blown gasket -- how much is the car worth?

cockmanje · #1 (**permalink**) 10-05-05, 10:12 PM

My overheating 97 deville has exhaust in the coolant, and I'm pretty sure I'm looking at a replacement engine (I don't think I can fix this by myself). The car has 66k miles on it, and is in otherwise excellent condition, cream with leather seats. Does anyone have any idea what the car is worth if I try to sell it? Would it be more cost-effective to fix it, then sell it (or keep it)? Does anyone out there want to buy it?

ocjmakaveli · #2 (**permalink**) 10-05-05, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cockmanje

My overheating 97 deville has exhaust in the coolant, and I'm pretty sure I'm looking at a replacement engine (I don't think I can fix this by myself). The car has 66k miles on it, and is in otherwise excellent condition, cream with leather seats. Does anyone have any idea what the car is worth if I try to sell it? Would it be more cost-effective to fix it, then sell it (or keep it)? Does anyone out there want to buy it?

How much are you willing to sell it for?

You can find a good engine for as low as $1000 sometimes lower but if you can't do the labor yourself your looking at about $2000-$4000 in a shop to have the engine replaced.

cockmanje · #3 (**permalink**) 10-05-05, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ocjmakaveli

How much are you willing to sell it for?

First, I would like to get an idea of what it is worth with an engine that needs replacing.

Quote:

You can find a good engine for as low as $1000 sometimes lower

Is that a used engine?

Quote:

your looking at about $2000-$4000 in a shop

The KBB lists that this car (Coucours Sedan 4D) at between $7500 and $8000. If it costs $4000 to fix, then I guess I should sell the car around $3500 as is.

Stoneage_Caddy · #4 (**permalink**) 10-06-05, 12:02 AM

you wont get 3500 for it with a blown engine ....you might get 600 for it .....cars worthless without the engine ...

figure out what you want to do ....you certanly are in for one hell of a judgement call , 3500 to get it running , or 600 towards something else ...

cockmanje · #5 (**permalink**) 10-06-05, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stoneage_Caddy

cars worthless without the engine ...

Wow... Thanks, it sounds like I'd better replace it. Does anyone have a source for used engines? Also: Does anyone know any good mechanics in Western NC? I kind of hate to take it to the dealer...

Kev · #6 (**permalink**) 10-06-05, 12:48 AM

Find out exactly what the problem is first. 66k miles is not that bad, if it is a blown head gasket you don't need to replace the entire engine. I relpaced the head gaskets on my 88 Mustang at 225k miles, it now has 310k miles and still running strong.

If it is a blown head gasket I would guess an honest mechanic would do a good job for any where between $1,200 - 1,800. Start asking around. Call every shop you trust (get recommendations from friends) and ask them about replacing the head gaskets. A good shop should tell you that if one is blown you should replace both at the same time.

If you are mechanically inclined and have done this kind of thing before you could do the job yourself as I have done and save yourself $1,000 or more.

ocjmakaveli · #7 (**permalink**) 10-06-05, 01:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cockmanje

Wow... Thanks, it sounds like I'd better replace it. Does anyone have a source for used engines? Also: Does anyone know any good mechanics in Western NC? I kind of hate to take it to the dealer...

I think you can get at least $2000 since you are basically selling the body and you have to account for the fact that it is not running and it will cost a fair amount to fix.

The other issue is if it is only the headgaskets that have failed then you can just haev the gaskets replaced for less than $2000 but you have to shop around.

If you decide to have the gaskets replaced I would highly recommend finding someone that has done it before because it isn't an easy thing to do.

cockmanje · #8 (**permalink**) 10-06-05, 11:04 AM

After some looking around I called Premier Chevrolet in Wilkesboro, NC. They are apparently a good name in the area. The price quoted for repairing both gaskets on my engine was just under $2000 for parts and labor.

