END OF THE ROAD

[Mark72]

Seems my 95 Chev Lumina is bound for a dirt nap very soon. I got my money’s worth out of it I guess for 8000.00 w/50k when I bought it. Now has 195k. I was driving and out of the blue from the front left of the wheel area I hear what sounds like if you put a thick piece of plastic in a fan. And it gets louder and faster as I press the gas and when I release the gas pedal it stops. Oddly, today it stop making that noise all together so maybe it lined itself up again, but obviously that is not “fixed”. The trans shop in my town said it could last 6 more months to a year or it could die tomorrow. They don’t feel it’s worth it to put a used transmission it as all they could find had 100K + miles on them. Would you agree it’s not worth replacing the transmission? Really sucks beause it has brand new tires, new starter, water pump and alternator, and I had the upper/lower intake gaskets replaced two years ago.

 

[wrcsixeight]

When I saw this title, I though of the mind boggling surfbreak in Tahiti.

http://www.surfline.com/surf-news/teahupoo-returns-round-two_96196/

Sorry to hear about the demise of your transportation.

 

[Ken_W]

That's a hard question to answer... Here's my two cents:

If the car is otherwise sound, and you really like the car, it might be worth putting a used trans in. If you can get it put in more cheaply, then that's even better (it sounds like you are considering a somewhat-pricey shop. Good low-price places can be hard to find.

A trans with 100K could last to 200K, or could be dead by 115K. It all depends on how it was driven and cared for in its past life. Odds are, however, that you would get at least a year or two out of it, maybe more with luck.

When looking at the cost, also consider the cost of replacing the car. Sometimes looking at it this way can help you to decide.

Good luck --

 

[Chris142]

Is the noise from the trans or something less drastic like an axle or wheel bearing?

 

[Donald]

Originally Posted By: Mark72
Seems my 95 Chev Lumina is bound for a dirt nap very soon. I got my money’s worth out of it I guess for 8000.00 w/50k when I bought it. Now has 195k. I was driving and out of the blue from the front left of the wheel area I hear what sounds like if you put a thick piece of plastic in a fan. And it gets louder and faster as I press the gas and when I release the gas pedal it stops. Oddly, today it stop making that noise all together so maybe it lined itself up again, but obviously that is not “fixed”. The trans shop in my town said it could last 6 more months to a year or it could die tomorrow. They don’t feel it’s worth it to put a used transmission it as all they could find had 100K + miles on them. Would you agree it’s not worth replacing the transmission? Really sucks beause it has brand new tires, new starter, water pump and alternator, and I had the upper/lower intake gaskets replaced two years ago.


Dump it and part out the starter, alternator and tires.

 

[GreeCguy]

Originally Posted By: Ken_W

That's a hard question to answer... Here's my two cents:

If the car is otherwise sound, and you really like the car, it might be worth putting a used trans in. If you can get it put in more cheaply, then that's even better (it sounds like you are considering a somewhat-pricey shop. Good low-price places can be hard to find.

A trans with 100K could last to 200K, or could be dead by 115K. It all depends on how it was driven and cared for in its past life. Odds are, however, that you would get at least a year or two out of it, maybe more with luck.

When looking at the cost, also consider the cost of replacing the car. Sometimes looking at it this way can help you to decide.

Good luck --



Ditto to this - I'm having the same debate right now on my Ford Taurus. The motor is in great shape and over the years I've owned it, have put new tires, new alternator, new starter, new fuel pump, etc. The transmission is the issue, 155000 on the original transmission and still going, but I fear is going out. Several months ago, I changed the fluid and filter and then added an unholy mixture of Lubegard, Lucas transmission fix and seafoam transtune. It's working great so far, (no more slipping or jumping). Even though the body is beat up and the interior is trash, I really like the car. It's been the first ride for all my children and I keep saying it's going to be the first ride for my grandbabies, (only 13 and a half years to go for that one). So . . . . I'm debating. Do I spend 2 grand and have the transmission rebuilt or do I cough up 2 grand for a good used car. The way I look at it, I've got a good used car, it just needs a new transmission. Keep in mind, you'll spend more on it than the van is worth if you were to sell it - but do you plan on selling it, or driving it another five years or so? If you would drive it at least five years, (an nothing else major goes wrong), it could be a good investment to have the transmission rebuilt.

