valve gaskets after accident

[zoemayne]

hi, i have an 00 max se w/97 k miles on it. it was involved in an accident and it is out of the body shop now but it has probs. mainly the muffler is busted and the car is smoking possibly burning up oil. i took it to the dealer and they told me i have to replace the valve gaskets and some pulley. also the car cuts off only when the car is reved up in park. dealer gave me an estimate of 1200.00. of corse im not gonna spend that any one have some reccomendations where i can take the car.....to get it done affordably. or if you have any knowledge about the symptoms it would help. som1 one told me that and accident couldnt cause valve gasket damage that it could be only done by overheating. thanks in advance. im trying to get 50k more miles out of this car. d

[Nahkapohjola]

Originally Posted by zoemayne

...possibly burning up oil. ... to get 50k more miles out of this car. d

- burnin oil causes oil level to drop, say 1L/2quarts /1kmile, blu smoke. Your precise symptoms are ??
- If u mean valve cover gaskets bleeding oil on engine, first tighten the gasket screws, if it doesnt hlp, use liquid sealant, 4$
- blown head gasket is more costlier story, typically after loosing coolant and then overheating. Is coolant clear, level steady? Howabout Oil, stick-oil is blk, not grey watery sludge?
- if exhaust leaks before O2 sensor(s), means problems, smoking, low mpg
- youll more likely get 200kmiles more, but - every mile has to be paid...
- intermittently dying engine is a pain: check for loose wiring/gnd contacts which move while revving, read http://www.cardomain.com/ride/748507/14
- to get more info, check 'Favorite Links', clic below

[zoemayne]

thanks for the advice. i took it to midas and they changed 2 valves for 500 but they didnt change the idler pulley. it doesnt produce blue smoke and i dont notice the oil level changing. still even after the job that midas performed it is smoking. it should be the power steering fluid. its been confirmed that the power steering is leaking. it still cuts off when its reved up in park. and its not running too good.

[Nahkapohjola]

- after valve project, compression test is always done for all six. What are the pressure figures for cyls 1-6?
- self diagnostics, is it ok?