Car Killers: 10 Car Problems That Are Not Worth Fixing
#1
02-15-2016, 05:14 AM
Car Killers: 10 Car Problems That Are Not Worth Fixing
Car Killers: 10 Car Problems That Are Not Worth Fixing
Member's, please post your thoughts ? Agree or not ?
Source: Lee Calhoun via YouTube
In America, used cars can sometimes be bought for next to nothing. Unfortunately, that’s because thousands of severely compromised vehicles get quickly patched up and sold with “Like New” decals, which can make buying a used car pretty nerve-wracking.
Sometimes it’s the driver’s fault; certain people still think that oil changes shouldn’t be mandatory and that a smoking tailpipe isn’t a bad sign. Other times, there is nothing that can be done — like when a deer jumps out in front of the car while you’re cruising at 70 miles per hour and in turn the entire front of your car gets rearranged.
But regardless of who’s fault it may be, sometimes the best plan of attack is actually knowing when to surrender. Cars aren’t cheap, but neither are they inexpensive to fix, and knowing when to hang up your hat is half the battle when repairs suddenly seem too overbearing.
We spoke with a few industry experts and auto repair shop owners, and came up with 10 repair problems that cause most people to walk away from a vehicle. Whether it be tedious, dangerous, or just downright pricey, this cheat sheet compiles some of the worst automotive fixes in an effort to let you know when to let go.
1. Road salt is basically a carcinogen to cars
Micah Wright/Autos Cheat Sheet
Older cars in particular tend to rust out faster than most people can say the word “tetanus,” and in areas that get lots of snow this issue is expedited at an alarming rate. Surface corrosion quickly eats into quarter panels and wheel wells, while exhaust systems and fuel tanks get the brunt of the road grime underneath. Certain areas are also very expensive and difficult to repair, so if your car has a rear quarter panel or a large section of severe rust along its frame rails, it might be time to reconsider your daily driver.
2. Rod knock that wants to blow through your block
For those of you who are unfamiliar with this term, by watching the video here you can get a pretty good idea of what I’m talking about when someone says “rod knock.” Drive a car hard enough, or without fresh fluids in appropriate amounts, and chances are that you will eventually encounter this issue, as connecting rod bolts and bearings wiggle their way toward freedom. Some people may try to ignore the issue by adding additives, which works all the way until the day a piston rod frees itself and goes charging through one end of your block.
3. The bent frame of shame
Source: Lee Calhoun via YouTube
If your car gets hit hard enough by another vehicle or you plow into something at speed, chances are that the frame of the car is going to take a beating. Sure, you could take it to a body specialist and cough up ungodly amounts of green, but even then, you aren’t entirely out of the woods. Even though the frame may be back to its original shape, it has been compromised and weakened by the strain that was placed on it during the accident and while getting bent back into shape. Avoid cars with frame damage folks, there’s just nothing good about them.
4. Electrical gremlins and varmints, oh my!
Source: ddilldillond via YouTube
Newer cars may not be as prone to electrical issues as aging models, but that doesn’t mean that modern automobiles are off the hook in the wiring department. Tracking down electrical issues is a very tedious and expensive venture, but it pales in comparison to what happens when critters decide to make your engine bay their home. Pop the hood of any vehicle, and you’ll see a tasty farm filled with wires. So if for whatever reason a small rodent decides to claim this area as their nesting ground, you’re in for some serious issues. Mice, squirrels, and all manner of vermin have the tendency to gnaw on electrical wires, and even though it may not give them any form of sustenance, it will give you and your bank account a nightmare of a time. Replacing a single wire is one thing. Swapping in multiple sets, well, that’s just asinine.
