My '98 Taurus (around 206,000 miles) has had its issues, but nothing major other than a transmission rebuild around 180,000 miles. I retired it to our second car back up maybe a dozen years ago, so not many miles have been put on since then. In 2021 we had a pretty harsh winter freeze and afterwards, when I went to use the Taurus I noticed a water leak... Not bad to begin with, but it got worse as time passed. But since we only used it for local shopping runs (within a two-mile radius of home) I could just carry water with me and top up as needed.
Last week I decided to take it to the mechanic shop to replace the hoses (too difficult a job for me)... I got quoted just below $750 to replace the two front hoses, the ones that are a PITA to do. The parts aren't expensive, but the work time adds up.
Anyway, I got a call from the mechanic (a reputable shop, been around 25+ years) telling me that they'd run into a number of problems...
First... When they pressure-tested the system the radiator started to leak. This was not a problem before, but I told them to go ahead and replace it with a new one — another $700.
Second... Got another call the following day. The mechanic said that after installing the radiator and doing the pressure test again the "...pump..." started to gush water (leak badly)... And then a leak showed up in some "...plug...", which caused him to check other "...plugs...", and he found them rusty and said they all needed to be replaced... Quoting another $2,200.
So we're up at around $3,650... Which is now making me wonder if it's worth putting that amount into a 26-year-old car... That also has other needs (for sure shocks all around need replacing).
I asked him for his advice and he said he didn't think it was worth it, as additionally, when he took a plug out he said the water had a strange smell to it which made him think that there was a leak internally in the engine.
Okay... Thing is... I drove the car to the shop and it ran fine... I hadn't started in maybe three or four months and first turn of the key it fired right up... No smoke, no stutter/hesitancy in the engine, and driving it the power was still there.
The body of the car is fine, meaning no rust or dents... It has never been in an accident beyond someone bumping me in the rear as they tried to turn behind me.
I really thought I could spend a few thousand and restore it back to a daily driver condition... But now I'm stumped. I bought this Taurus off the dealer lot as a manager-driven special with just under 5,000 miles on it, so I know its history.
Any thoughts on the cooling system problems... I'm wondering if replacing the engine is a solution.
Thanks for the feedback. I appreciate it.
Last week I decided to take it to the mechanic shop to replace the hoses (too difficult a job for me)... I got quoted just below $750 to replace the two front hoses, the ones that are a PITA to do. The parts aren't expensive, but the work time adds up.
Anyway, I got a call from the mechanic (a reputable shop, been around 25+ years) telling me that they'd run into a number of problems...
First... When they pressure-tested the system the radiator started to leak. This was not a problem before, but I told them to go ahead and replace it with a new one — another $700.
Second... Got another call the following day. The mechanic said that after installing the radiator and doing the pressure test again the "...pump..." started to gush water (leak badly)... And then a leak showed up in some "...plug...", which caused him to check other "...plugs...", and he found them rusty and said they all needed to be replaced... Quoting another $2,200.
So we're up at around $3,650... Which is now making me wonder if it's worth putting that amount into a 26-year-old car... That also has other needs (for sure shocks all around need replacing).
I asked him for his advice and he said he didn't think it was worth it, as additionally, when he took a plug out he said the water had a strange smell to it which made him think that there was a leak internally in the engine.
Okay... Thing is... I drove the car to the shop and it ran fine... I hadn't started in maybe three or four months and first turn of the key it fired right up... No smoke, no stutter/hesitancy in the engine, and driving it the power was still there.
The body of the car is fine, meaning no rust or dents... It has never been in an accident beyond someone bumping me in the rear as they tried to turn behind me.
I really thought I could spend a few thousand and restore it back to a daily driver condition... But now I'm stumped. I bought this Taurus off the dealer lot as a manager-driven special with just under 5,000 miles on it, so I know its history.
Any thoughts on the cooling system problems... I'm wondering if replacing the engine is a solution.
Thanks for the feedback. I appreciate it.