Fuck My Life (And My Car)

"Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him" (tylerssvtfocushateshim)
12/12/2013 at 14:28 • Filed to: Rants

Woke up this morning on two hours' sleep to take my calc exam (which didn't go very well) only to discover I had a locked rear caliper. Guess where my tools are? At home, 50 miles away. So now I have to wait until Monday to get an appointment at some shitty garage in town to rape me for fixing something I could do at 1/5th the price, and by the time they do that I'll have wasted a week of my winter break. Oh, but I'm not done. No, I'll still have to go home and replace the timing belt, a few engine mounts, and the front sway bar links before I can start delivering pizzas, so in all likelihood I'll miss about a week and a half of earning potential at the least. When I bought this car I said I didn't care about how reliable it was, so long as it was fun to drive. Two years and over $1000 later I'm starting to reconsider that notion. Sorry you had to hear my bitching but I need somewhere to vent. Have an FD RX-7 for your troubles.

DISCUSSION (53)

Chris Clarke > Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him
12/12/2013 at 14:30

Take the money you'd spend at a mechanic and go buy new tools and consider yourself even.

505Turbeaux > Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him
12/12/2013 at 14:30

dude grab yourself a hammer or a rock and smack the shit out of that caliper to get where you need to go

Party-vi > Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him
12/12/2013 at 14:30

Two years and $1,000? Man you got lucky. I'm already over $2,000 in 9 months of BMW ownership and my Cherokee was way worse of a money pit (granted those were my upgrades mostly).

Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him > 505Turbeaux
12/12/2013 at 14:33

My drive home is a 70mph highway, so I don't really want to drive on it until it's completely fixed. Last thing I want is the caliper completely locking and me spearing off into oncoming traffic.

ddavidn > Party-vi
12/12/2013 at 14:34

I'm on three years, and I've probably spent three grand on my car (BMW), which is still in an embarrassing state of affairs, and it also sat immobile in my garage for almost a year... So yeah. $1000 isn't bad at all.

505Turbeaux > Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him
12/12/2013 at 14:35

meh, been there before. in that case I agree with the other comment. Go buy some tools and get 'r' done!

Vandelay Industries > Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him
12/12/2013 at 14:36

why dont you just go get a ride, buy the tools then return them when you're done...?

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him
12/12/2013 at 14:36

Cab to sears $25 bucks

craftsman mechanic toolset around $60-100 (depending on how extensive it needs to be)

fix

killerkoolaid37 > 505Turbeaux
12/12/2013 at 14:39

Or go to a shop nearby and ask if you could borrow some tools to fix your locked caliper real quick. They may be willing to do that.

Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him > Chris Clarke
12/12/2013 at 14:40

I'm thinking about it. The place I'm going to has a $30 brake inspection, so I was just going to do that and then proceed from there. I'll have to bleed the brakes, which will present a challenge since I don't have another person. I do want to do it myself, I just don't like the idea of being so far from home while doing so. But yes, that's probably the best strategy at this point, I'm just waiting to see what the shop says first.

505Turbeaux > killerkoolaid37
12/12/2013 at 14:40

even parts stores loan tools in most places. Go to advance or autozone, what are you gonna need, line wrench, couple of sockets, jack, lugwrench? I hate the rear ends of those though, they get so rusty up here in salt states

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him
12/12/2013 at 14:42

As a fellow SVT owner, I can say I completely understand your troubles.

However, I still have to laugh a little because these cars are notorious for needing constant attention.

I won't fault you one bit for being blinded by the sheer joy of driving one when it all works though.

Good luck.

Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him > Vandelay Industries
12/12/2013 at 14:46

Good idea, but everyone I could bum a ride from has already left on winter break, which totally sucks. As another commenter mentioned, I could get a cab, which is another thing to consider.

Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
12/12/2013 at 14:47

Definitely an option. My problem is that I don't know shit about brakes, so I'm waiting to hear what's wrong with them first before starting work on them.

Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him > Party-vi
12/12/2013 at 14:50

Well, $1000 in maintenance, most of which was in the first six months. That's excluding the $1800 to completely replace the clutch (flywheel, slave and master cylinder, etc), which I don't count because I learned to drive stick on it. So in total about $3k, or half what I paid for the car. It's still worth it, but I'm just getting tired of the constant maintenance this thing needs.

Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
12/12/2013 at 14:53

Temperamental is the word you're looking for. On the best days there's no car I'd rather be in, and on the worst I hate this thing with everything I've got. Thanks for the sentiment, it seems like every SVTF owner I've met has had some kind of problems. It's car for masochists.

Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him > 505Turbeaux
12/12/2013 at 14:56

I probably will after I get a quote and a diagnosis. I don't have a lot of mechanical experience, but I'm always willing to try.

Party-vi > Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him
12/12/2013 at 14:58

That happens on previously neglected cars, and I can't imagine it was any better since yours is a performance variant (never raced my ass, Mr. Craigslist Poster). With no service history I elected to flush my transmission, replace the spark plugs and upgrade the water pump on my car before I even owned it for a week.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him
12/12/2013 at 14:58

Oh ok, I was under the impression you know your stuff due to the comment of being able to fix them at home for 1/5th the cost.

Also, keep an eye on the estimate if you know enough when you're at the mechanic. Call them on stuff if you should.

505Turbeaux > Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him
12/12/2013 at 15:03

oh man. Post what you got. Oppo will walk you through it. If you need I will give you my cell and I will walk you through it myself. Have alldata right in front of me if needed

Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him > Party-vi
12/12/2013 at 15:04

"Never raced or abused" in my case. But yeah, should have known better, especially since the dude I bought it from had an STi in the next garage space. I expected some initial repair bills kind of like you did (replaced plugs/wires, brake fluid, etc.), but every time I fix something two more things pop up. I love this car but it's getting on my nerves.

Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
12/12/2013 at 15:09

I should say I know enough to get myself in trouble haha. I found a walkthrough on the forums that I was going to use, but it's the contingencies that worry me. Normally I work on my car under the supervision of my cousin, who lets me bumble through repairs and whatnot while I figure it out on my own, so not having other people to guide me if I need them to is what concerns me. I definitely know enough to keep the mechanics honest, but not enough to confidently do it myself. That's why I admire guys like you on here; you know how to work on your car and you're confident enough to do so.

Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him > 505Turbeaux
12/12/2013 at 15:16

I appreciate it man, thank you! That's extremely kind of you. I'm interested to see what the shop says, since the caliper isn't completely locked. In fact, the only way you'd know something was wrong was the fact the left rear rotor is burning hot compared to the other two and the car doesn't coast as well as it used to. Again, I do appreciate you offering to help. I shouldn't say I'm a complete noob working on cars since I've done all the work (except the clutch) on my car, though it's been with my mechanic cousin supervising me. When I figure out what's wrong I'll post on here again, maybe you can help me out :)

505Turbeaux > Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him
12/12/2013 at 15:17

you bet man. I woke up having to replace a freeze plug in my VW in 11 degree weather, so I feel what it is to be stuck today!

Fookin' Prawns > Party-vi
12/12/2013 at 15:19

$1,800 in two weeks after purchase. Slave cylinder, front control arm bushings, driveshaft coupling, and fixing an oil leak in the gearbox.

:/ At least I fixed the radio myself.

Casper > Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him
12/12/2013 at 15:28

I would just beat the hell out of it or buy tools locally. You can make it work to drive home, it's just a rear caliper. Is the caliper it's self seized or is the e-brake cable stuck?

Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him > 505Turbeaux
12/12/2013 at 15:29

At least I'm not alone in my misery then, haha. Again, thanks for offering to help. It's stuff like this that makes me love Oppo.