5. Blown head gaskets and paychecks
Source: Saabkyle04 via YouTube
When the gasket that separates the block from the head of an engine goes bad, all kinds of pricey problems come to the surface. Oil and water were never meant to mix, so when a head gasket goes, antifreeze and engine oil bump uglies and an emergency C-section has to take place to save your “baby.” If this doesn’t happen, a cloud of abnormal smoke will form, and at that point you might as well throw in the towel and start looking for a fresh, low-mileage motor. Putting a new head gasket on is possible — and common — even though it is expensive, but heavens knows what else has gone wrong during the “birthing process.”
6. Heavy metal hybrid battery suicide
S
ource: drsjr1969 via YouTube
Everyone nowadays has a hybrid it seems. But even though a drivetrain may work well right off the lot, down the line those hybrid motors can become quite the pricey headache. The act of replacing a defunct hybrid battery (especially on older models) is a time-consuming, expensive affair, often requiring the removal of large portions of a car’s interior, and the re-calibration of vital electrical components. Hybrid owners will often abandon ship when they discover how much one of these “power-packs” costs, instead opting to take a steep cut in trade-in value for that prized Prius instead.
7. The transmission tunnel explosion
Source: driving 4 answers via YouTube
A transmission locking up on you while driving is a huge fiasco, as it not only leaves you stranded and in need of a tow, but also because back at the shop the process of replacing a transmission proves to be both expensive and time-consuming. This isn’t some “while you wait quick fix” we’re dealing with, and even though replacement transmissions can sometimes be had for very little money on older models, the labor costs alone on swapping them in are just staggering.
8. PCM failure = automotive brain cancer
Source: MattHumanPizza via YouTube
A car’s Power Control Module, or PCM, is basically the onboard computer consisting of the engine control unit (ECU) and the transmission control unit (TCU). So if your car’s brain suddenly develops a tumor, the engine and almost anything else that relies on microprocessor controls stand a good chance of ****ting the bed. This may include the charging system, transmission, various emission controls, or the communications it may have with other onboard control modules. Add in the fact that installers typically don’t disconnect the car battery like they should prior to removing the old PCM before installing a replacement, and you’ve got a super expensive fix that requires extensive reprogramming and other technical issues.
9. Main wiring harness woes
Source: Cheddas Auto via Facebook
Unlike the wiring woes that I mentioned with squirrels and such, having issues with a car’s main wiring harness presents a much wider and far more frustrating swing at automotive issues. Unlike the gorgeous, aftermarket mil-spec example seen here, a typical OEM engine harness is a maddening array of wires that are bound tightly together and rerouted throughout the vehicle to make it all work. So if one wire goes bad somewhere along the way, chances are that the entire damn thing will have to be replaced, a process that is neither cheap nor easy to attempt.
10. A rank smell somewhere inside the cabin
S
ource: SuperiorShine via YouTube
Our final issue of the day seems like a silly one, all the way up until you realize that some rabid animal or (Human: )has died in your car, and you can’t find its corpse *Remember that party (?) Remember that friend U haven't seen it a long time (?)..When is the last time U opened your trunk (?). From allergy-inducing carpet mold to gagging animal aromas, an offensive odor that refuses to go away is enough to send most people running to the dealer for a trade-in. Ripping a whole car apart in search of a single dead mouse that got trapped in the air vent does sound a bit extreme, but sometimes that’s what it takes to make a car usable once more.
Member's, please post your thoughts ? Agree or not ?
- February 13, 2016
Source: Lee Calhoun via YouTube
In America, used cars can sometimes be bought for next to nothing. Unfortunately, that’s because thousands of severely compromised vehicles get quickly patched up and sold with “Like New” decals, which can make buying a used car pretty nerve-wracking.
Sometimes it’s the driver’s fault; certain people still think that oil changes shouldn’t be mandatory and that a smoking tailpipe isn’t a bad sign. Other times, there is nothing that can be done — like when a deer jumps out in front of the car while you’re cruising at 70 miles per hour and in turn the entire front of your car gets rearranged.
