I need a (car) doctor...

"and 100 more" (nth256)
03/20/2015 at 15:02 • Filed to: None

So, I've been sitting on a problem with my '08 Patriot, leery of spending more money on a car that's increasingly becoming more and more Jeep-like as it ages. I can turn a wrench, but I'm no mechanic. I'm hoping you all might be able to help me out.

2008 Jeep Patriot Sport

FWD, 2.4L 5-speed

Early last year, I had the slave cylinder replaced; required removal of the transmission to access the internal slave/throwout bearing. The mechanic, a buddy of my ex, knew i was short of funds and opted not to simply replace the whole clutch ass'y... y'know, to help save me some cash. Parts, labor, taxes & fees: ~$1,200

Later in the year, my clutch failed (thanks bro). Took it to a different shop this time. Parts, labor, taxes & fees: ~$1,200

Since then, it's developed a small oil leak. Nothing big; maaaaybe requires a quart every month-and-a-half. But on a vehicle that had never leaked before, it's a pain in the ass. I took it back to the last shop to have them fix it, but they failed, and frankly, I didn't have the time to be without a car, nor the funds to afford another rental. They noticed *a* leak from the main seal, which they replaced, but *the* leak hasn't stopped. It hasn't become worse, luckily.

Things were nominal for awhile (aside from the slow leak), but in the past few months, the engine has been getting louder and louder. There's a bearing in there somewhere that's giving out. It started as a whirring noise when i'd step on the clutch, but it has since progressed to making noise even at idle, and more noise when the clutch is depressed. It seems to be on the engine side, as the noise will change pitch with engine speed, and it makes the noise regardless of whether I'm in gear or not.

I know, ultimately, that I need to put it back in the shop, and they're going to have to yank the tranny once more. But is there any chance any of you might have an idea what part might be failing? Knowing that it's been going on for awhile, what's the likelyhood of having a single bad part vs. more permanent damage?

For your time, here is a much cooler Jeep than mine:

DISCUSSION (10)

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > and 100 more
03/20/2015 at 15:05

Kinja'd!!!

Is that the Jeep from the GRM 20xx challenge build a few years ago? That thing was sick.

bob and john > and 100 more
03/20/2015 at 15:06

I would say it just a FWD jeep. sell it for 10k, buy something less.

and 100 more > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
03/20/2015 at 15:07

Yup!

Here's a BangShift article about it: http://bangshift.com/bangshiftapex/…

and 100 more > bob and john
03/20/2015 at 15:10

10K? That's ambitious; it's probably only worth about $3k, and you know I'm not gonna get even close to that on a trade-in.

That's my big dilemma... I'm too broke to fix it, and too broke to take on a car payment.

bob and john > and 100 more
03/20/2015 at 15:13

I just threw out a random over priced number because that seems to be the 'Jeep " thing

also, who said anything about a car payment? 3k could get you something while not all that great, reasonable with with better fuel econ then a patriott

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > and 100 more
03/20/2015 at 15:14

The immediate suspect is your clutch throwout bearing, but it would be odd for it to be spinning when the clutch wasn't being pressed - unless the clutch is out of adjustment, which is very, very possible. There's one other possible, though:

Transmission input shaft bearing, maybe. Noise as such from an engine bearing is very rare. The only, only situation in which a trans input shaft bearing is *not* spinning is in-gear with the vehicle stationary and the clutch pressed - it can make noise or *more* noise when the clutch is pressed as long as the vehicle is still moving or there's pickup in the clutch.

One of these is a much cheaper fix than the other - the throwout bearing.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
03/20/2015 at 15:21

Was going to suggest the same thing.

Viggen > and 100 more
03/20/2015 at 15:27

Maybe it's time to get a new Jeep? (Hint hint get an XJ!)

V8Demon - Prefers Autos for drag racing. Fite me! > and 100 more
03/20/2015 at 17:29

KBB states private party value is around $7500 in good condition with 90k.....

and 100 more > V8Demon - Prefers Autos for drag racing. Fite me!
03/20/2015 at 17:45

Yeah, but mine has been beat on pretty bad. 106k miles, dings all over, interior pieces missing... Thanks for looking that up, though. Maybe I'm being overly-pessimistic.