Party-vi > Fookin' Prawns
12/12/2013 at 15:31

I did the plugs myself, but apparently didn't the right ones. Cue the mechanic at my shop telling me "huh your computer is throwing codes for a misfire and ignition coils. Who put these shitty plugs in here!?" -__-

Party-vi > Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him
12/12/2013 at 15:31

Just the way it works. As long as you get a smile on your face when driving it's all worth it.

bimmerismyname > Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him
12/12/2013 at 15:33

Don't lament so much. I have my finals next week and my transmission in my Mk5 Jetta just decided is wanted to take a crap and go boom on Monday. The VW dealer wasn't able to diagnose and order parts until today and i won't have my Mk5 back till next week (after finals are done) and after i spend $5500 as a rebuilt transmission.

Also, i go to school at UMD (University of Minnesota - Duluth) my walk to campus will be so fricking cold the next few days

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him
12/12/2013 at 15:38

Depends on the repair! lol. Some things I can do but I know my limits and I have a really good shop around the corner from my house (thankfully).

If I'm not confident it goes to the shop, where they give me a good price because I only go to them. Personally I wouldn't swap a brake caliper out by myself, that's because the brakes need to be bled then. And unless you have a brake bleeder tool you need a second person for that!

Fookin' Prawns > Party-vi
12/12/2013 at 15:41

"Must have been the engine gnomes. It couldn't have been me."

-Party-vi, to his mechanic

Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him > Casper
12/12/2013 at 15:44

You know.... SVT Focuses (Focii?) are notorious for e-brake problems, especially in the cold. It was <10 degrees here in Indiana, maybe it got stuck? Forgive my ignorance, but how could I tell if it's the caliper or the emergency brake?

Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him > Party-vi
12/12/2013 at 15:49

Agreed. This car is my pride and joy, and I love it to death even with the problems it has.

Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
12/12/2013 at 15:53

Ooh, didn't even think about needing two people to bleed the brakes. There's a Harbor Freight I could drop by and pick up a kit, but it's kind of far away and again, I don't want to be driving in a potentially dangerous car. Hmm.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him
12/12/2013 at 15:55

How bad is the brake on it? Is it smoking? Just a hot wheel? Lack of accel? Last time I had one stick I could only tell because of a slight drop off on accel and I saw my MPG drop. Then I checked the wheel, which was hot after driving.

Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him > bimmerismyname
12/12/2013 at 15:55

Jesus man, that's insane. You said MK V, is it not under warranty still?

Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
12/12/2013 at 16:00

Barely noticeable. No discernible noise, almost imperceptible lack of acceleration. Only real symptom is that it doesn't coast as well, it feels like I'm gently braking in neutral. The only way I figured out it was I drove around a parking lot a few times after letting it sit overnight and touched the rotors to gauge temperature. I didn't touch the brakes once, so the other three were stone cold, but the left rear literally burned my finger. Another commenter mentioned the e-brake potentially being the culprit, maybe it's that?

bimmerismyname > Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him
12/12/2013 at 16:04

Yup. Mk5/MkV. Roughly 96,500 miles on the clock. Power-train warranty went out at 60,000.

Car was working fine this past weekend when i drove from Duluth to the Twin Cities and back for the Paul Walker Memorial Cruise. Worked fine Monday when i went to campus, worked fine when i left campus. I was sitting at a light and went to hit the gas, and the car didn't go anywhere. The engine revved but no power went to the wheels. Odd thing is that there was never any warning lights or warning signs from the car that something was wrong prior to it happening. It was working one second, the next it was slipping and not moving anywhere.

I know my car quite well, but i never once was given any inclination that something was wrong or about the break at all. Just happened all of a sudden and i was stuck on the side of the road.

I looked into numerous choices including, a brand new Tiptronic which would've been $7500. Manual swap (5 or 6 speed) would've been $8000. DSG conversion would've been $11,000!!!!!!

