Our car has lousy timing! What would you do?

[Dee]

We just filed our Ch 7 last week. Now one of our cars needs a $1,500 repair, which we don't have the money for. It still runs, but will require new antifreeze almost every day, the heater can't be turned on and no one can sit in the passenger seat because the floorboard is filled with leaking antifreeze, not to mention the potential health effects from breathing antifreeze fumes. I'm hoping it won't clunk-out completely between now and the time we are discharged, but I'm not exactly optimistic, either.

So, I'm assuming we can't sell the car (no lien) and pay cash for another vehicle before our discharge, right? And I also assume we can't borrow the money from our parents to get it fixed before discharge, either, right? Any suggestions?

[keepinitreal]

Car repairs are an understandable expense. You've already filed, so any debts after filing are yours to keep. If it were me, I would accept the money from my parents and get my car running safely again.

[msm859]

try adding "stop leak" to your car. it might just stop the leak.

[NYHusband]

Do not add stop leak... your heater core blew. If you want an inexpensive repair, talk to some independent repair shops and ask if they'd be willing to "bypass" the heater core temporarily. You will not have heat, but the cooling system will be intact and everything will function just fine.

[SunshineGal]

Dee,

How did you value your vehicle, and what did you claim for exemptions? Unless you are certain there isn't any equity above the exempt amount, I wouldn't put a dime into the car until the trustee signs off it.

[tcreegan]

Hi Dee, when you said the car had lousy timing, I thought the timing belt had gone out.....

Technically the car is part of the BK estate and you would want the permission of the trustee to sell it and get another. Getting a loan from family during a BK is kinda a no-no, soooo....how about this, you take the car in and get the repairs and your folks pay the bill. After the discharge you can pay them back.

Sorry about the car problem, as Captn Murphy said; if something is going to go wrong, it will happen at the worst possible moment..

Tom in Colo

here is some random knowledge: there was a real Murphy, he was stationed at Holloman AFB, just over the mountain from where I grew up. He was in charge of the high speed test track

[tay666]

Do not add stop leak... your heater core blew. If you want an inexpensive repair, talk to some independent repair shops and ask if they'd be willing to "bypass" the heater core temporarily. You will not have heat, but the cooling system will be intact and everything will function just fine.

Exactly what I was going to say.
If you have and skills at auto repairs, it can be done without even going to a repair shop.
But if not, it should be fairly cheap to have a bypass done at a garage.
Depending on temperatures in your area, it could be a reasonable stop-gap measure.

[Exployer1234]

You can also use the heat off the engine. I had a heater core blow in one car and we bypassed the heater core. I have no idea how we used the air intake from the engine, but it worked well.

The heater core should not be that expensive to fix.

[AngelinaCatHub]

Depending on the car, it could be a dashboard removal. But, the bypass works and can be done with two hose clamps and a piece of garden hose. Leave the radiator cap loose, on but not tight, and make sure it has cheap anti freeze depending on the current weather. Here in FL it will be 35 tomorrow. Like 40 below to me. 'Hub

[Dee]

how about this, you take the car in and get the repairs and your folks pay the bill. After the discharge you can pay them back.

I had the same thought run through my head this morning on my way to work. Quickly followed by the thought of "well, DUH".

Depending on the car, it could be a dashboard removal. But, the bypass works and can be done with two hose clamps and a piece of garden hose. Leave the radiator cap loose, on but not tight, and make sure it has cheap anti freeze depending on the current weather. Here in FL it will be 35 tomorrow. Like 40 below to me. 'Hub

You're right - it is a dashboard removal (Jeep Grand Cherokee). They told us the actual fix is easy, but getting to it is a real pain in the you-know-what. I think I will have hubby call around to some mechanic shops and see how much a bypass would cost.

And you're absolutely right, Hub - I walked out of the house this morning and thought I was going to freeze to death! Anything below 75 is just too darn cold for me.

[tobee43]

Car repairs are an understandable expense. You've already filed, so any debts after filing are yours to keep. If it were me, I would accept the money from my parents and get my car running safely again.

i really agree with dee....you need to have a reliable car and as keepinit says..it's an understandable expense!

[tcreegan]

Anything below 75 is just too darn cold for me The college guys around here will still be wearing shorts until the daytime high temp is below freezing...

Tom in Colo