Guess it's better than more payments...

[burleytog]

Over $1000 and counting sunk into my Blazer in the last three weeks.

Fuel pump

right front half-axle

right front hub & bearing

idler arm

lower ball joints

Next up, pads & rotors on the front, coolant flush, trans fluid change.

It hits 120K and everything goes at once.

[bilgerat]

Old mechanic's saying -

"If it's got boobs or wheels it will cost you money"....

[soccplayer07]

Old mechanic's saying -

"If it's got boobs or wheels it will cost you money"....

I would add "or if it floats,..."

[burleytog]

Old mechanic's saying -

"If it's got boobs or wheels it will cost you money"....

I would add "or if it floats,..."

Aye.

[bilgerat]

Are you performing the repairs yourself ?

A word of caution concerning the transmission fluid change. If you've never done it on the scheduled intervals up until this point, don't start now. Trans failure almost sure to follow.

[1inStripes]

Dadgum bowties for you.....

[Matt Fly]

+1 on no payments

[flechero]

but how many months have you not had to pay out for repairs? 

I'm in the same boat, once in a while it's a tough month but the other 10 or 11 months a year I'm paying for nothing but fuel and a few oils changes.

[FordNFishinLover]

Should have driven a ford! 

[SirSnookalot]

$1000 for 120k miles is nothing I would consider major.  Given the fact of having no payments for a period of time, I would take advantage by putting aside the amount of a car payment, I have now created a rainy day fund, or can pay cash for my next auto.

Reliability is my number 1 concern, especially for my wife, I make sure her car is always in perfect condition.  We pay cash for her cars except in times of extremely low interest rates, like now on certain models.  IMO it's a better move to have payments if I'm offered 0% or.9% financing.

I lease my personal cars, I like to change a bit more often and I'm always under warranty.

[Sfritr]

I hear ya loud and clear brother. 

93 Silverado    150k

2 front shocks

2 front wheel bearing assemblies

oil leak and repair

And to top it off a rebuilt rear transfer case along with a replaced shift motor

$1900.65   Priceless

[moby bass]

Are you performing the repairs yourself ?

A word of caution concerning the transmission fluid change. If you've never done it on the scheduled intervals up until this point, don't start now. Trans failure almost sure to follow.

Why?? Just curious.

[bilgerat]

It's not a lock, but the odds are against you.

Automatic transmissions can develop a 'varnish' internally over time as the transmission fluid breaks down. As long as this varnish stays in a hardened state, it's relatively harmless.

Transmission fluid contains a fair amount of detergents and other cleaning agents. If the service intervals are ignored and the first transmission fluid change is performed late in the transmission's life, the old varnish deposits can be lifted away by the fresh fluid and that's when the trouble begins. The filter clogs, then slipping and clutch plate burning follow. (yes, there are clutch plates inside your automatic transmission. Think drag stack on your baitcaster)

Like I said, this is not written in stone but it happens more often than not.

[FordNFishinLover]

It's not a lock, but the odds are against you.

Automatic transmissions can develop a 'varnish' internally over time as the transmission fluid breaks down. As long as this varnish stays in a hardened state, it's relatively harmless.

Transmission fluid contains a fair amount of detergents and other cleaning agents. If the service intervals are ignored and the first transmission fluid change is performed late in the transmission's life, the old varnish deposits can be lifted away by the fresh fluid and that's when the trouble begins. The filter clogs, then slipping and clutch plate burning follow. (yes, there are clutch plates inside your automatic transmission. Think drag stack on your baitcaster)

Like I said, this is not written in stone but it happens more often than not.

Yea, pretty much what he has said.

It's really in a way like a 50/50 chance, depending on miles and age and what not. I've heard of lots of people saying that after changing it the transmission seems to run much better, than you hear the other people say after about 2000 it turned to crap.

So its hard to say on what to do. But if you plan on keeping the vehicle for awhile id almost say just leave it alone. Drive it until it seems to be acting odd, than get it rebuilt. Many of the older transmissions can be rebuilt for 300-600 dollars. An after you get it rebuilt its got a whole new life.

[ArcticCat500]

94 Dodge Ram, 230K, just did upper n lower ball joints both sides, axles L&R, new bearings an seals L&R,  completely rebuilt the front end, into her for $800 so far..plus a new hi-flo cat $220 installed.

