Should I fix it or sell/trade it in for another car?, head gasket leak & transmission bearing broke Options

[JediFonger]

hi ya'll,

first all. i use my 1999 Celica GT as transportation and that's pretty much it. i don't invest any mod $ into it. it's standard everything except the alarm.

got some bad news at the latest oil change: head gasket leak is causing my exhaust manifold/pipes to burn some oil and causing huge billows of smoke during engine start. it's the worst at COLD start, but more minor after that. my mechanic says to keep driving it and not waste $ to fix it. my friend says that if i'm not careful, the leak will worsen and if i don't watch the oil level and there isn't enough the piston might burn a hold through the engine or somn. mechanic says estimated part&labor is $1,000

5speed stick transmission has ball bearing trouble. the labor & parts is somn like $1,000

so it could be around $2,000+ or i can trade it in and get new car.

i bought this one in 2005 @$12,000. it's only been 5 years and @$2,400a year. i feel like i want to get my money's worth and i want to keep driving it. i'm thinking about fixing it and just continue to drive it. is this wise or is it time to trade up and get a new vehicle?

the head gasket leak is a concern of mine. i don't want to forget to add oil in and allow the leak to burn a hole in the engine.

will having ball bearing noise problems inside of the transmission be OK or should i fix it lest it cause any other issues?

either way these 2 are fairly labor-intensive tasks. what do you guys think i should do? i do like 6G and i luv driving it... but even if i fix this and it becomes a money dump... i'd rather get a new vehicle. when the head gasket is changed out, do i have to change ALL the head gasket or just the one that's causing issues?

re: ball bearing, can i change all of it?

[Remy]

hi ya'll,

first all. i use my 1999 Celica GT as transportation and that's pretty much it. i don't invest any mod $ into it. it's standard everything except the alarm.

got some bad news at the latest oil change: head gasket leak is causing my exhaust manifold/pipes to burn some oil and causing huge billows of smoke during engine start. it's the worst at COLD start, but more minor after that. my mechanic says to keep driving it and not waste $ to fix it. my friend says that if i'm not careful, the leak will worsen and if i don't watch the oil level and there isn't enough the piston might burn a hold through the engine or somn. mechanic says estimated part&labor is $1,000
Does it burn oil as you drive or only at start up ?? If your head gasket it leaking you would want to get that fixed asap and its rare to have only oil leak with a leaking head gasket normally you would be losing coolant too so just make sure its the head gasket thats leaking and not the valve cover gasket.

5speed stick transmission has ball bearing trouble. the labor & parts is somn like $1,000
Thats too much for a clutch replacement I would call around and see if you can find a better deal.

so it could be around $2,000+ or i can trade it in and get new car.

i bought this one in 2005 @$12,000. it's only been 5 years and @$2,400a year. i feel like i want to get my money's worth and i want to keep driving it. i'm thinking about fixing it and just continue to drive it. is this wise or is it time to trade up and get a new vehicle?
Its up to you but a head gasket and clutch replacement its not that hard to do.

the head gasket leak is a concern of mine. i don't want to forget to add oil in and allow the leak to burn a hole in the engine.
I don't think it'll burn a hole in your engine if its leaking might throw a rod but just make sure to keep your eye on the oil level if its that bad.

will having ball bearing noise problems inside of the transmission be OK or should i fix it lest it cause any other issues?
If you buy a clutch kit it will come with a new throw out bearing if you just DD the car just get a exedy oem clutch kit you would want to replace the clutch while changing the bearing.

either way these 2 are fairly labor-intensive tasks. what do you guys think i should do? i do like 6G and i luv driving it... but even if i fix this and it becomes a money dump... i'd rather get a new vehicle. when the head gasket is changed out, do i have to change ALL the head gasket or just the one that's causing issues?
You would have to replace all the gaskets you removed just buy a 5sfe head gasket kit it would come with all the necessary gaskets needed u can find them on ebay/auto stores.
re: ball bearing, can i change all of it?
....?

[trdproven]

if thats parts and labor its sounds pretty cheap to me. thats hard work.

[JediFonger]

er, forgot to add that i am NOT mechanically inclined at all. iz why i have mechanics to fix it for me =P.

and the burn only happens at startups, not during.

[DGAF]

I hope you find it in your heart to fix the vehicle. It is a great car, but then again i think your mechanic would have the last word since he is the only one that has diagnosed this engine first hand and he knows how many more problems you may have to fix in the future.

I wish you the best of luck!

[JediFonger]

i know DGAF. i luv it =). luv driving it, etc. other than these mechanical problems, there are also paint issues roof surface and the rear wing surface. that and sealant around the doors are loose (no water leakage though). those aren't 'fix it right now' issues, but they do devalue the vehicle visually.

next step is i plan to get a 2nd opinion. maybe 3rd from other mechanics/auto-inclined peepz.

[DGAF]

Yeah, it's a way to start. Best wishes man...

[Remy]

er, forgot to add that i am NOT mechanically inclined at all. iz why i have mechanics to fix it for me =P.

and the burn only happens at startups, not during.

If you go to those celica meets you will make friends that know how to fix cars and they can help you out. If it only burns at start-up then its your valve seals that are leaking into the chamber normal on these 5sfe at hight miles mines burns at start up too but its been fine for all the years I've owned it I didn't fix it because I plan on upgrading the motor lol.

[JediFonger]

hehehe, i hate being a bum =P. and i can never learn enough to fix me own car cause i'd break it first before i fix anything. it's funny, gimme a computer and i can fix it but gimme a car &i'm clueless. i think if i tried fixing somn, it would end up becoming a michael bay movie.

but yesh, it actually wasn't the gasket thing it is the valve seal, see i didn't even remember how to describe it =P