2005 Honda Pilot EX - Failed Inspection, Options

[dtownfb]

My son is in college but left his car, 2005 Honda Pilot with 233k miles, at home. He bought it 5+ years ago with 185k miles. During the inspection, they found the rear left frame (just behind the driver side rear wheel) rusted through. The mechanic pushed his finger through the frame in a couple of places. Plus the rear cross member has significant rust. To fix it, it will cost $1500 to repair the frame and it needs rear brakes.......and the "check engine/VTM4" lights came on. My son does not want to put this money into the car since he is getting married next summer (understandable).

I figure I have 2 options: junk the car; or sell it with full disclosure of the issues. Are there other options? Also how do I go about "junking" a car?

Thanks.

 

[fantastic]

Full disclosure, sell it but piece of mind says to junk it. You can sell it for parts or whole as a parts vehicle etc.

 

[fdcg27]

My son is in college but left his car, 2005 Honda Pilot with 233k miles, at home. He bought it 5+ years ago with 185k miles. During the inspection, they found the rear left frame (just behind the driver side rear wheel) rusted through. The mechanic pushed his finger through the frame in a couple of places. Plus the rear cross member has significant rust. To fix it, it will cost $1500 to repair the frame and it needs rear brakes.......and the "check engine/VTM4" lights came on. My son does not want to put this money into the car since he is getting married next summer (understandable).

I figure I have 2 options: junk the car; or sell it with full disclosure of the issues. Are there other options? Also how do I go about "junking" a car?

Thanks.

This bad boy doesn't really have a frame, it's of unit construction.
Twenty years and 233K in the salt belt have taken their toll.
$1500.00 for this type of repair, which would involve cutting and welding in new metal, seems pretty cheap.
Still, there might be other areas that are not far behind, so this might not be a lasting repair to the vehicle.
Selling it "as is" with full disclosure would be one solution.
You can check scrap values online in your area to see what a scrapper will pay for it.
That would be a lot less painful than selling it yourself.

 

[Lubener]

Call an auto wrecker, they will come and tow it away on flatbed. You may get some money for your troubles but don't expect much.. It has too many miles and issues to bother trying to sell it.

 

[Sequoiasoon]

Use Peddle.com. They paid me a bunch more than any local junkyard offered and what scrapyard would give by weight. Showed up next day with cash and a flatbed. I signed over the title and away it went.

It was so easy and $$ offered for my Sonata, I decided to get rid of the Grand Cherokee project that never transpired a couple days later.

In '21 I got $600 for a '07 Sonata with 220k that was spewing oil with engine vibration
I got $720 for the Grand Cherokee that didn't run and had about 200k on it.

Junkyard offered $200 for Sonata if I drove it there, and no money but no charge if they had to pick it up.

 

[Snagglefoot]

Yep. Sorry. Many people use the phrase “ I’m going to drive it into the ground” That’s what you have done. Call around and get the best price for your convenience. Twenty years is a good run.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Yeah, you have to junk it.

Also let him know about rustproofing, so that his new car doesn't end up like the Pilot.

 

[97prizm]

My son is in college but left his car, 2005 Honda Pilot with 233k miles, at home. He bought it 5+ years ago with 185k miles. During the inspection, they found the rear left frame (just behind the driver side rear wheel) rusted through. The mechanic pushed his finger through the frame in a couple of places. Plus the rear cross member has significant rust. To fix it, it will cost $1500 to repair the frame and it needs rear brakes.......and the "check engine/VTM4" lights came on. My son does not want to put this money into the car since he is getting married next summer (understandable).

I figure I have 2 options: junk the car; or sell it with full disclosure of the issues. Are there other options? Also how do I go about "junking" a car?

Thanks.

There are alot of places that say "we buy junk cars" don't expect much money from them. Is there a trade school close by that it can be donated to? If so students will get experience working on it and the school will eventually junk it.

 

[dishdude]

20 years old, high mileage, rotted structural components....it's ready for the junkyard.

Maybe sue the mechanic for putting his fingers through the rails. Damaged a perfectly good vehicle!

 

[The_Jeff]

Junk it. Don't be surprised if it winds up at a BHPH lot in Ohio.

 

[Trav]

Once rot get into the structure it all done but the crying. Give it 3 our Fathers and 3 hail Mary over it and send it to the big junk yard, the car is a rolling hazard.

 

[dtownfb]

Thank you all for your insights and suggestions. We're going to junk the car when he gets home from school. I like Peddle.com but I'll see if there are others.

Now to find a small SUV to replace the minivan (200k miles).