# What can I expect of mechanic now? Car caput

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-can-i-expect-of-mechanic-now-car-caput/25669>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** mechanics, transmissions, colt, wagon\
**Created:** [January 27, 2009, 8:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-can-i-expect-of-mechanic-now-car-caput/25669 "2009-01-27T20:13:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![deb1207](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2acd7d/32.png) [@deb1207](https://community.cartalk.com/u/deb1207)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 8:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-can-i-expect-of-mechanic-now-car-caput/25669/1 "2009-01-27T20:13:05Z")

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I stupidly bought a 93 Colt Vista wagon about 3 weeks ago. Drove it 120 miles first day; second day it wouldn’t start. Had it towed to shop. They said to take it to an “e” shop. Took it to recmd. shop: asked them to diagnose prob and generally check the car over. Said I needed a computer. Found a computer for 175, they installed it; also replaced battery, did tune up, changed oil; serviced transmission…said car was good to go. I then drove the car 240 miles: and this morning it won’t shift into reverse and engine sounds LOUSY. Do I have a right to expect more from the mechanic or am I stuck with a DUD? What can I ask of mechanic now?

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**Author:** ![andrew\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@andrew\_j](https://community.cartalk.com/u/andrew_j)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 9:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-can-i-expect-of-mechanic-now-car-caput/25669/2 "2009-01-27T21:11:40Z")

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Take the car back and see what is going on.

Maybe a bad mechanic experience but the more realistic thing here is that you purchased a 16 year car. Expect anything and everything to go wrong.

If you decide to dump this car before purchasing your next potential to a mechanic and pay for a checkover.