But regardless of who’s fault it may be, sometimes the best plan of attack is actually knowing when to surrender. Cars aren’t cheap, but neither are they inexpensive to fix, and knowing when to hang up your hat is half the battle when repairs suddenly seem too overbearing.
We spoke with a few industry experts and auto repair shop owners, and came up with 10 repair problems that cause most people to walk away from a vehicle. Whether it be tedious, dangerous, or just downright pricey, this cheat sheet compiles some of the worst automotive fixes in an effort to let you know when to let go.
1. Road salt is basically a carcinogen to cars
Micah Wright/Autos Cheat Sheet
Older cars in particular tend to rust out faster than most people can say the word “tetanus,” and in areas that get lots of snow this issue is expedited at an alarming rate. Surface corrosion quickly eats into quarter panels and wheel wells, while exhaust systems and fuel tanks get the brunt of the road grime underneath. Certain areas are also very expensive and difficult to repair, so if your car has a rear quarter panel or a large section of severe rust along its frame rails, it might be time to reconsider your daily driver.
2. Rod knock that wants to blow through your block
For those of you who are unfamiliar with this term, by watching the video here you can get a pretty good idea of what I’m talking about when someone says “rod knock.” Drive a car hard enough, or without fresh fluids in appropriate amounts, and chances are that you will eventually encounter this issue, as connecting rod bolts and bearings wiggle their way toward freedom. Some people may try to ignore the issue by adding additives, which works all the way until the day a piston rod frees itself and goes charging through one end of your block.
3. The bent frame of shame
Source: Lee Calhoun via YouTube
If your car gets hit hard enough by another vehicle or you plow into something at speed, chances are that the frame of the car is going to take a beating. Sure, you could take it to a body specialist and cough up ungodly amounts of green, but even then, you aren’t entirely out of the woods. Even though the frame may be back to its original shape, it has been compromised and weakened by the strain that was placed on it during the accident and while getting bent back into shape. Avoid cars with frame damage folks, there’s just nothing good about them.
4. Electrical gremlins and varmints, oh my!
Source: ddilldillond via YouTube
Newer cars may not be as prone to electrical issues as aging models, but that doesn’t mean that modern automobiles are off the hook in the wiring department. Tracking down electrical issues is a very tedious and expensive venture, but it pales in comparison to what happens when critters decide to make your engine bay their home. Pop the hood of any vehicle, and you’ll see a tasty farm filled with wires. So if for whatever reason a small rodent decides to claim this area as their nesting ground, you’re in for some serious issues. Mice, squirrels, and all manner of vermin have the tendency to gnaw on electrical wires, and even though it may not give them any form of sustenance, it will give you and your bank account a nightmare of a time. Replacing a single wire is one thing. Swapping in multiple sets, well, that’s just asinine.
5. Blown head gaskets and paychecks
Source: Saabkyle04 via YouTube
When the gasket that separates the block from the head of an engine goes bad, all kinds of pricey problems come to the surface. Oil and water were never meant to mix, so when a head gasket goes, antifreeze and engine oil bump uglies and an emergency C-section has to take place to save your “baby.” If this doesn’t happen, a cloud of abnormal smoke will form, and at that point you might as well throw in the towel and start looking for a fresh, low-mileage motor. Putting a new head gasket on is possible — and common — even though it is expensive, but heavens knows what else has gone wrong during the “birthing process.”
6. Heavy metal hybrid battery suicide
Source: drsjr1969 via YouTube
Everyone nowadays has a hybrid it seems. But even though a drivetrain may work well right off the lot, down the line those hybrid motors can become quite the pricey headache. The act of replacing a defunct hybrid battery (especially on older models) is a time-consuming, expensive affair, often requiring the removal of large portions of a car’s interior, and the re-calibration of vital electrical components. Hybrid owners will often abandon ship when they discover how much one of these “power-packs” costs, instead opting to take a steep cut in trade-in value for that prized Prius instead.
