I just got the news from my mechanic that it will cost me at least $3,000 all together to fix my Blazer. I need all new pads and rotors, rear backing plates, rear calipers, new battery, new air pump with retrofit kit, and new front tire. That is all for inspection in January and to drive it on the road right now. I also need a tune up as I am getting cylander misfires. I also have leaks where the transfer case meets the tranny, oil leaks along several oil lines, and cv shafts or something like that are leaking too!

 

Well, the pads, rotors, battery are all things you can do yourself to save money. The tire, unless it has to match, check CL and you can get one fairly cheap so you can pass.

Basically, only thing he would need to do for you is possibly the air pump and retrofit kit. (what air pump? never heard of such a thing, unless it's the air conditioning compressor, in which case you could probably do most of that yourself and just have him do the recharge)

Also, the tune up is something you could do yourself too, etc. Basically what I'm saying is you can drop that price down to nearly 1,000 or so by doing as much of the work as possible yourself.

 

The air pump is the secondary air injector that was put on the 1999-2001 Blazers and Jimmys that seems useless to me. The big problem is is that I have no mechanical know how so I cannot do any of the work myself.

 

Do you know anybody who does have some knowledge? Now's a good time to learn.

Or, you could always try the local high school or community college. If they have an automotive program, they will usually give you a greatly discounted rate over a regular mechanic for repairs like you're in need of. Basically, you pay parts, and a little cash and your car gets fixed. Now, true, these are kids not certified mechanics working on your car, but usually the teacher has his certification and is watching the kids fairly closely.

I had my rear brakes, wheel cylinders and backing plates replaced at the auto shop of my high school way back when, and had no issues with it. Best part is it only cost me like 75 bucks! 50 or so was parts, so that's a good rate.

 

Thats not a bad price at all...but I need this done professionally...the Blazer has had too many unqualified people touching it. I will just have to do it in chunks

 

Your choice, it's not like you have the special ed kids working on it in the auto class though, haha. Everything is still supervised and checked over by the teacher before the car is released to you.

Battery is absolutely something you can do yourself at least. That's simple. Tire you can find on CL to pass your inspection too. Or find one at a junkyard with a rim from a Blazer and a good tire, and you are all set there for cheap.