(sorta) Funny/Sad story

[stfuad]

Hi just sharing a story. My friend bought a 89 Pontiac Grand AM from his stepdads relatives for $500.

Spent so far: $500;

Anyways the car was driven from somewhere in NJ back to NY no real problems. After a day of driving it it doesn't start up anymore. So they replace the spark plugs. Don't know how muc hthe plugs where but they're Bosch Platinum 2's. estimated price: $40.

Spent so far: $540;

I believe they got the car to work after that for about half a day or so. Anyways me and my friend took a look at it with help from his grandpa (a mechanic). Turns out he needs a new alternator. $130.

Spent so far: $670;

My friend and I replaced his alternator. It was running fine for about a day. Then it craps out on him at his workplace. At this point my friends pretty pissed, but wha does he do? Gets the car towed and taken to a mechanic. Turns out the car doesn't spark and needs a new Ignition coil and crank shaft. $650. As of now the bill is unpayed my friend doesn't have is car. While I'm trying to convince him to just save another paycheck and buy a newer damned car.

Alas, he decides to pay for the fees.

Spent so far: $1220;

I don't know what to tell him. I tried to get him to just buy another car and donate his GrandAm. He just won't listen. Oh yah and his windshield is cracked. So however much a new windshield plus labor costs.

He's already spent two times what the vehicle cost him. So let's all laugh at him.

P.S. His power steering is messed up also.

[Slade901]

For one thing $40 dollars for a spark plug?
$130 for alternator?
$650 for ignition coil and crankshaft? or crankshaft position sensor?

For one thing, my spark plug would only cost me $3 each and alternator around $60, ignition coil?
probably it was good and it was just the spark plug wires. If this a DIS (Distributorless Ignition System), for a V6 it has 3 ignition coil. They don't fail all three together and probably just one. He could have gotten a decent ignition coil at the junkyard. Crankshaft position sensor is cheap and not hard to replace.

Anyway, that's how he wants it done and it is his money. I would have at least learn about that car first and what he can do to fix it himself.

[stfuad]

He replaced all 4 spark plugs that was just an estimated guesso nthe price.

The alternator... well.. it was $130... don't know why...

He didn't buy a haynes manual or anything.

I'm betting his mechanic took him for a ride also.

Oh well.