San Diego repairs? Mechanics ?? For Cancer patient

[Ogowner]

Hi everyone.
I am trying to help get a 300zx repaired for someone with cancer.
It's her only means of transport so ideally trying to find a trustworthy mechanic in San diego county who isn't too expensive.

The front bumper needs replacing. It would be he front bumper, and the drivers side lights that need replacing, or all light if needs be.

The convertible roof has gotten to a point here it is irreplaceable and needs replacing.

It needs to be smog checked, and apparantly needs a knock sensor (this could be bull2h1£)

Also needs a general tune up, replacing oils etc..
Feels like the fuel filter could be blocked, the car stutters in each gear, especially after driving it for a while.

Some of the wires where pulled out so some tinkering needs to be done to get the air con working.

If there's is anyone that could help, any feedback would be hugely welcome. Even if it is just for one of the jobs that needs doing.

Just trying to get the essentials done to make it legal and safe.

At a later date, getting the cosmetic things done in and out would be great but we are really on a very tight budget for now...

This is a 1994 black convertible 300zx.

[centralcoaster33]

This sounds like a neat project car. Is she emotionally attached to it? Wouldn't she be better off with some sort of affordable and reliable transportation? It seems to me that all of the repair work and the time to make those repairs, even at a steep discount, would afford someone to just buy a whole different used car and be done with it. I would guess that time and money are both issues for someone in cancer treatment and a beat Z doesn't seem like a good solution. I'm sorry I don't know the answer to your specific questions. If I was helping her out, I'd try to help her into a different vehicle. Either way, props to you and all who do help her.

[Ogowner]

She is attached yes.

She actually had got help from Susan b komen, who sent us to the Jewish family services, for various problems/issues.
The car being one.

They offered limited funding, in fact went above the usual amount to help and put the car as priority.

The money was to get the car legal to be smog checked etc..
I had asked to have the car serviced, filters cleaned out etc..
The mechanic used all the money to replace the drive shaft and do no other work.

Now the funds have gone and she is no better situation she was in before.

[centralcoaster33]

Wow, this saddens me. When I search your local craigslist, I find perfectly working cars, with current registration, good tires and working AC, many for under 2 grand. But she's too attached? This appears to be such a waste of resources during a very trying time. My folks had some help from SBK. I certainly wouldn't have stuck my dad with a project car in his last years. You just watch the money go out the window during that time and wait for the doctors to give you results that always come in months later when you needed to react in days or weeks.

How much did that drive shaft cost? If I worked for SBK I'd be pretty pissed that we just paid for a driveshaft for a sports car that still can't past smog, runs like crap and isn't street legal due to missing headlights. I have a feeling your in for more of that similar work on this car. Mechanics need to be paid for their time. Easily a few grand, just to get it barely working I think. That roof top and bumper and lights will be cosmetic, so that's pretty expensive. I suppose having time and transportation you can go search junk yards for affordable parts. Just to fix what you have here in your first email I'd say is like 4 grand, and that is having her do the wrench turning and part hunting as much as possible. Maybe you can help her get some quotes for the big picture and see where to go from there.

A knock sensor is a serious PITA for these cars. Mechanics charge at least $1000 and the dealership has it listed at $3000. Definitely make sure you have the code in the car before tackling the work. You can try to replace or relocate the sensor, or put in a resistor. http://twinturbo.net/nissan/300zx/forum ... ation.html
detonation-sensor-t341113.html

I apologize a bit. I want to help. I want to do my best with that. I don't have my dad anymore and it was recent enough to affect my thinking process with this. Honestly, I think the best help is to get her into a different car and sell this one to an enthusiast who doesn't need it for transportation.
https://sandiego.craigslist.org/ssd/cto/5757324934.html
https://sandiego.craigslist.org/esd/cto/5783159013.html