1995 Chevy Lumina 3.1L with 160K. Body in great shape, engine runs smooth and quiet just as it did when I bought it at 50K. Upper and lower intake gaskets recently replaced. Now it needs a new engine mount (the rubber one in the middle under the motor), new tork struts on top and new valve cover gaskets. The rear one leaks slightly causing oil to leak down onto the rubber mount which degrades the rubber. Worth it to fix it? Got a bid for 850.00 which I know is right.
repair or not?
- Thread starter Mark72
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Most any reapair on a car like that is cheaper than making car payments every month.. Its only when a car starts costing me more than payments would be that I'd get rid of it.
I`d fix it and hold on to it.
If you know the car and its history that sounds like a keeper to me.
What everyone else said... I'd keep it because $850 is a small price to keep what sounds like a sound car running well!
I would look for cheaper repairs, do it yourself etc. While those Lumina's are solid cars, you are spending about 75% of the car's value on repairs on a car that is probably well through its usable life.
Fix it and keep on trucking
Thinking it over again, and reading other comments, those are simple enough repairs to do yourself or with an extra pair of hands and can be done for around $200-250 in parts and maybe tools. Still well worth it IMO.
Bribe a garage-owning (the place for parking indoors) buddy with a case of beer or two, get a heater, and knock those out. Motor mounts aren't too painful a repair. Just have to get creative with the jacks on the engine is all.
Even at the quoted price, it would be worth doing.
Is there any reason that this car is not likely to make 200K if you do the repairs?
Probably not.
Fix it and drive it another couple of years.
Even if you spend the eight fifty and only get another year out of it before something expensive, like the transmission, goes TU, you are still ahead financially.
Is there any reason that this car is not likely to make 200K if you do the repairs?
Probably not.
Fix it and drive it another couple of years.
Even if you spend the eight fifty and only get another year out of it before something expensive, like the transmission, goes TU, you are still ahead financially.
Shop labor isn't cheap, and with replacing all that stuff, that price is probably about right. Probably quite a few things to remove and install just to get to that poor rear valve cover.
I know I almost faint when I need a shop to do anything, at least when it comes time to pay the bill.
I know I almost faint when I need a shop to do anything, at least when it comes time to pay the bill.
Valve cover gasket is easy to DIY, have you try to find another shop and see if it is cheaper to do without the valve cover gasket?
What negative effect is happening due to those motor mounts being out?
Can you just keep driving it as is?
If heard of people tying the engine to the frame in some fashion as a cheap fix. Such as a couple bolts and a turn buckle.
Just suggestions if money is really tight.
Can you just keep driving it as is?
If heard of people tying the engine to the frame in some fashion as a cheap fix. Such as a couple bolts and a turn buckle.
Just suggestions if money is really tight.
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