Bought a cheap beater automatic to help heal leg pain

[IndyIan]

You might try getting the AC charged, mine is all original everything and has been short cycling for 6 years, but still works well enough.
Also some sand paper in 200 to 2000 grit got my head lights working pretty good at night! Just use water, so the sand paper doesn't clog.

 

[JoeDirt41]

I know all about cheap beaters and falling in love with them! Read my Cheap Accord thread.

I'll be following along on this one.

 

[Propflux01]

That bad vibes might very easily be coming from the harmonic balancer.

 

[Kurtatron]

I know all about cheap beaters and falling in love with them! Read my Cheap Accord thread.

I'll be following along on this one.

500+ miles so far. No issues. I’m still a little nervous about the transmission fluid never been changed in 150k and 20 years, but after a drain and fill, no troubles yet!

That bad vibes might very easily be coming from the harmonic balancer.

Eating motor mounts is apparently super common on these. I’ve replaced all 3 with cheap Amazon units. Vibrations mostly solved.

 

[Kurtatron]

I sold the Scion xD Monday. After trying for months to sort out leg pain issues with this clutch, I’ve given up.

I am scheduled for an MRI to see if the clutch caused an injury. Burning pain in my leg has been persisting for months now. Even though I loved that car, it was time to face reality. Health > car.

I flushed the beater Focus transmission fluid today. It was terrifying to me, since the fluid had never been changed in 150k and 20 years.

Would it start slipping after flushing 7 quarts of transmission fluid?

Nope! Used Valvoline MaxLife, since I’ve heard such good things about it. No slipping, sluggish shifts or noises.

Not bad for a $1800 beater without a single transmission flush! Hoping to get at least two years out of this beater.

 

[Owen Lucas]

I am scheduled for an MRI to see if the clutch caused an injury. Burning pain in my leg has been persisting for months now. Even though I loved that car, it was time to face reality. Health > car.

Look into prolotherapy before surgery. A specialist (PM&R or Ortho) can spin your blood into a platelet rich plasma (PRP) or even get stem cells from your body, grow and multiply the cells and finally inject them or the PRP into the affected joint or tendons.

It’s supposed to work very well to the point where some people don’t need joint replacements anymore as the injection can rebuild cartilage.

 

[GR_CoB]

I sold the Scion xD Monday. After trying for months to sort out leg pain issues with this clutch, I’ve given up.

I am scheduled for an MRI to see if the clutch caused an injury. Burning pain in my leg has been persisting for months now. Even though I loved that car, it was time to face reality. Health > car.

I flushed the beater Focus transmission fluid today. It was terrifying to me, since the fluid had never been changed in 150k and 20 years.

Would it start slipping after flushing 7 quarts of transmission fluid?

Nope! Used Valvoline MaxLife, since I’ve heard such good things about it. No slipping, sluggish shifts or noises.

Not bad for a $1800 beater without a single transmission flush! Hoping to get at least two years out of this beater.

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Be careful... I've been crowned the Ghetto Ride Champion of BITOG, due to my love for cheap beaters. If you keep this up - Imma have to go back on marketplace to buy more cheap beaters to defend my title!
Lol jk, great score. I've seen quite a few of these with high mileage, and hopefully this one follows that trait, cheaply and reliably. Enjoy!

 

[Kurtatron]

Be careful... I've been crowned the Ghetto Ride Champion of BITOG, due to my love for cheap beaters. If you keep this up - Imma have to go back on marketplace to buy more cheap beaters to defend my title!
Lol jk, great score. I've seen quite a few of these with high mileage, and hopefully this one follows that trait, cheaply and reliably. Enjoy!

Beater lovers unite!

(until a good beater deal shows up, )

 

[TomYoung]

Smash some sikaflex (polyurethane adhesive) in the mounts ?
Might wanna jack up the engine overnight while it hardens.

Come on. Rock Auto motor mounts start at $11.50 for this application.

 

[gman2304]

Beater lovers unite!

(until a good beater deal shows up, )

I hear ya bro! I bought this 2000 SE one owner wagon in April with 119,000 miles, currently at 125,000 miles! Averaging 28 to 32 mpg runs and idles smoothly even with the AC on so engine mounts seem to be OK. Hasn’t used any oil ( Valvoline Restore and Protect 5w30 ) and transmission fluid is nice and red looking. Took it on a 600 mile round trip back in May and it didn’t miss a beat. Front suspension is getting a bit noisy so It will get new ball joints in the next couple of weeks.

