BajaNomad

mechanic recommendation in Ensenada?

kwindla - 3-9-2014 at 05:12 PM

Hi everyone,

My wife and I are new to Baja. We are currently on our second trip down exploring from our home in LA. We just had a great week camping mostly in the Santa Rosalillita area. On the way back North our '86 fj60 overheated just South of San Vicente, so we arranged to get towed into Ensenada.

We called a couple of mechanics that people on these forums recommended. But as it's Sunday we didn't get hold of anybody. Our tow truck driver took us to a friend's shop, but no dice there, either.

So we are at Las Palmas hotel tonight with our truck. And I figured I'd take the opportunity to post here in case anyone has a specific mechanic recommendation for us. Our truck may need some real TLC. (And our Spanish isn't great, so working with us definitely requires patience!)

Thanks so much,
Kwin

DENNIS - 3-9-2014 at 05:21 PM

Can you give us some details? What happened? Engine? Transmission?

kwindla - 3-9-2014 at 06:02 PM

Thanks, Dennis. Definitely the engine. This truck has been a little prone to overheating but we thought we had got it straightened out. We were wrong, though. This morning the temperature gauge spiked while we were driving. I didn't pull off soon enough. Lots of steam under the hood and antifreeze everywhere. Car died before I could turn off the engine. Let it cool down before trying to start it again. Won't start. Starter engages but it doesn't sound quite right. Possibly we blew a seal or gasket. Sort of sounds like there is a lack of pressure somewhere important. Visual inspection doesn't give me any clues but I don't know as much as I should. Needs a more knowledgeable diagnostician than me.

DENNIS - 3-9-2014 at 06:12 PM

Wish my mechanic was a little closer to your location. Is there someone in the office there who looks/sounds dependable? You may ask them for a recommendation.
You aren't far from the Tourism office [probably closed till AM]. They should be able to find someone to help you out. That would probably be a safe recommendation.
Don't jump to conclusions with cooling problems. It may be a simple fix.

bajadock - 3-9-2014 at 06:16 PM

Kwindla,
Welcome to the 'hood. Sundays can be a problem finding a mechanic.

Munchie Fernandez 646-118-7655 cell. He is in Campo LaJolla in Punta Banda. Bi-lingual. He works on several Nomad rigs and rescued WideAngleWandering 2 years ago. Also races and wins SCORE events.

CHEERS.

bledito - 3-9-2014 at 06:29 PM

pull the oil dip stick if it's milky it has water in it get the oil and antifreeze out asap dont try and start. may be a manifold gaskrt then, and hope the bearings arent washed out.

Ensenada Mechanic

bajaguy - 3-9-2014 at 09:44 PM

Pablo Buelna
Technica Automotriz
Bahia Magdalena #384
Ensenada
646-173-5745

Bahia Magdalena is just east of the corner of Florista and Pedro Loyola, (first street east of Pedro Loyola) NW corner of Magdalina....next to a bus yard.

Speaks great English, reasonable prices, highly recommended

WideAngleWandering - 3-10-2014 at 12:10 PM

Monchie Fernandez (contact info posted above) helped me out when I was in a jam. Recommended.

DENNIS - 3-10-2014 at 12:43 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by WideAngleWandering
Monchie Fernandez (contact info posted above) helped me out when I was in a jam. Recommended.


The car's in Ensenada...dead. Monchie is in Punta Banda, twenty miles away.
Monchie doesn't make house calls twenty miles away. Probably wouldn't make one right across the street.

kwindla - 3-10-2014 at 07:04 PM

Thanks for the recommendations. We talked to Monchie, who was very helpful. But we would have needed to work out a tow to him. Pablo was able to come by, take a look, then tow the truck back to his place. We will get new head gaskets on Wednesday. In the meantime we are having fun learning about Ensanada.

bajaguy - 3-10-2014 at 07:10 PM

Glad it worked out. Tell Pablo the guy that owns the little blue Chevy Tracker sent you.....he just replaced my clutch, works like a champ!!!
Quote:
Originally posted by kwindla
Thanks for the recommendations. We talked to Monchie, who was very helpful. But we would have needed to work out a tow to him. Pablo was able to come by, take a look, then tow the truck back to his place. We will get new head gaskets on Wednesday. In the meantime we are having fun learning about Ensanada.

wessongroup - 3-10-2014 at 07:15 PM

Essential knowledge ...