 

[StevieBoy]

Sounds like it could be a CV joint. Check it out first.

 

[Doog]

Originally Posted By: Mark72
I was driving and out of the blue from the front left of the wheel area I hear what sounds like if you put a thick piece of plastic in a fan.


Did you check the accessory drive system? Radiator fan(s)? I have had a fan clutch go and have the fan contact the plastic shroud and make the same sound as putting baseball cards in your bike spokes when you were a kid. Of course this analogy only works if you are over 55.

But since the car is worth about $1200 I would hesitate to dump another 2-3k in it

 

[jimbrewer]

If you have the income and the credit, buy a new car, both of you. Don't keep an old car purely out of sentimentality. No matter how much you love a car, it can't love you back.

A $2,000 transmission bill will pay for six month's worth of payments on the new car, easy. Instead of another $2,000 worth of repairs over the next three years--a fairly conservative number, I would say--- you would have a warranty. Used car prices are way up right now. That doesn't mean that much when you are driving total wrecks, but it means a little, even if you make full disclosure of the situation (as you should).

Most likely, your new car will get at least a little better mileage than your current car. Take 20% off your yearly fuel bill and multiply by three.

Used car prices are absurdly high, while new cars are being financed for around 4% or less, meaning that, as a practical matter, you are on a pay as you go basis for your new car.

Finally, a new car is likely to be safer than a used car. Not just in design, but because the systems are newer and more reliable. A small thing, unless it becomes not a small thing.

 

[paulo57509]

Before making a decision, I'd find out what is making that noise. It's engine speed dependent but does it do it when rolling down the road, standing still or both?

It might be loose torque converter-to-flex plate bolts or a cracked flex plate. It may also be a stretched drive chain in the transmission.

The flex plate and bolts can be checked by removing the inspection cover underneath the car. I think the drive chain can be serviced without pulling the trans.

 

[Corvette Owner]

It probably is never economic to replace rather than repair a car. But there comes a time when it is either too unreliable or just too old to justify putting more money into it. It is your decision, everybody has different opinions.

 

[eljefino]

Originally Posted By: Doog
Originally Posted By: Mark72
I was driving and out of the blue from the front left of the wheel area I hear what sounds like if you put a thick piece of plastic in a fan.


Did you check the accessory drive system? Radiator fan(s)? I have had a fan clutch go and have the fan contact the plastic shroud and make the same sound as putting baseball cards in your bike spokes when you were a kid. Of course this analogy only works if you are over 55.

But since the car is worth about $1200 I would hesitate to dump another 2-3k in it


OP's engine is 90 degrees off and uses an electric fan so this scenario is implausible.

If I were OP I'd do a trans pan drop and see if there's shrapnel. If it's grinding itself to bits there should be TONS. If he's junking the car anyway the pan drop would be a learning experience.

I'd go with a used transmission (flush the lines in the radiator) if it blows up and you want to fix it. If you have shrapnel in your trans or a ground up case etc you don't want some redneck trans shop trying to machine it and sleeve it square.

If you're a very important person and the cost to you in downtime of this trans blowing up exceeds its (or its car's) replacement cost then you know the answer.

 

[GreeCguy]

Originally Posted By: eljefino

OP's engine is 90 degrees off and uses an electric fan so this scenario is implausible.

If I were OP I'd do a trans pan drop and see if there's shrapnel. If it's grinding itself to bits there should be TONS. If he's junking the car anyway the pan drop would be a learning experience.

I'd go with a used transmission (flush the lines in the radiator) if it blows up and you want to fix it. If you have shrapnel in your trans or a ground up case etc you don't want some redneck trans shop trying to machine it and sleeve it square.

If you're a very important person and the cost to you in downtime of this trans blowing up exceeds its (or its car's) replacement cost then you know the answer.



Excellent point - I would be curious how the shop diagnosed the problem. Did they drive it around or did they do a pan drop and have a look inside? Who knows but a pan drop and some new fluid might help it live a little longer.

 

[Gasbuggy]

The car isn't worth putting any real money into, but it is still running and driving. I don't see any reason to over think this. Just keep driving it.

 

[crazyoildude]

shop around you can find someone to rebuild that for 600.00-700.00

 

[Mark72]

Since two days after I posted this thread the car has been running perfectly. No noise whatsoever. Beats the [censored] out of me..no clue. I know it didn't just fix itself.