Need quite a few repairs on my car.

[FaTZAch420]

I have a 1990 Eclipse GS-T that I bought off a friend for $500. It needs a ball-joint on the driver's side and when I pulled the old one out to look at it, it looks like the driver's side axle is torn from the transmission, would I need a new axle, or is there a possibility that I need a new transmission? I got a new ball joint and installed it to the best of my abilities and was able to mount the axle back somewhat, so the wheels turned in unison, but whenever I take it all back apart, the axle falls back out...It's only affixed to the driver's side suspension and not the transmission. It looks like it's broke on the axle, but I'm not too sure. If I got a new one, should it bolt right up to the transmission? I really don't know a lot about cars or the vocabulary associated with them, so correct me if I'm wrong. It has been sitting for almost a year in the elements...I connected a battery to the car and was able to get all the electronics inside to turn on when I turned the key and I got nothing from the engine...Is the starter bad, or could this be a more serious problem? Also, since the car is sitting and after my repairs are done, what should I do or consider to get the car back in good running order? I'm thinking I should take it to a shop and have them work on it, but I would like to know what I should have them look at first, so I don't get stiffed with a massive diagnostics bill (which happened with me on my El Camino)...I live in the High Desert of California...I know I have to get a tow to a shop and I looked at the shops listed in the Socal section and they are over an hour away. Does anyone know of anything in San Bernardino county? Any help with my problems would be much appreciated...I'm sorry if it sounds confusing...I'm confused myself. Thanks.

 

[diggerzmound]

First thing first, if you are going to take it to a shop, have them run a no-start diagnostic test. Figure out first why it will not crank over. Don't even mention the ball joint or other things until you figure out why it will not crank. There is the chance that it died and the previous owner cranked until the starter burnt up.

 

[BUCK]

There's a good VFAQ on all this & LOTS of Threads - You could drop $4K on this thing in a HEARTBEAT ~! - You need money & a DSM guru - Sorry, but if you struggled grasping an El Camino you have like NO PRAYER with a DSM.

 

[FaTZAch420]

There's a good VFAQ on all this & LOTS of Threads - You could drop $4K on this thing in a HEARTBEAT ~! - You need money & a DSM guru - Sorry, but if you struggled grasping an El Camino you have like NO PRAYER with a DSM.

The El Camino is simple stuff...I open the hood on that and there's a lot of space to work. I open the hood of the Eclipse and it's more like "wtf". I have no experience with Japanese or later model cars, but I've never had an issue grasping things as long as I have time. I had my uncle look at the car today and he said it should cost about $400 to do it, pending that I do the work or about $1500 if I have a shop do it all. He's gonna run a compression check to make sure it's worth moving forward with, or just to part it out and recoup what I can. I'm gonna move the car to his house if everything comes up alright and then we're gonna hustle and get it running within the month...I'll post some pics when it's all done.