Why is that? Well, a few months ago, we had a problem with the radiator pissing itself, and needing replaced. After a visit to my mother's house. Yesterday, we had to limp the car home because it was overheating again. We took it to the mechanics today, and found out that the head gasket needs replaced. It'll cost $1,700-$1,900. The car is worth $1,800 at most--it's a '93 Lexus.
All of the problems we've had with the Lexus in the three years we've owned it have started at my mother's house.
Her place has to be cursed.
29 minutes ago
I'm thinking cars are like milk. When you reach the expiration date, you only have so long before it goes bad.
ReplyDeleteIt really has been a wonderful car for the three years we've had it. If it was going to be half of the estimate to repair, we'd be doing that, instead of scrapping it, and finding another one in the same general price range of what we bought it for (~$3,000).
DeleteGenerally, with new engines, the aluminum blocks and cylinders aren't nearly as durable as the old cast iron versions. Overheating usually leads to a blown head gasket.
DeleteI have no advice. Money is usually the decision maker in this process.
The general rule of thumb I've always heard is that if the repair estimate is more than two thirds of the car's total value, walk away.
DeleteThey make products that repair head gaskets, which you pour in the radiator. I've never used one, but I did look on the internet at a product called Steel Seal. After I looked at the complaints sites, and how the product was used, the only caveat is not following the instructions. From what I can see, the product doesn't do real well with some antifreeze, so flushing the cooling system with water is the best method before using the product.
DeleteI doubt it's much and there's probably similar products you can find at auto parts stores. It can be a gamble, but if it works, you can get some more time before you have to invest a lot of money.
We have a two-door Civic, which will permit for teaching the pixie to use a booster seat. We'll use that, for the time being.
DeleteOdysseus came home last night, excited. He has a coworker whose father is a shade-tree mechanic that works for booze for his son. He wants to buy the Lexus, and will pay about double what a scrap yard will, which will go a long way toward funding something that will work better for our family.
Everything else being equal, if the car has no other problems (front end good, tranny good, brakes good, tires good, electrics good, etc.) it might be worth spending $1800 to get it fixed. You paid $3000 to get 3 years out of a car. Spend $1800 and get three more. It's cheaper than 3000 more dollars for what could be a pig in a poke.
ReplyDeleteWe literally cannot afford to either repair it or buy another one right now. And with its age, and the method by which Lexus used to sound proof their cars adding an extra half ton to it, there's no guarantee that the tranny wouldn't crap out next month.
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