Heater core went out at 230,000 or so; 2nd time has had to be replaced from what previous owner said.
Front left tire has been suddenly going flat; have to put air in tire every day.
Interior is starting to show wear; dash panels are separating, etc.
Transmission now shifts through gears roughly, but not so much it hinders driving.
Once I get the car up to 75 MPH+, it rattles horribly. Any suggestions to fix this?
Idles roughly and sometimes seems like it is going to die at idle.
Back right speaker has some problem where it crackles when I turn things on in the car, at start, when accelerating, etc.
Radiator has small leak in it, wasn't a big problem until now; now the car is starting to overheat after a month with the problem, luckily, it doesn't get any farther up the gauge then a little above halfway, but it used to sit at the 1/4 line. And, the low coolant light comes on all the time, and I have to keep a gallon of water with me to make sure and fill up the coolant tank, which I have to do every time I drive the car. Any suggestions?
I got the car from a friend at work that took very good care of it, unfortunately, I don't know that much about cars and I can't afford to take it into a mechanic, so I do what little I can, but with this many miles on the car, I am glad it is running at all.
It still gets 20-22 MPG depending on whether I am driving around town or on the freeway.
The interior IS uncomfortable (and cramped!), but not so bad that I couldn't drive it for a long period of time. And no cup holders make for a troublesome adventure with drinks!
The appeal for me in this car is that still it is my 2nd car and is miles ahead of my last car which I have finally sold. And I still get an exhilarating feel when I gun the engine on the freeway and the 3.1L V6 takes off.
Overall, I am glad that the car is running and it is still a good little car, especially when compared to my last car; a 77 Grand Prix with a LOT of problems.
First off, a 2 door is called a "coupe" and sedan means 4 doors.
Your tire could have either gotten misaligned with the wheel, or simply need replacement.
Have you ever had your transmission flushed? Old fluid can gum up over time, making shifting rougher, and shortening the life of your tranny.
Your rattling could be an alignment issue, or possibly a number of suspension components. If you align it, and it drives fine for a bit then starts rattling again soon, it's definitely the suspension, and is a costly replacement, but will help extend tire life, and reduce or eliminate rattling.
The idle problem is likely carbon (or other foreign material) deposits built up throughout your fuel system. Get a thorough flush done by a mechanic (not a simple gas tank additive, but a throgough flushing, cleaning your intake, throttle-body, combustion chambers, everything). Also check into replacing the fuel filter to help your fuel system stay clean. That will restore fuel flow, and keep the engine running smoother, lasting longer, as well as boosting your gas mileage. You should be able to get close to 30 mpg in that car.
As for your cooling system... You keep water with you? Do you mix it 50/50 with coolant/antifreeze? Water alone will make the coolant mix too lean, and reduce cooling efficiency. Your best bet would be to have the leak patched up and get your cooling system flushed.
Drop a grand on your car, and it should be running good as new, and last you as long as you want it to.
Also... Change the oil every 3k miles, using a high mileage oil, like Valvoline Maxlife or equivalent. That will expand seals in the engine, lubricate it better, and clean it better. And if you do it yourself, make sure you get a good oil filter, too. The cheap ones (cough cough FRAM cough) don't filter as well, and will allow more harmful crud to flow through your engine.
1000 bucks or so to keep your car in tip top shape is a lot cheaper than buying another one. And after that investment, it'll run a lot better, and a lot longer, than any other car in the 1000 dollar price range.
About the leaky radiator, Mythbusters showed that you can stop a radiator leak with an egg. I do not know the long term effects of putting an egg in your radiator, however.
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