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To Fix Up or Trade Up, That is the Question

536 messages,  Last post on Jul 24, 2009 at 9:12 AM

You are in the Maintenance & Repair Forum. Your Host is mr_shiftright

What is this discussion about? Car Safety, Tires, Wheels, Auto Body, Brakes, Engine, Interior, Paint, Transmission, Fuel Efficiency (MPG), Buying Insurance, Coupe, Convertible, Hatchback, Truck, Sedan, Wagon, SUV, Van

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#31 of 536 Re: 01 Eclipse hail damage. Total or repair by vs001 Mar 30, 2005 (10:01 am)
Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Feb 14, 2005 3:32 pm) I have a fully loaded 2001 eclipse GT with only 30000 miles that I have babied for the past 4 years. Got hit badly by a hailstorm that also picked up some gravel and stones. The front windshield was cracked and the sunroof and rear windshield were smashed to bits. Some water also entered the car and wet the carpet (didn't see too much water on the dashboard).   When I drove for a short distance, i smelled something burning and the speakers started making a hissing sound and then loud creaking noises. I immediately pulled over and turned off the car. The hissing/creaking from the speakers continued although key was removed from ignition.   Got the car towed to a body shop where an adjuster looked at it after 2 days and said it might be totaled. The battery has been disconnected to stop speakers from making sounds. My guess is that the amplifier is shorted, but i don't know if there are bigger problems. The radio does not turn on but the speakers make noise anyway (if the battery is connected).   The car is in excellent shape mechanically and I would like to know what is the best course of action if the appraiser's estimate is close to 80% of Actual Cash Value.   1. I could argue that they repair it. Would they be required to pay for further damages within the next few months if there is further damage to sensors etc?   2. Take the money they offer and buy a new/ slightly used car. Nada guide has the car at 14,100. KBB has it at 13000 (accounting for leather, sunroof, alloy, in dash cd changer etc)   3. Take the ACV less Salavage value and keep the car. Get the glasses fixed (about 2000$), amplifier replaced (about 500$ plus labor) and ignore the little dents on the body which I am told pop out in the Texas heat. If i do take this option, is there some way I can get the electrical system examined to check for possible damage to other sensors (body shops in the Austin area don't seem to have much experience with electrical systems and the only dealer is 30 miles away and I don't know if i should be driving there)? Would you recommend disconnecting the fuse for the amplifier circuit and driving the car short distances to get estimates?      If anyone has knowledge of Eclipse, do you know if there are important sensors under the seat/ on the floor? Also, if the car were totaled due to hail damage, do you know how it would show up on on title searches such as carfax? i.e. would i be doomed if trying to sell the car in a couple of years?   Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks. Replies to this message: Mr_Shiftright (Mar 30, 2005 10:17 am) vs001 (Apr 04, 2005 3:02 pm) wtd44 (Mar 30, 2005 3:31 pm)
#32 of 536 Re: 01 Eclipse hail damage. Total or repair [vs001] by Mr_Shiftright HOST Mar 30, 2005 (10:17 am)
Replying to: vs001 (Mar 30, 2005 10:01 am) I think if you are satisfied with the settlement check you should bail out on this car for any number of reasons, the biggest one being that with a salvage title and hail damage you cannot presume anywhere NEAR book value. So you would be investing in a severly depreciated asset and yes, there would be great difficulty in selling it.   Given what you describe, I can't see how it wouldn't be totalled. Flood damage is almost always an automatic total these days. Replies to this message: vs001 (Apr 04, 2005 3:02 pm)
#33 of 536 Re: Total or repair [vs001] by wtd44 Mar 30, 2005 (3:31 pm)
Replying to: vs001 (Mar 30, 2005 10:01 am) Mr. Shiftright pretty much said it all. Grab the money and run! You'll be doing other Eclipse owners a favor by supplying some good parts to a wrecking yard for them to buy as needed. >:o]
#35 of 536 95 SL-1 Engine/Tranny Problem??? by nell1 Apr 01, 2005 (10:10 am)
