Questions and Answers

Ford Thunderbird Needs Some Fixing Q. Dear Mr. Ciulla, I need help. Granted, I've never fixed anything other than a radiator hose, and I probably won't be able to do more than that. What I need is your opinion. My son is driving a 1989 Ford Thunderbird. I was following him the other day because I noticed that his car was overheating, and green stuff was pouring out from somewhere that was not a hose on top.

It seemed to be coming from way down in front of the engine. As I was following him I found that his brake lights were working, then only one side would work, then neither side would work, then they would work again. Becoming alarmed, and calling my ex-husband, as the car is really his, I told him that I could not allow my son to drive the car.

My ex took the car to some guy who does mechanic work out of his garage. I asked my children if he is a mechanic, and of course he is, he has all the tools!! Ha ha. My kids are 19, and 22, what do you expect.

While this mechanic looked at the car, he kept it in the street. He did not drive it. He had my son turn the car off, and on, and pronounced that the car is only leaking a little. He felt that my son, David, should pour water into the overflow to ensure that the radiator stays full, and he should fill the overflow to the top, past the fill line.

Did I fail to say that when we took it for a test drive, two miles, side streets, and stopped, the car dumped about a gallon of green stuff? I won't say, as I am inclined that it was really two gallons, because granted, I wasn't scooping it up, and putting it into a milk jug.

Alright. The mechanic said, it can't hurt. Oh, and oddly enough he said the brake lights work consistently, though I, when test driving it again this morning, was stopped by a cop, and told that I have a brake light problem, thank God he didn't ticket me.

I called the mechanic, Tony yesterday, and I said, Tony, regardless of what my ex husband tells you, I am not entirely insane, and if I were, insanity is not catching. My son, and I both saw the car dump a large amount of green stuff. After hemming, and hawing, this man who did electrical work on the car in the recent past by the way, said, "Oh, it's the pump, it will cost $150.00 (Which I don't have to throw into my ex husbands automobile.), and it is not dangerous".

I said, "I recall my father saying stuff about cracked blocks, and burning up your engine." He said, "Only if he totally runs out of fluid, then runs the car too hard." Mr. Ciulla, no one will listen to me. I can not grab my 19 year old and force him to do anything. He insists on driving this car to work and back about 40 miles a day. He thinks I'm nuts. Am I nuts? Will you answer me as quickly as possible? I am at wits end.

Thank you,
Jane

A. Jane, you are wrong. Insanity is hereditary. You get it from your kids. And tools does not a mechanic make.

But seriously, you have done all you can do. You have to believe your eyes. The coolant is pouring out, and from the location you describe, it is coming from the water pump. And, by your own eyes, the brake lights do have a problem. If your son still insists on driving the car the way it is, make sure he has a good pair of walking shoes, give him a quarter and the phone number of a towing company.

Then tell him you are done with the car and have him take care of it with your ex and his "mechanic". And be adament. Most often the only way a teenager learns anything is by having to make his own mistakes. When I was 18, I couldn't believe how stupid my parents were. When I was 21, I couldn't believe how much they learned in three years.