My loving Susie Stratus, 161K miles, has been acting crazy lately.

I have the money to get it checked but I wanted to ask here first. Brother is a mechanic but is in Lexington NC and cannot diagnose from there. Can you help?

Last week I drove home from work and stopped at the office to pay rent. Crank her and she's shaking REALLY bad and she won't go into gear. Push her back into the parking space and leave her until bf gets home and the car won't even turn over. Leave her overnight.

The next day we go out, she cranks fine and I drive her back to the apartment...minor shaking. Check the transmission fluid and it's super low - fill her up. Next day I drive her around the complex to warm her up to see if the fluid has leaked out. Still full but she has a thick white smoke from exhaust. Read something about milky oil...Checked the oil - no milky color.

HELP. I'm poor and trying to save money. What should I get checked first?

12/19/2009 11:46:06 AM

blown head gasket perhaps

12/19/2009 12:58:00 PM

Could be sucking transmission fluid. I could take a look if you're near state.

[Edited on December 19, 2009 at 1:16 PM. Reason : .]

12/19/2009 1:11:01 PM

on a related noted my finance has a Stratus named Sally

12/19/2009 2:42:26 PM

And by sucking transmission fluid I mean a broken transmission modulator valve letting fluid into the vacuum line. I don't know specifics for that car but that's where I'd probably start.

Otherwise you're looking for blown head gasket or leaky injector or just a plain misfire(peoples definition of "white" smoke can vary)

12/19/2009 3:16:26 PM

Went to Advance Auto today and had them run the battery diagnostics...he couldn't get to the battery since it is above the wheel and he tried to run the test anyhow...stated it needs a recharge and tried to sell me some $64 head gasket leak fix but my brother said not to do it.

^^ha ha.

^Would that make it unsafe to try to drive? I really just want to know if it's going to be okay to drive home to his shop ~100 miles to Lexington. He seems to think it is a blown head gasket and he said as long as it doesn't overheat, he thinks I can make it in. If you'd look at it, I'd really be grateful. I could pay you or bring you lunch or a case of beer

We always go to cup a joe on sundays. Are you free?

[Edited on December 19, 2009 at 4:41 PM. Reason : ^]

12/19/2009 4:40:18 PM

If it has a blown head gasket, then you shouldn't be driving it anywhere.

[Edited on December 20, 2009 at 12:16 PM. Reason : Check the coolant level.]

12/20/2009 12:16:38 PM

you cant talk to me like that. I drive a dodge stratus

12/20/2009 12:35:04 PM

You need to run a compression test to see if it is indeed a blown head gasket. I'm surprised that it's held on this long in the transmission department. I'm working all day here at the house on tnezami's jeep and can do this for you. PM me if you need.

12/20/2009 12:43:04 PM

^PM sent

^^haha, my bf keeps saying that.

^^^Coolant level is fine...no leak there.

12/20/2009 2:07:16 PM

I can do 100 push-ups in twenty minutes

12/20/2009 5:15:04 PM

IM A REGIONAL MANAGER

12/20/2009 10:07:46 PM

2000 Stratus is the same as a 3rd generation Mitsubishi Eclipse. What exactly do you have? 4 or 6 cylinder? Auto or manual?

12/21/2009 1:04:17 PM

Auto 6 cylinder. Not sure if it matters but I think mine is the "ES"...

Nevergot up with anybody on sunday which was my fault! I am sorry! We had unexpected company that needed a favor so it kind of bound me for a few hours. Thank you smc and zxappeal for the offers. Sorry I missed out on them. Still thinking I'm going to drive it home. Driving it about 22 miles tomorrow and parking it over off 540 to cut down on the trip some.

12/21/2009 4:10:12 PM