What's wrong with my car? What should it cost to fix?

[Bertha Venation]

My '95 Tercel limps. It's most noticeable at very low speeds, like when slowing down and braking.

I think it's because the wheels are out of alignment or need to be balanced, or both. Is that right?

What's it reasonably cost to have those things done?

Thanks!

[GOPisEvil]

1. I'm leaning towards balancing.

But an alignment could be the cause too.

Check at www.ntb.com for prices, assuming they have one in your area. :-)

[Bertha Venation]

2. i didn't see a spot for prices,

but I did fill out an appointment request. I'll ask when they call. Thanks, GOP!

[GOPisEvil]

3. No problem!

NTB always does a good job for me.

[Bertha Venation]

6. That's good to know. The only other places

I could think of out here are Pep Boys & Merchant Tire, and both suck. I miss my mechanic back home.

[GOPisEvil]

7. They install tires and batteries in an hour, too.

Or, they're supposed to anyway.

I've gotta get shocks soon - I'll hit NTB for that too.

[Az_lefty]

4. not alignment, balance or tread seperation.....

take it to a tire dealer and get an estimate......

[Bertha Venation]

5. "not alignment, balance or tread seperation....."

I don't follow. It's not alignment -- it IS balance or tread sep?

Sorry, I just got out of a totally useless software class and my brain is fried . . . .

[Xithras]

8. "limps"?

How does a car limp? :shrug:

[Bertha Venation]

11. not sure how else to describe it . . .

It feels as if I'm running over a small speed bump, only on one side of the car, every five feet. Does that help at all? :shrug:

[Demonaut]

9. rotate your tires

see if that solves the problem

[kmla]

10. Does it do it only when you are braking?

If so, it could be warped disc rotors. This happens after awhile when disc brake rotors get hot. When you go in for service, you might mention that as well (if in fact, it does do it when you apply the brakes).

Other than that, it sounds like you possibly need your tires balanced and rotated....

[Bertha Venation]

12. nope, not just braking

I can tell it does it at high speeds, too, but then it only feels like a slight vibration in the steering wheel.

[kmla]

13. THAT sounds like a tire-balance issue...

That is my first suspicion, from how you describe it.

Hey, BV - Let us armchair mechanics know when you find out....

;-)

[Bertha Venation]

14. Thanks.

Will do!

Oh -- what should this cost?

[kmla]

15. If it's just a balance and rotation -

Should be less than $40 or so. Not too terribly expensive...