1990 Cutlass Supreme V6 100K+
The steering column is bad and the garage to replace it was taking months to get the new steering column.
It had a brand new dash panel put in, so the odometer could've been fake. I don't remember the exact mileage but it was kinda odd for a 1990. Pa didn't wanna pursue validating it. He just wanted a way to get some Taco Bell sweet tea and check out the street ladies. Man has priorities.
I was joy riding when I shouldn't have been. TLDR that I won't pester ya with. And the steering column gave out. Dad said "a belt probably snapped". Did he mean the Serpentine? Any guess at if it was more than the steering column just going out?
Prob just that right? I had to throw my whole weight into the wheel to get it almost home. Them white smoke was billowing out. I finally gave in and pulled off Route 9. I was dumping water on the front driver's, it was coming from below the radiator, gooey burnt plastic. The officer wasn't willing to check it out and the story that's shareable here ends there.
Would it have been worth saving her? She was a beautiful car. Cutlass are ma's fave. One of mine but nothing will surpass Cobra and Stingray. Thanks for making me love 2013s because they're so important.
You're the best like no one ever was 🍦
You may wind up spending nearly as much money on sorting out that ancient thing than it would cost to buy something decent. For most people, using a falling apart 35-year-old car as a daily driver is not going to yield a good result.
@chucktobias I knew that was coming and you're 100% right. I just adored it though! I know I need to really search for an elderly couple with a pristine Cutlass if I really want one.
I don't have a huge say in it, dad will probably let it go 6 feet under.
Thank you big guy 🥞
As a weekend toy to do your own wrenching on something like that can be OK. If you use it daily and have to run to a mechanic for every little thing it will eat you out of house and home.
@chucktobias Mr. Tobias, sorry to bring this old post to the top, but I don’t see a message mod option. I was trying to edit my account, and I accidentally hit delete then panicked and hit okay without understanding what it was.
If there’s a submission to delete my account please reject it. I’m dumb as heck. Sorry to cause problems, I’m running on no sleep, need to get off here today if I know what’s good for me lol thank you
No problem, I don't think it's even possible to delete an account that way.
@chucktobias Thank you so much, I was freakin
Dad said "a belt probably snapped". Did he mean the Serpentine?
Yes. The only way that could happen is if you heard a snapping sound when you were driving the car.
Have you checked your power steering hoses on that ancient thing?
Any guess at if it was more than the steering column just going out?
The steering column doesn't just "go out". The column is attached to the steered wheels, and there is a fail-safe mechanism if your power steering fails, you still have old-fashioned mechanical steering, as you found out for yourself.
What almost always goes out is your power steering pump. Power steering is hydraulically boosted when the engine is running. Have you ever tried moving your car's steering wheel when the engine is off and the key is in accessory mode? It's VERY difficult to move, but you can move it.
Them white smoke was billowing out.
That means you more than likely blew a head gasket.
I was dumping water on the front driver's, it was coming from below the radiator, gooey burnt plastic.
When was the last time the cooling system was touched, if ever? You don't just take cars that are 35 years old out for joyrides without playing Russian Roulette if the car hasn't been maintained.
If I do those things, is it worth keeping as a fix up if it is the head gasket and etc?
Head gaskets are in the middle of an engine, and it pretty much takes a professional mechanic to replace. The the head itself could have warped, depending on how long you drove with that car overheating, which would require a machine shop to fix. If that's the case, you will just add to the cost. You really should have thought this through if you had any desire ahead of time to restore it.
Checking for a blown head gasket is in our FAQ. Here's the hyperlink: https://carkiller.com/scottykilmer/howto/overheat/
My dad babied it while driving but I'm a demon.
You should have never driven that car in its unknown condition with a lead foot.
Yeah the car was "brand new to us". Uncle picked it out and we bought it as a last resort. Whole thing was a cluster heck. But it was sexy, that's all that matters right? 💦 🤭
Nothing had been checked at all on it. Someone should've given me a medal. My dad babied it while driving but I'm a demon.
Cooling system wasn't touched. Garage wanted to do a lil of everything. Never tried accessory mode moving it.
If we get it back and dad doesn't trash it, I'll see what I can do. Thanks.
If I do those things, is it worth keeping as a fix up if it is the head gasket and etc?
Happy Morning to ya! 🥞