I noticed that it was extra dirty at the coolant tank and cleaned it. Can't figure out how/why this would crack like this...



I need to get the the yard again and get one. This bugs me.

Happens...

Was this a NY car when you were there?

well its 9 year old plastic for one thing. happens to the best of us.

It was a Michigan car, I bought in '97 w/31,000 on it. I left in late '99. See what only 4 years in Michigan will do to a car?

Here'* the other damage:



Ain't pretty.

No that rust ain't pretty...but those palm trees in the background sure are.

They used to use sand on the roads here in Iowa and the cars held up great. About 15 years ago they started with the calcium chloride and now our cars are starting to do the same. Its disgusting. But still not as bad as Michigan. They have a vested interest in short-lived cars there.

That cracked reservoir....something left on the lid when the hood was closed?

It'* true of course. When I lived there, they would be laying down the "salt" as soon as there was a mere skim of snow on the road. In short time, everything gets a crust of white on it. The car washes are packed in the winter and slow in the summer, everyone'* trying to get that stuff off.

I am trying to figure it also. My wife took it to get the trans fluid replaced a few weeks ago and this appeared about that time, though there'* no real evidence the shop was responsible.

It'* really not the worst thing I have to deal with, just a minor annoyance.

I think the bigger problem will be finding a place that will let me get a bumper support without paying for the whole bumper. Obviously yards are the first place to look, but I noticed that the '95 I saw in the yard the other day has a different support beam than the '97, so I'll have to keep looking for now.

what does the undercarriage look like?

Not really that bad. Mostly surface rust only. I really need to find the time to get it up on jacks and thoroughly inspect the hidden areas and places where salt could have set in and been missed by the multiple undercarriage washes it got during winters in MI.