I just got home after quite an ordeal. I live in SW suburbs. I drove to the Lincoln Square area tonight to go to dinner with a friend. There were no signs of trouble with my car at all, everything seemed fine. We drove to dinner, ate and I dropped her off. I was headed home down Montrose and like *that* the trans gave out and the check engine light came on- this was not pretty like a HEAVY grinding noise. I was able to get a friend to pick me up and we pushed the car down the street to a legal parking spot. So right now the car is at Montrose and Clark. This is a 2003 Corolla

Since I am obviously not familiar with north side transmission shops, is there a place someone could recommend that I could have it towed to? I'm pretty salty because I just had the car in my normal shop for some other work only about a month ago. I've put quite a bit into the car lately- emissions repair, new battery, etc. so even if the trans cost me upward of 1000 at least i know i have a solid car as opposed to getting new used car, I can't really handle a new car payment, this one is paid for

That really sucks Bagels. Good luck with your situation. I know you are pretty
dependent on your wheels to get to work and everything so hopefully it isn't
anything extremely costly. Just got my truck paid off so I know what you mean.
Seems like when you get to that point, you kind of expect things to start happening.

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Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

it wouldn't be the timing belt would it?

That would stop the car suddenly if it snapped, I think. Hope it is that, those are relatively inexpensive.

I almost started a CSFMBer in trouble ALERT thread but Bagels friend came thru

Of course, if it's an "interference engine" you can smash all your valves when the belt snaps.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

No personal experience but Maggio Auto gets great reviews on yelp

Neighborhoods: Lincoln Square, Ravenswood
4534 N Damen Ave
(between Sunnyside Ave & Wilson Ave)
Chicago, IL 60625

(773) 732-5393

Andy is the mechanic mentioned.

The timing belt itself is like a $20 part. The labor to take the engine out, replace that belt, and put the engine back in could be $1000.

I do not know of any shops up there. Usually we just take our company vans to Pep Boys because they are generally the cheapest out there.

Oh, you probably need a new Johnson Rod too.

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Ok, I must be thinking of a different belt. Mine was like 80$ total.

Serpentine Belt too - grinding noise is not a symptom however.

I had a timing belt about 3 summers ago on my car-- $900

My outside salesman had the timing belt go on his car just before Christmas-- $1100

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Mine was the serpentine belt then I think

serpentine belt is cheap...timing belt is not.

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@audioidkid

This is not in the immediate area, but they do good work for a reasonable cost. They are ~20 minutes away. Ask for Jerry.

Grand Service Center‎ -
5900 West Grand Avenue, Chicago, IL‎ - (773) 889-5858

Update:

I completely lucked out. This has gone as well as it possibly could have. It was a broken axle. So 200$ as opposed to upward of 1000$

The guy Hawkeye suggested - Andy- referred me to a nearby trans place - a guy named Mike. Probably the nicest guy I have ever talked to at a auto repair place. Just really nice. Now I got the car repaired today, it's ready now and to top if off I got a rental car this morning near my house to get to work and booked it until next week in case I was without a car for awhile but (it's Enterprise, and they picked me up) there is a location only 2 miles from the shop and they said I could return the car to another location and I only pay for the days I used it...so everything is going to work out

Thanks again to all of you for your help.....I got some PM's from some people offering help that kind of came out of nowhere to me- people I didn't at all expect to reach out. I thank each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart you are all too kind to me

the Power of the CSFMB!

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@audioidkid

glad to hear it worked out bagels.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

now i can actually enjoy your show tomorrow without worrying about something!!!!

woo hoo! i'll be worrying about Spaulding's tits and Mac's nuts...while thinking of good dolphin getting a backrub from Beardown.

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@audioidkid

Don't we all?

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Second City Saint

Agent: Alright. We have a blue Ford Escort for you Mr. Seinfeld. Would you
like insurance?

Jerry: Yeah, you better give me the insurance, because I am gonna beat the hell
out of this car.

Glad to hear it worked out Bagels. You really are The Fonz, aren't you?

I've had a ton of car repairs myself lately. $1200 on one vehicle and $470 on the other.

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-"God is great. Beer is good. And People are crazy!"

i'd like to not have to go to an mechanic for at least 6 months...instead of 3 times in 7 weeks.

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@audioidkid

Glad it all worked out Bagels.

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You never miss your wealth, till your well went dry
Seem like only yesterday, you were here smiling
Now you gone away, but I know you in a better place
No traces of you, what can I do?
Alone and confused

I'm hoping to get away with a $10 repair. My check engine light was on, so naturally I failed the emissions test. Both codes that show up say to replace the gas cap, have the computer reset and retest in a week. I'm crossing my fingers here people.

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Second City Saint

Bagels often misses threads (cuz he has a life unlike yours truly)

I can only imagine his reaction, to being called the Fonz out of the blue

THIS is just disturbing. Beardown whispering his sweet conspiracies into GD's ear... I don't want to know where this leads.

wait what?

yeah i've been really busy at work lately and then this ...so i haven't been able to keep up with things here as much as i'd like to

Just had the 99 Convertible on engine #2 with 170,000 on it looked at for a "KNOCK"... learned something about a CONNECTING ROD.....Car is toast....one more week at best..hope it makes it to the dealer....
Great mechanic on Ashland-Roscoe...
Andy...Reliable Auto.

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There goes one over the fence..Tru Link Fence..Beauty, Privacy Security....Call Tru Link.
Murph's Union 76 Truck Stop....A great Thanksgiving Tradition!!!!

WOO LIFE!!!!

Hi Bagels,
Sorry to read about anything costing you money! May I ask how many miles on your Corolla? Toyota's are not supposed to break down! I have owned 4 Fords in my life and the only true breakdown was in my driveway once. I was considering a Corolla maybe next spring (if I still have a job) to replace my son's 2000 Taurus.

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

I've driven 2 Corolla's now and loved them...yes this latest incident was unfortunate but it has 140,000 miles on it and I have never had any issues aside from routine maintenance before now. And obviously I was very concerned initially but even though it caused me quite a bit of headache since i was far from home and it left me stranded, it still was not what I would say was a catastrophic failure at all. It's a good car.