 

[Kurtatron]

I hear ya bro! I bought this 2000 SE one owner wagon in April with 119,000 miles, currently at 125,000 miles! Averaging 28 to 32 mpg runs and idles smoothly even with the AC on so engine mounts seem to be OK. Hasn’t used any oil ( Valvoline Restore and Protect 5w30 ) and transmission fluid is nice and red looking. Took it on a 600 mile round trip back in May and it didn’t miss a beat. Front suspension is getting a bit noisy so It will get new ball joints in the next couple of weeks.

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That’s a clean one, almost a little too clean for beater status looks great.

The AC in mine isn’t working. I hope it’s a simple fix. I already tried filling it. Didn’t work.

 

[Elkins45]

I’m sorry to hear you gave up on the Scion, but I hope your Ford serves you well. I sympathize with your knee pain issues because I have almost no cartridge left in my right knee and I had Osgood-Schlatter’s disease in both as a teen. When it flares up in my left knee I can’t stand to drive a manual.

 

[Fifth87]

@Kurtatron - any updates?

 

[meep]

I have a solid respect and affection for these - had one as a 1 week rental years ago. Great greenhouse, fun to drive if you weren’t trying to be aggressive, air blew cold, everything was laid out well - and cost nothing to fuel. Wagon variant gets full approval too!

 

[Kurtatron]

@Kurtatron - any updates?

Doctor told me I have a Labrum tear. Basically permanent cartilage damage.

Wish I had given up the Scion earlier. What a joke. Manual transmission destroyed my leg. Cartilage damage isn’t something that heals, so I’m likely to have this health issue the rest of my life or get surgery. PT didn’t work.

Never could have imagined stick shift could ruin my body so drastically.

Ford Focus has been problem free for last 7 months. Shoulda bought it sooner.

 

[Owen Lucas]

Doctor told me I have a Labrum tear. Basically permanent cartilage damage.

Wish I had given up the Scion earlier. What a joke. Manual transmission destroyed my leg. Cartilage damage isn’t something that heals, so I’m likely to have this health issue the rest of my life or get surgery. PT didn’t work.

Never could have imagined stick shift could ruin my body so drastically.

Ford Focus has been problem free for last 7 months. Shoulda bought it sooner.

Look into PRP / stem cell therapy.

It's supposed to work miracles. In some cases, it can even rebuild hip cartilage to the point where a hip replacement is no longer needed. It depends on how young you are and how well they can stimulate your stem cells to multiply them. It might be out of pocket but no more than $3k, worth a shot.


I Googled some doctors in Atlanta that might be helpful. This guy looks solid.

Emory Orthopaedics & Spine Center (Sports Medicine Division)

Physician: Dr. Ken Mautner

Specialization: Board-certified in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R) and Sports Medicine. He is one of the leading figures in the Southeast for non-operative orthopedics and biologic treatments.

Focus: Dr. Mautner has extensive experience with ultrasound-guided injections, including PRP and stem cell therapies, for a wide range of joint, tendon, and ligament injuries.

 

[Kurtatron]

Look into PRP / stem cell therapy.

It's supposed to work miracles. In some cases, it can even rebuild hip cartilage to the point where a hip replacement is no longer needed. It depends on how young you are and how well they can stimulate your stem cells to multiply them. It might be out of pocket but no more than $3k, worth a shot.


I Googled some doctors in Atlanta that might be helpful. This guy looks solid.

Emory Orthopaedics & Spine Center (Sports Medicine Division)

Physician: Dr. Ken Mautner

Specialization: Board-certified in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R) and Sports Medicine. He is one of the leading figures in the Southeast for non-operative orthopedics and biologic treatments.

Focus: Dr. Mautner has extensive experience with ultrasound-guided injections, including PRP and stem cell therapies, for a wide range of joint, tendon, and ligament injuries.

I’ll consider it - thanks.

I’m reluctant to resort to surgery. I’ve read so much about people having failed surgeries that don’t solve the pain, or just shift the pain somewhere else.

I’d rather try something that has lower risk, even if it carries less odds of success.

 

[Rmay635703]

My deer killer takes the beater title

 

[Owen Lucas]

I’ll consider it - thanks.

I’m reluctant to resort to surgery. I’ve read so much about people having failed surgeries that don’t solve the pain, or just shift the pain somewhere else.

I’d rather try something that has lower risk, even if it carries less odds of success.

Definitely get a free consult, this has the most potential. Good luck!

 

[sw99]

I know the feeling. Torn labrum in the hip, PRP shot last year seems to help a bit. Definitely worth looking into