fix her and maybe go overboard and fix her little paint scratches and nicks too! I'm stubborn - granted but I really love my car. She's seen me through a LOT and I just can't do it. I might get her a nice used "boyfriend" though. Something large with a tow hitch. LOL
My only fear is engine damage. That might break me. If it is, is it ridiculous to even consider getting a new one? Maybe a diesel?
Any other recommendations for a 100k mile Y2K girl, either now, or as ongoing care if her engine is ok?

This is the problem with having non-VW mechanics look at it. They don't know what they're seeing--the belt is not on "backwards"; it has ribs on both sides.

If you only have a small leak (and you must, or it would be pouring on the ground), you can cover considerable ground to get to a mechanic just by carrying some extra jugs of water with you and stopping frequently to top off before it gets too low.

[HopeARK]

Turned out it WAS the wrecker that cracked my BRAND NEW oil pan. Me and my mechanic got under it yesterday and he said "YUP - cracked, let me guess, the wrecker lifted her up by her front wheels?" "UH HUH". "Yeah, ya can't do that with these cars."

So on top of the water pump, timing belt and thermostat, any damage to the enginge, the $700 to tow it to my mechanic, $104 for the tow to the U-Haul, I now have to pay 500+ for the oil pan to be replaced AGAIN and I have no recourse to get my money back bc it goes under collision and my coverage has a 1k deductible. If I'm lucky, AAA will cover the cost of the pan repair. If I'm unlucky, I'll MAYBE get the cost (or some of it) of the tow to Texarkana back.
It's enough to make me want to quit driving.

[HopeARK]

Originally Posted by beej

hugs from a 200K 2000.

Awww, I hope mine makes it that long.

[DZLBUG]

Originally Posted by HopeARK

Turned out it WAS the wrecker that cracked my BRAND NEW oil pan. Me and my mechanic got under it yesterday and he said "YUP - cracked, let me guess, the wrecker lifted her up by her front wheels?" "UH HUH". "Yeah, ya can't do that with these cars."

So on top of the water pump, timing belt and thermostat, any damage to the enginge, the $700 to tow it to my mechanic, $104 for the tow to the U-Haul, I now have to pay 500+ for the oil pan to be replaced AGAIN and I have no recourse to get my money back bc it goes under collision and my coverage has a 1k deductible. If I'm lucky, AAA will cover the cost of the pan repair. If I'm unlucky, I'll MAYBE get the cost (or some of it) of the tow to Texarkana back.
It's enough to make me want to quit driving.

Whoa whoa back the truck up.

You paid $700 for an oil pan replacement? You can buy those pans for $100, $10 tube of sealant and an hour of labor. You got REAMED on that one.

Do not pay that amount again. You need a different mechanic.

That said, the tow company should cover the cost since they damaged it. Underlifts on these cars are not a good idea and the driver should have known that. They make airbag cushions specifically for this purpose. After this, if you ever have your car towed you must request either a flatbed or let them know that it needs an airbag cushion for the oil pan. Call AAA first and let them know what happened and how you need to proceed. Depending on what you find out there call the tow company themselves and tell them what happened. There is no reason for you to pay for this job or submit it to your insurance.

[HopeARK]

No, towing it from Texarkana - home was $700. The oil pan replacement ended up being around $400 with parts, labor and tax. My insurance was willing to move it off my collision and onto my comprehensive, which was only a $100 deductible so that was almost completely covered. I'm working with AAA now to get all of it back. They're going to deal with the tow company so I don't have to.
The final bill for that, water pump (and leads to the pump) belt and thermo replacement AND my auto window kit was $1100.