7. The transmission tunnel explosion
Source: driving 4 answers via YouTube
A transmission locking up on you while driving is a huge fiasco, as it not only leaves you stranded and in need of a tow, but also because back at the shop the process of replacing a transmission proves to be both expensive and time-consuming. This isn’t some “while you wait quick fix” we’re dealing with, and even though replacement transmissions can sometimes be had for very little money on older models, the labor costs alone on swapping them in are just staggering.
8. PCM failure = automotive brain cancer
Source: MattHumanPizza via YouTube
A car’s Power Control Module, or PCM, is basically the onboard computer consisting of the engine control unit (ECU) and the transmission control unit (TCU). So if your car’s brain suddenly develops a tumor, the engine and almost anything else that relies on microprocessor controls stand a good chance of ****ting the bed. This may include the charging system, transmission, various emission controls, or the communications it may have with other onboard control modules. Add in the fact that installers typically don’t disconnect the car battery like they should prior to removing the old PCM before installing a replacement, and you’ve got a super expensive fix that requires extensive reprogramming and other technical issues.
9. Main wiring harness woes
Source: Cheddas Auto via Facebook
Unlike the wiring woes that I mentioned with squirrels and such, having issues with a car’s main wiring harness presents a much wider and far more frustrating swing at automotive issues. Unlike the gorgeous, aftermarket mil-spec example seen here, a typical OEM engine harness is a maddening array of wires that are bound tightly together and rerouted throughout the vehicle to make it all work. So if one wire goes bad somewhere along the way, chances are that the entire damn thing will have to be replaced, a process that is neither cheap nor easy to attempt.
10. A rank smell somewhere inside the cabin
Source: SuperiorShine via YouTube
Our final issue of the day seems like a silly one, all the way up until you realize that some rabid animal or (Human: )has died in your car, and you can’t find its corpse *Remember that party (?) Remember that friend U haven't seen it a long time (?)..When is the last time U opened your trunk (?). From allergy-inducing carpet mold to gagging animal aromas, an offensive odor that refuses to go away is enough to send most people running to the dealer for a trade-in. Ripping a whole car apart in search of a single dead mouse that got trapped in the air vent does sound a bit extreme, but sometimes that’s what it takes to make a car usable once more.
Last edited by BeachBumMike; 02-15-2016 at 05:36 AM.
#2
02-15-2016, 09:48 AM
The Most And Least Dependable Car Brands
Last edited by BeachBumMike; 02-15-2016 at 09:56 AM.
#3
03-04-2016, 08:35 AM
#4
03-04-2016, 09:27 AM
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Manchester NH
Posts: 453
i never thought of pcm failure as fatal, I thought that junkyard PCMs are easily reprogrammed so if on goes bad, get programmed for your car and drive on. am I wrong?
#5
03-04-2016, 09:33 PM
If you were just a normal non-wrenching person who took your car to the dealer to diagnose and fix, I could see you easily getting into it for $1000 or more after diagnostics, replacement, etc. Of course what kind of car it is depends if it's worth paying that kind of money to fix it.
That's the only issue I see with this article is that it really depends on the car as to how big of a deal it is. For example, blowing a trans doing tons of launches on a GTR that's out of warranty is well worth fixing. Blowing a transmission on some cheap $500 beater car is likely a death sentence for the car.
The other difficulty is that the older the car is, the more likely it is to have a combination of problems that collectively could make it not worth it. If you blew the head gasket on your beater car, it might be worth your time and labor to fix (if you caught it in time). However, if the beater also has lots of rust, slips in 3rd gear, and has multiple electronic components that don't work- then it quickly becomes an easy choice to just scrap the car.
#6
03-07-2016, 10:19 PM
Yea I gotta say the PCM & Transmission isn't an automatic death to a car. 50% of fords have to do a pcm replacement By their first 10 years and 100% of Honda's have failing transmissions but you still see them on the road 10,20,30 years old...