I have a bit of a problem. Got a 2006 Toyota Corolla with 8,700 miles on it at the time 3 years ago. I’ve spent the past 3 years taking it in every 5-6 months to ensure it stays in shape. However, yesterday, at 21,000 miles, the oil warning light popped on and then died. I had the oil changed Nov 20, and checked when getting winter tires put on in mid-January. I had mentioned the car drips a bit to my mechanic and asked is that a problem, and was told numerous times if the car isn’t overheating, and it’s running fine, and the check engine light isn’t coming on, it’s fine. However, when the AAA guy came to move my car from where it died yesterday, he said “oh i know what’s wrong” immediately as there was an oil drip onto the ground. I’m really a bit annoyed as any appt with my mechanic at the least was $185 and at the most was $488, and I thought I was doing everything I was supposed to be doing.
I’ve read the car shutdown because the computer told it to to save the mechanics of the engine. When the AAA guy tried to start the car, he said it started to turn over but slowly. My question is I Really would like to save the engine as it’s so expensive to buy a rebuilt engine and have it installed. One person is telling me 800, one is saying 6k. And I really can’t afford that. I live in the sticks and there’s no way to get around without a car, not even to get groceries or coffee. I just moved here and spent my savings to get here. Am pretty desperate and scared. I’ve thought of buying a junker just to limit my time off the road.
Any ideas about whether the engine can be unlocked with penetrating oils? I’m hoping that since it started to turn over, maybe there’s a chance? If not, how would you even go about finding a working toyota corolla engine from an actually reputable place? The engines I’ve been seeing online are like 3k. I’m disabled as well, so I can’t ride a bike and there’s no public transit here. I’m really stuck and scared.