Heard it's going to take a week until i get her back

Casper > Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him
12/12/2013 at 16:05

It can be difficult. One way would be to disconnect the e-brake cable (assuming those are cabled cars) from the caliper. Sometimes it's easy to do, sometimes it's not.

Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him > Casper
12/12/2013 at 16:14

That definitely won't be easy. My Focus sits so low that I can't fit under it without a jack. Could be something I mention to the guy on Monday.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him
12/12/2013 at 16:23

I'm not sure, I assume by your screenname you have an SVT focus lol. I'm not sure if that had a double or single ebrake. My car (07 Merc Milan) has a double, it locks both back wheels I believe. But it's possible, either way it's probably built into the caliper. Especially being that it's the left rear.

If it's that imperceptable it might make it the 50 miles. I'm not taking responsibility tho lol.

Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
12/12/2013 at 16:41

I can go check later when I'm done with my hot chocolate and movie haha. And realistically, yes, I could probably make it that far, but I'd like to make sure my car's roadworthy before potentially damaging it further (i.e., having the caliper lock completely and send me into a concrete divider. I love this car, and because of that I'm so paranoid about it. The thought of doing more damage to it deters me more than the thought of doing damage to myself. I'm not exactly sure what that says about me...

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him
12/12/2013 at 16:46

It says you're a car guy lol.

My bet is if it gets worse on a drive home it's probably going to wear the rotor/pads more not cause a locked wheel.

When I had mine lock up a bit on me (time I was previously describing with dropped mpg) I drove a 50 mile round trip on it and then still drove it to the shop with out any further damage. I had a twisted brake line from a different repair I was doing (and screwed up lol, remember that don't give me TOO much credit thing?) so it was a quick fix and the caliper wasn't broken. No idea what's causing urs, u could just have a dead caliper.

Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
12/12/2013 at 17:06

Could be anything really, caliper, lines, e-brake. I'll just wait until Monday to find out, I guess. Tonight I'll try the reverse-hard-brake method to see if it is the caliper or maybe just a sticky e-brake.

Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him > bimmerismyname
12/12/2013 at 17:10

Those prices are ridiculous. That's what terrifies me about having expensive parts in a not-very-expensive car, especially German ones. If this had happened five years in the future your car could be junked.

bimmerismyname > Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him
12/12/2013 at 17:13

Likely. If i had the money for a new car, i'd get a new car. But i don't so i have to fix what i have. Going without my car for a week is going to be rough. At least the rebuilt one going in comes with a 4 year/unlimited mile warranty so there's that.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him
12/13/2013 at 09:29

Good luck!

Squid > Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him
12/14/2013 at 07:15

Mightyvac is about $30-50 at harbor freight or sears. No more two person bleeds. Makes it super easy to get all air out of the lines, I'm not sure if the SVT is like the 07 ZX3 I had, but the clutch shares its fluid from the master, if it is don't forget to bleed the clutch nipple as well.

generally a stuck caliper may be due to corrosion and a ring or rust stuck around the caliper so a good few bangs on the caliper may end up freeing it temporarialy. Replacing a caliper is not too big of deal, just take your time and replace both calipers on the axle that was bad (just old time mechanics wisdom as it is better to have even braking force rather than an old caliper and a new caliper on the same axle).

Another question to ask is that I know ford favored the screw type rear calipers to engage the parking brake rather than a separate drum for the parking brake. It may be just the p-brake mechanism failing you and that may end up making a home rebuild with a new piston not worth it. . .

Bandit > Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him
12/14/2013 at 13:26

Go over to the autozone on 52, they could probably help you. The store manager (named Dave maybe?) is pretty nice, they have a tool box you may be able to use.

Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him > Bandit
12/14/2013 at 16:24

I made it home to Indianapolis just fine, but thank you for the heads-up! I'll definitely keep that in mind if other issues arise.

Bandit > Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him
12/14/2013 at 16:35

Good to hear, good luck with your massive list of tasks.

Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him > Bandit
12/14/2013 at 16:52

Thank you! I'll need it haha.