1. Drive North about 4 or 5 hundred miles where there are some good mechanics. Not just 80 year old retired Flordia mechanics trying to remember what they use to know.
2. Bite the bullet and take it to a dealer to find out what is wrong with it. Ince you are totally sure of the problem you can always go to a smaller machanic to have it fixed at a better price.
3. I can understand sometimes there are sentimental reasons for keeping things. If there isn't really one as someone else said get rid of the damn thing and drive one that lets say is only 15 years old instead of 23. If there is a sentimental reason for keeping it, wrap it in plastic so you can look at it everyday and still get a car that will run without having to ware ear plugs,
I don't think you understand Dave, he cannot afford another car. He also could not afford to get his car fixed even if he did know what the problem is. It is costing him money he does not have just to even track down what the problem is. Buying another car is not an option at all. He has another vehicle, but it eats gas like crazy and needs new tires as there is thread showing on them. Again, he cannot afford new tires even. 
He is just trying with the least expense to try and figure the problem out, and he is probably going to be really pissed at me for saying these things as he asked me not to, but I am just stating the facts.
Hi John my friend! 