Show me your Ford or Chevy with over 230K on the mill not burn a drop of oil or a leak anywhere in it.

But I'll trade your trannys for mine any day. shes on her 3rd >

[ArcticCat500]

It's not a lock, but the odds are against you.

Automatic transmissions can develop a 'varnish' internally over time as the transmission fluid breaks down. As long as this varnish stays in a hardened state, it's relatively harmless.

Transmission fluid contains a fair amount of detergents and other cleaning agents. If the service intervals are ignored and the first transmission fluid change is performed late in the transmission's life, the old varnish deposits can be lifted away by the fresh fluid and that's when the trouble begins. The filter clogs, then slipping and clutch plate burning follow. (yes, there are clutch plates inside your automatic transmission. Think drag stack on your baitcaster)

Like I said, this is not written in stone but it happens more often than not.

I can attest to this also, the garage where my wife use to( key words "use to") bring her car performed a tranny oil change and flush on his own, we did not ask him to do so,  that Oldsmobile lasted about 3 weeks after he did it....I brought it back and he claimed it wasn't his fault and wouldn't do anything about it,  but wanted almost 3K to put in a new one.

Every tranny shop I brought the car to said the same exact thing that Bilgerat said....almost word for word.

If you haven't done it yet, then don't.

[fathom]

It's not a lock, but the odds are against you.

Automatic transmissions can develop a 'varnish' internally over time as the transmission fluid breaks down. As long as this varnish stays in a hardened state, it's relatively harmless.

Transmission fluid contains a fair amount of detergents and other cleaning agents. If the service intervals are ignored and the first transmission fluid change is performed late in the transmission's life, the old varnish deposits can be lifted away by the fresh fluid and that's when the trouble begins. The filter clogs, then slipping and clutch plate burning follow. (yes, there are clutch plates inside your automatic transmission. Think drag stack on your baitcaster)

Like I said, this is not written in stone but it happens more often than not.

I can attest to this also, the garage where my wife use to( key words "use to") bring her car performed a tranny oil change and flush on his own, we did not ask him to do so, that Oldsmobile lasted about 3 weeks after he did it....I brought it back and he claimed it wasn't his fault and wouldn't do anything about it, but wanted almost 3K to put in a new one.

Every tranny shop I brought the car to said the same exact thing that Bilgerat said....almost word for word.

If you haven't done it yet, then don't.

thirdsies.

got my own war story here.

[Hooligan]

Oh how I feel you.  We were in need of about $3500 work on our Subaru.  The car is a '97 with about 250k on it.  It just wasn't worth it anymore.  It was starting to nickle and dime us to death.  Ended up (By my wife's choice) in a '09 F150 that was a dealer owner's demo ride.  Since I know the guy and it's got a grand total of 3500 miles on it, I bit.  That and the fact that we got it for less than what a used '07 is  going for.

Now, on my '94 Blazer that had for years been my travel rig, I'm turning the corner on 375k miles and the motor and trans are still strong.  The body is rusting around the frame, though, she's falling apart.  I'll hate to see that one go.  Been good from day one, with nary a problem along the way.

[Red Bear]

my 91 chevy 1500w/t needs some work too, but i got tired of putting money into it. recently did the coil, back brakes and wheel cylinders, water pump, fuel pump, and fuel filter in march. then had to replace a tire, riding through a field to a pond and ran over a deer antler that popped a tire. went to get an inspection and the guy failed me for idler arm and some other front end stuff. the brake light occasionally comes on the dash and he failed that, cracked side mirrors failed which he passed the past 3 years. plus its getting tough to shift and i know the slave cylinder for the clutch is going bad AGAIN.

oh and it failed an emissions test, i got busted on the road driving by a van that checks emissions on an exit ramp and takes your picture back in like january. at the time i had thrown my back out and could barely walk plus got snowed in for a week or so, missed the 30 day deadline for an emissions test and had to pay an almost $400 fine and still had to get the test.

i finally bit the bullet and bought me a brand new car. gonna miss that truck though for practical purposes, not for my everyday driving though

[Javelin200]

Should have driven a ford!

This statement was inevitable. Surprised it took so long.

.....Friggin' Old Rusty Dogpile