3
Spent $180 on a new alternator for a 98 Civic with 220k miles.
Car had been sitting for two years but the engine sounded fine. Three weeks later the transmission started slipping. Should I have just sent that thing to the scrap yard from the start?
3 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In3 Comments
theasmith2mo ago
Oh man, that's a tough break. Spending $180 on a part for a car with that many miles and then having the trans go out three weeks later hurts. Honestly, at 220k miles and sitting for two years, you were basically gambling. I'd say you made the right call trying to save it, but you just lost that bet. Time to cut your losses and send it to the yard now though.
8
piperb932mo ago
But is it really time to scrap the whole car over one bad transmission though? If the body is solid and the rest of the drivetrain was running fine, a used trans from a junkyard could be way cheaper than buying another beater with unknown problems. I get cutting your losses, but at this point you've got a known quantity car that just needs a swap, which feels worth a shot to me lol.
4
paigep201mo agoMost Upvoted
Real talk, that known quantity thing is a trap. You know what you've got now, sure, but what you've got is a car that sat for two years (which does weird things to seals and wiring) and a motor with 220k that was already on borrowed time. A junkyard trans is a gamble too (could be just as worn out, could have its own issues from sitting). Plus you gotta factor in fluid, filters, maybe a cooler line, and a solid weekend of cussing and skinned knuckles. By the time you're done, you've probably dumped another $400-500 into a car that still might pop a head gasket in six months. Sometimes the smartest move is knowing when to walk away and just take the L.
3