I am hoping someone can help me with my problem.   I have a 95 sl1 automatic with 155k miles on it. I was driving today and I noticed a funny burning smell... kind of like burning rubber, but not quite. It kind of had a sort of a burning hot metal smell to it, it that makes sense. I had been driving for a while and the engine was hot. the RPMs dropped very low when I came to a stop. the temp gauge went up over the halfway point. It started shifting gears erratically and the SES light came on. I pulled over to check it out. Tranny fluid was good, oil level good, belt seemed to be in ok shape. I couldn't see any obvious problems. I read the engine codes and I got a tranny code 23 (no 3rd gear.)   It may have been my imagination, but it seemed to me that I had to brake much harder to get the car to stop and that the steering was looser. I also go a nasty lurch from the change in gear when I slowed to make a stop.   I had previously noticed recently that the RPMs always seemed much lower than they should be while idle, especially when the engine was warm. I have also gotten the same tranny code several times before.   any ideas what the problem could be?
#36 of 536 Re: doubtful [Mr_Shiftright] by dodgekbad Apr 01, 2005 (7:40 pm)
Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Mar 27, 2005 9:38 am) Would that hold true for my k car as well? It's an '88, 2.5l, with a fryed tranny. The mileage reads 59k however. I've got the car fax when I first bought it, 6 mo. ago, and it's supposedly original mileage. Although it was a 1 owner, and tough verify I guess. I suspect it was rolled back.   Anyway, the shop gave me a base estimate of $1289. Other things....The rack leaks, and the rear brakes need fixing too (and leak also). the car consumes oil like crazy also. Th eboots might be ripping too. I am starting to answer my own question. But the thing is very very clean. The exterior is immaculate however. I've never seen a 17 yr old car with paint this good. Recently I replaced a sensor myself and cap, wires and plugs. Replies to this message: Mr_Shiftright (Apr 01, 2005 9:24 pm) dodgekbad (Apr 04, 2005 5:36 am) wtd44 (Apr 02, 2005 7:04 am) dodgekbad (Apr 02, 2005 3:33 pm)
#37 of 536 Re: doubtful [dodgekbad] by Mr_Shiftright HOST Apr 01, 2005 (9:24 pm)
Replying to: dodgekbad (Apr 01, 2005 7:40 pm) Best way for you to evaluate this situation is this: Go do some research on classifieds and find out how much it would cost you to BUY a really nice, really cherry car identical to yours.   I think you will find that you could buy one "ready to go" for less than it would cost to repair yours. If that's true, then really you know the answer. If a replacement car in top shape is, like...DOUBLE your up-coming repair bill, then maybe you should fix yours.   Sounds like you are looking at $2,000 easy to get this car in shape and that's without correcting the oil burning issue. Replies to this message: dodgekbad (Apr 04, 2005 5:36 am)
#38 of 536 Re: doubtful [dodgekbad] by wtd44 Apr 02, 2005 (7:04 am)
Replying to: dodgekbad (Apr 01, 2005 7:40 pm) I would think that the high oil consumption (along with serious tranny problems) is the cardinal sign that this may be one to avoid fixing up, UNLESS you can do nearly all the work yourself and are highly motivated to do it. Replies to this message: dodgekbad (Apr 02, 2005 3:33 pm)
#39 of 536 Re: doubtful [wtd44] by dodgekbad Apr 02, 2005 (3:33 pm)
Replying to: wtd44 (Apr 02, 2005 7:04 am) It leaks oil - I don't think it's burning it. I can see new, shiney oil on the top part of the engine. It's a leaky gasket I think. But the leaky rack has me worried. I've put in 4 bottles of Lucas and have it pretty much under control. Whether it will will hold up 'til Sept., and pass inspection - that's another story - and another $500. That I could get a used one howver and take care of it for under $175.
#40 of 536 Re: doubtful [Mr_Shiftright] by dodgekbad Apr 04, 2005 (5:36 am)
Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Apr 01, 2005 9:24 pm) I am thinking of going with a used one. It's $200 with a 30 day warranty. My problem is: who will put it in? Every real shop wants $800-$900 - hardly worth it at all. The Kelley book value is $1000 and the NADA is $1200-$1700 (not 100% sure on the NADA, and that's retail). The junk yard guy says I could probably get someone "across the street to do it." I figure that would be another $250. But it'll be a junk yard tranny - installed at another junk yard. Good luck with a warranty and/or having a tranny that doesn't leak oil etc. And the $250 installed is a guess. That's an estimate I got from this other junk yard who said they had a tranny for me, but later realized they didn't. Ugh! Not sure on this or that....sounds like I know what to do - junk it.

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