Get car fixed again?

nd

So the sisters 00 avensis needed a replacement gearbox maybe 6 months ago.

At the time she decided to not fix it and bought an 02 almera. It turned out that the almera was basically a pos mechanically and she sold it within about a month of buying it for half what she paid for it. And got the avensis gearbox replaced as the was the cheapest route at the time.

Recently the head gasket went on the avensis as the radiator leaked and the car overheated. She was planning on getting the headgasket done and in a few week getting the timing belt done (it was overdue being replaced) as she can't really afford to do anything else.

But the mechanic has said that the engine is too far gone and he can replace it with one that won't need the timing belt done for 600.

It seems like this is her only option really as she can't even afford the 600 atm and he'll do it for 300 up front and the rest in a few weeks.


Is it a bad idea to get the replacement engine?

(I wasn't sure whether to put this in here or in the main motors chat)

Toyotafanboi

well you're getting another engine with basically unknown mileage/ history etc, so you could very well end up in a head gasket failure/ timing belt replacement/ **** knows what else situation again very soon with it.

i can't imagine the engine being "too far gone" tbh, unless she drive it relentlessly after it overheated, but i doubt she did that and even if she did i'd still say it could be repaired.

if it were me i'd take it to someone who will do the head gasket and associated work. i would expect a mk1 avensis with a reconditioned gearbox, new head gasket kit and timing belt to last until the end of time :pac: you would probably get the work done well within the €600 ball park too.

nd

Thanks. I called to the mechanic with her there a while ago.

He says the block and head are warped and to get both skimmed would be 250 euro a piece :eek:. And for all he knows the block could be cracked further down.

He says he knows the replacement engine and it has only 90k miles on it and he'll put a new timing belt on it. So I guess that seems like the best option.