"I paid so much money for my car that I cannot afford to even get it looked at if something ever goes wrong."

1. Don't pay so much the next time .. you are young , you have time to learn these kinds of lessons....
2. Don't ' get it looked at".. LOOK AT IT YOURSELF. You will never find anyone more honest about your car than yourself... many of us don't know anyone we can trust or can not afford those we can trust... just like you ... that is why we ask each other questions, buy shop manuals, and tackle jobs that may be over our heads at the start of the job... but usually work out ok due to moral support...