Anyone a mechanic or good with cars?

[Seattleallstar]

Originally Posted by 2MinsToPost

That year of General Motors has that issue. The front wheel hub assembly, which includes the bearing, is very prone to going bad in that year and make of car, include the Monte Carlo. Did you notice by chance some noise coming from the front end while turning previously? The hub assembly will cause that sound for a while, and then when it gets close to going out it will kick the abs light on like it did for you. Be careful, cause sometimes the noise will come from one side but it is not the side that is bad.Sounds strange huh? A qualified Tech can find out in a flash.

Based on what you are saying, I would say with 90% certainty that you need a new wheel hub assembly. The part will cost arround $250 - $300, I believe. The actual R & R (removal and replacement) should take around 2 hours, maybe less. Be careful whith who you have diagnose it and repair it.

I have 8 years invested in Auto. Worked at a GM Dealership out of college, then 7 years in the retail side.

know anything about BMW's or MErcedes?

[2MinsToPost]

Jerry,

No I don't. I can share this with you, and something you will want to consider when the time comes for you to purchase a vehicle. It is a common assumption among the buying public that imports are the way to go. While in some cases that is true, what they fail to realize is that when that import breaks down, or when that import needs general maintence, the costs escalates compared to someone who owns a general motors, ford or chrysler product. An easy way to prove that point is to price certain parts for different vehicles. I learned that real quick in the auto industry.

In my humble opinion, the most reliable vehicle will always be the one that has been taken care of properly. From the beginning, treat it like a child. Basic maintence and proper driving technique goes a long, long way in the life of a vehicle. Especially proper driving techniques, for example easy on the gas, letting a car run at least 10 seconds before you put it in gear, easy on the brakes, and avoiding pot holes

Maintence is equally important. The obvious is not always the obvious to some. One of the biggest suggestions I tell people is to at all costs avoid the "cure alls" found on store shelves everywhere. Nothing in a bottle is a cure all, all they will do is typically slow down the problem but it will reappear. Some of those products, down the road, cause problems. For example, certain fuel additives found in gas treatments will wreck havoc on the spark plugs. Certain oil additives will clean out the engine, yes, but then deposit that sludge on your oil pickup screen and therfore causing oil pressure problems. I could talk for hours upon hours about this.

[Seattleallstar]

so your telling me were gonna keep paying 4 to 6 times as much regular cars because its a freakin German engineered car?

[2MinsToPost]

Originally Posted by Seattleallstar

so your telling me were gonna keep paying 4 to 6 times as much regular cars because its a freakin German engineered car?

It comes down to two things. Interchangeability (is that a word?) of parts and lack of properly trained techs to work on imports. In other words you are going to pay more for a part for an import because they only fit certain makes and years, usually small where as gm, ford and chrysler have done a good job of using the same parts on similar vehicles thru the years thus bringing down the price.

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by 2MinsToPost

It comes down to two things. Interchangeability (is that a word?) of parts and lack of properly trained techs to work on imports. In other words you are going to pay more for a part for an import because they only fit certain makes and years, usually small where as gm, ford and chrysler have done a good job of using the same parts on similar vehicles thru the years thus bringing down the price.

Exactly why I bought my Malibu instead of another Jetta.