That's probably what I will do, try to find something cheap, or just drive around here and not go anywhere on the highway. See, the thing is this exhaust leak is not loud. I think it's back near the mufflers, and the dealership is just seeing "female" and thinking...well, never mind what they're thiking. Really, I mean, this is the same dealership that I had to literally SHOW that that they did NOT have to take out the front seat to get to that wood panel under the front carpet.
These are the cars only issues, and I know the timing belt is serious. I don't know how risky it is driving on it well past when it should have been changed. The guy who had it before me changed it early when he was in there for some other reason, at around 80,0000, so I have 40,000 on this one.
But as far as me studying up and doing it myself or trying to supervise it to know I'm not getting ripped off. No way. I just need to find a mechanic I can trust. When I first got this car five years ago, I lived, ate, and breathed this forum trying to learn everything I could, and for a woman, I do know a lot about this car. I've prevented repair people from making mistakes by what I've learned here, and I'm grateful for this resource.
But as far as anything serious, the language is way over my head, and I learned the hard way that any time I came on here and asked a "girl" question (although I've seen guys ask some pretty dumb ones) that people either would not or could not explain it in words that I could understand. For example, if someone tells me a solenoid is a problem, I have to go research and spend two days finding out what a solenoid is. Multiply that by all the parts of a Z, and you've got a woman going gray who isn't quite ready to go there yet. :-) Twenty years ago, I could have probably had half the guys on this forum over at the house on Saturday working on my car while I bought them beer, bur unfortunately, Maybelline (my Z) and I both have a few miles on us now.
Some people reading this might know this car. I bought her from Shawn ...can't remember his last name up near DC through the classifieds here.
Thank you for helping me think this through and getting serious about a game plan. I don't think I can let her go, and seriously, as much as it hurts to say it, the vet bills are going to end before too long. . . he's already been alive two years longer than his prognosis. Old dog, old woman, old car. We're just a regular nursing home here!! LOL
Vicki
