HELP! Car problems AGAIN!

[daffodil]

I have the 94 dodge spirit. Noticed a squeaking noise about a week ago. Thought it was maybe a stone stuck in the tire someplace as I drove over the graveled blacktop just before I heard it. Kept hearing it and then noticed it felt like the brakes were grabbing when I wasn't stepping on them. Figured I'd ignore it and it would go away:). Yesterday I was driving and all of a sudden the rear tire (felt like that anyway) locked up but the other 3 kept going. I was screeching down the road. Then it let go. Then on and off it got real loud and sounded like the tire was just going to fall off. When I got home I could smell a bit of a burnt smell (rubber??) Can I drive it like this??? I need to get to the store TODAY and it's so windy I don't think I can get anyone around to look at it. What could be wrong this time and how much is this going to cost me?

[Prairie]

Call a tow truck to haul the car to a garage to get the bearing changed in the rear tire. Hopefully, you didn't damage the spindle by driving it with a dry bearing. If you do drive it again, be prepared for when the rear tire breaks off, destroying the car and sending you into the ditch. When in the garage, they might as well check all the bearings, brakes, suspension, steering, and CV joints as well.

Edit: This is my non-professional opinion. It could be the brakes. When it gets to the mechanic (or if you have a mechanically inclined friend) have them check the brakes first as that is a cheaper and easier fix.

[backlash]

If you drive it it will cost a lot more to fix.
Not counting the damage when you crash.
But maybe all that will happen is it catches fire and burns up.
DON'T DRIVE IT!!!

[Oblio13]

When something starts to go wrong with a car, it will get worse, not better. They don't heal themselves. So as a general rule, when you hear an odd noise, stop and don't drive again until you know what it is. Like Prairie and Backlash said, continuing to drive will just make things worse and more expensive in the long run.

[daffodil]

Call a tow truck to haul the car to a garage to get the bearing changed in the rear tire. Hopefully, you didn't damage the spindle by driving it with a dry bearing. If you do drive it again, be prepared for when the rear tire breaks off, destroying the car and sending you into the ditch. When in the garage, they might as well check all the bearings, brakes, suspension, steering, and CV joints as well.

Edit: This is my non-professional opinion. It could be the brakes. When it gets to the mechanic (or if you have a mechanically inclined friend) have them check the brakes first as that is a cheaper and easier fix.

I searched the bearing thing and it said if I could move the wheel back and forth it was probably the bearings. Was going to jack it up but just pushed the wheel at the top. Feels like it is going to fall off. Won't be driving it. This is a never ending cycle. No money, car runs, get money, car breaks down. I'm getting sick of it. Maybe I should get full coverage and crash the thing or just blow it up. I'm sick of spending every penny I have on a stupid hunk of metal that never runs. Just mailed the insurance off today. Nothing like wasting money when you have none. The roof should be caving in soon. The USDA is willing to help if I have a job and credit. DUH! Wouldn't need the help if I had a job and credit idiots!!!! Much better if I'm homeless, much safer that way. At least we don't have to worry about the methane gas killing us or the roof trapping us. Thought maybe I'd get hit with a branch in the wind storm while I was hanging my clothes to dry, but no such luck. They'll be foreclosing on this place in the spring anyway so oh well. The lots are paid for. I guess I'll live in a tent. And the lawyers will probably find this post and use it against me in court. Oh well. Done venting for now. Thanks for listening!

[Prairie]

I haven't had a Spirit for years, but it was one of the better vehicles I had. I can't remember how the rear end worked. Call a mechanic and see if you can get just the spindle and bearing, without the whole axle, and see what it would cost to get it fixed. The parts may be pricey, but the labor shouldn't be more than an hour and a half. You might even be able to get parts from a wrecker.

[MooseToo]

if the wheel feels "like it's going to fall off" while it's sitting on the ground, it sounds like you might have missing or loose lugnuts in addition to/instead of bearing problems -

[cinok]

jack it up check the lug nuts but sounds like its the bearing and the spindle from what you described. its an easy fix

[daffodil]

The neighbor across the street is going to fix it tomorrow. He said it sounds like bearings. Auto parts store said $37 for the part. Not sure what the neighbor will charge. Usually it's a case of beer. Let's hope that's all it is! Thanks for telling me not to drive it. I wouldn't have checked that tire if you hadn't mention the bearings. That's how I knew it was loose. I would have attempted to drive it had I not rocked that tire!

[CarolAnn]

Daffodil - I feel your pain, as I've lived like you're living now. It WILL get better, believe it. Sometimes you feel like "OK, why do I have to have every life lesson pounded into me? Why can't SOME of it be easy?!" All I can say is, try to find a soft wall when you're ready to bang your head against it! :wink:

Hang in there, sweetie! We're rooting for you.

[daffodil]

Daffodil - I feel your pain, as I've lived like you're living now. It WILL get better, believe it. Sometimes you feel like "OK, why do I have to have every life lesson pounded into me? Why can't SOME of it be easy?!" All I can say is, try to find a soft wall when you're ready to bang your head against it! :wink:

Hang in there, sweetie! We're rooting for you.

Thanks CarolAnn! Right now I better pass on banging my head into the wall, it might go right through with all the rot in here! Then I'll have one more thing to fix! LOL!

[daffodil]

The car's fixed. He put in a power steering hose too. It costs the parts plus $50. Not bad! He said he doesn't know how that tire stayed on. When he jacked it up it flopped sideways. Only one bolt holding it on. And one bearing was gone. Glad that's fixed:)!