On an interresting note, they asked me to look at the eighth digit of my VIN to see if it was a '9' or a 'Y'. This signifies an engine difference that they needed to know before they could give me the quote.

cockmanje · #9 (**permalink**) 10-06-05, 11:07 AM

Can anyone give me advise on what information I should arm myself with before visiting the mechanic? Are there any preparations I should make to the car, any extra diagnostics? Thanks!

Kev · #10 (**permalink**) 10-06-05, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cockmanje

After some looking around I called Premier Chevrolet in Wilkesboro, NC. They are apparently a good name in the area. The price quoted for repairing both gaskets on my engine was just under $2000 for parts and labor.

On an interresting note, they asked me to look at the eighth digit of my VIN to see if it was a '9' or a 'Y'. This signifies an engine difference that they needed to know before they could give me the quote.

These questions they've asked give you an indication that they may be on the ball here! Good!

b4oliver · #11 (**permalink**) 10-06-05, 01:09 PM

There are many threads on Headgasket Repair's on this forum. If you take it to someone to fix, make sure they are going to timesert the headbolt holes in the block, otherwise you'll be wasting your $$$

cockmanje · #12 (**permalink**) 10-06-05, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b4oliver

make sure they are going to timesert the headbolt holes in the block

Thanks, I just searched timeserts and learned a lot. The service manager told me that they do timeserts. My car is scheduled for repairs in five days. That should give me time for some more research. Thanks for all the posts!

John

jupiter57 · #13 (**permalink**) 10-06-05, 07:55 PM

At 66K, I'm willing to bet it Does Not have a blown Head Gasket.
Be very wary of ALL Dealers, and most independent shops, seems everyone thinks that if you can afford a Caddy, you can afford to sink big bucks on it.
Diagnosing ANY Cadillac cooling system issue as a "Blown Head Gasket" seems to be a disturbing trend among most mechanics.
I would start with the basics: ensure you have the sealant tabs/powder in the Dex-Cool, check the water pump belt tensioner for proper operation and tension, the water pump belt (the belts WILL stretch with age, causing it to slip, especially at higher speeds), the purge tank cap, make sure the purge line is clear, carefully check all your hoses, even a pinhole or loose clamp will hurt your cooling.
Check your cooling fans for proper operation.
Your radiator could possibly be clogged, check it for sufficient flow and back flush it if it does not flow freely, or even have it proffesionally cleaned by your local radiator shop.
You say you have exhaust in the coolant, this wouldn't by chance have been discovered by the infamous "Hydrocarbon" test would it? The hydrocarbon test is pure bunk! Heated coolant, by nature, produces hydrocarbons. The only true test for a blown head gasket (barring oil in coolant or vice-versa or steam steadily produced from the exhaust) is the cylinder pressure test. A search of this site will tell you how.
I speak from experience, having purchased 3 DeVilles this year alone, all with "blown head gaskets, all cheap, and only 1 of the 3 truly had a bad head gasket. ($1300 for a used engine and voila, a nice gift for my daughter), one (97) had a clogged radiator on a recent new crate engine, causing it to overheat at extended highway driving, the other (98) simply needed a new pressure cap as the coolant was overflowing at 230 degrees, causing a loss of coolant which resulted in overheating.
Hope you take the proper steps to check these things before you let someone take all your money, possibly needlessly.
I firmly believe that a large majority of Northstar cooling issues can be solved quite inexpensively, and that their reputation for "Blown Head Gaskets" is almost entirely due to rip-off artists and/ or ignorance.
Hope this helps before you shell out big bucks needlessly.

cowboycadillac · #14 (**permalink**) 10-06-05, 08:34 PM

Where is it located ???

#1backyard mechanic · #15 (**permalink**) 10-07-05, 01:32 AM

Before You Sock All Your Money Away On This Project I Would Get Many Opinions & Price Quotes From Different Mechanics. If You Don't Have A Lot Of Cash To Dish Out For All These Repairs I'd Look For A Good Used Car That's Running. Instead Of Dumping Everything On This One. Just My Opinion