# 08 Grand Prix needs new engine

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/08-grand-prix-needs-new-engine/178589>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [August 8, 2021, 2:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/08-grand-prix-needs-new-engine/178589 "2021-08-08T14:19:10Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![artice\_176629](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d26b3c/32.png) [@artice\_176629](https://community.cartalk.com/u/artice_176629)\
**Post date:** [August 8, 2021, 8:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/08-grand-prix-needs-new-engine/178589/21 "2021-08-08T20:35:02Z")

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Thanks, guys a lot, I also heard the 3800 was an extremely good engine so I’m going to have another mechanic make sure what’s the exact problem. I’ll post a update once I find out

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**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2021, 1:35am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/08-grand-prix-needs-new-engine/178589/22 "2021-08-09T01:35:17Z")

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I just don’t like the idea of the mechanic offering $300 for the car . . .

The cynic in me is thinking maybe the mechanic knows it’ll be a relatively cheap . . . for him, because he’s not paying labor and gets parts cheap . . . fix to get the car running and then he’s either got another car to drive or one to flip for some fast cash

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**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2021, 3:06am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/08-grand-prix-needs-new-engine/178589/23 "2021-08-09T03:06:10Z")

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In the past I’ve bought a few customer cars which had major problems. The customers had no intention of spending money on a new engine or transmission so they said they would just call the boneyard and scrap it instead. In those cases I would have the service advisor tell them to get a price from the salvage and I would offer 50 more.

In my cases the failure of an engine (bad rod knock and near zero oil pressure) or a transmission (black fluid, won’t pull itself across the parking lot) was never in doubt.

However, I think in this case the situation kind of stinks. The unknown is what tests (if any) this mechanic ran to verify a head gasket or lower end problem. So far all I heard was a grungy radiator and cap and that means nothing.  
If the mechanic did run some tests then the OP should have been billed for it. A free of charge diagnosis becomes instant suspect.

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**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\
**Post date:** [August 11, 2021, 11:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/08-grand-prix-needs-new-engine/178589/24 "2021-08-11T23:26:25Z")

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I’m wondering if the car really needs the engine replaced

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**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\
**Post date:** [August 12, 2021, 2:16am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/08-grand-prix-needs-new-engine/178589/25 "2021-08-12T02:16:59Z")

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Well, you made it home. Motor must not be totally broke.

[Previous page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/08-grand-prix-needs-new-engine/178589.md?page=1)