93 Euro Problems.

[Kayden96]

Firstly, hi.

Secondly, I know squat about cars.

Ok then...

Not too long ago, my hood release lever broke. I could still pop the hood by tugging on the cable for all I was worth, but just recently, the cable snapped .

So now I have no idea how to get my hood open.

Which also brings me to the second problem. My car has a bad... camshaft (?). When the engine gets really hot the engine starts idle loudly. Putting in 20W50 helps the problem, but the oil needs to be replaced about every 2000ish miles instead of every 3000ish.

Anyways... Is this problem worth fixing? I paid 1000 for it and it has 136k on it. I like it and its cute even if a bit small for my 6'4" self. My lil lady has me looking at trucks now (shes the car brain), so I was wondering what I should do with my Lumina. Should I just dump it off on some college kid as a beater or fix it up and trade it in? What kind of return rate am I looking at both if I leave it as is and if I fix it?

Thanks all.

[MT-2500]

Originally Posted by Kayden96

Firstly, hi.

Secondly, I know squat about cars.

Ok then...

Not too long ago, my hood release lever broke. I could still pop the hood by tugging on the cable for all I was worth, but just recently, the cable snapped .

So now I have no idea how to get my hood open.

Which also brings me to the second problem. My car has a bad... camshaft (?). When the engine gets really hot the engine starts idle loudly. Putting in 20W50 helps the problem, but the oil needs to be replaced about every 2000ish miles instead of every 3000ish.

Anyways... Is this problem worth fixing? I paid 1000 for it and it has 136k on it. I like it and its cute even if a bit small for my 6'4" self. My lil lady has me looking at trucks now (shes the car brain), so I was wondering what I should do with my Lumina. Should I just dump it off on some college kid as a beater or fix it up and trade it in? What kind of return rate am I looking at both if I leave it as is and if I fix it?

Thanks all.

Welcome to your first post on AF.

Well it is fix or trade time.
You no more than we do as we can not see ir hear it run.
SOUNDS LIKE IT IS GOING TO NEED OIL ADDED.
But without being able to get the hood open it will be a dead duck in no time.
The choice is yours.
MT

[jdl]

I've had the same problem, with the hood release mechanism, on a different chevy model, the cable broke.

I removed the grill, look up in there and could see the release mechanism. I used a piece of heavy duty string, doubled over, tied it to the release lever, let it hang down several inches, so I could get a good hold. I have to lay down under the front of the vehicle, reach up in there, jerk the string sideways to release the hood. That has been working for about two years now. I don't know if that would work on your vehicle, just have to look.

I have seen a universal cable release mechanism in the auto store, but thought it was a little pricey. Don't remember how much.

[Kayden96]

Thanks for the suggestion. I actually already did the same thing. I got in there with a pliers and tugged on the cable, but that broke... I got under the car and finally found the release. Now I have the broken cable tied to it again and its hanging out the front. Ugly, but it works.

[tblake]

your loud engine sounds like lifter issues from what you describe. Myself now that the hood is open would probably look into fixing it, but thats me. If any time is the time to dump, now is. Change the oil with thickest possable, and let her go. Get a nice silverdo with a 350, possably even a tbi 350.