Truck Maintenance

**Jluke** · 11-11-2020, 09:51 AM

Time to let it go

**kork13** · 11-11-2020, 10:01 AM

Without looking it up, I strongly doubt that making $4500 (or even $2000) in repairs to that truck would be worthwhile.... As is, probably worth nothing but scrap value ($500?). Fixed, it's probably worth $1k-$2k. No way I'm spending that much to keep it running.

How close are you to having the cash ready for the new truck? If it were me, I'd scrap the current truck, buy a $2k *anything* to get you through until you're ready to buy the new truck, then sell the $2k piece & buy the new truck. At $2k, it's not really gonna depreciate, so it's basically just a net-zero holdover until you're ready for the new one.

**bjl584** · 11-11-2020, 10:01 AM

probably time to get rid of it,
that repair bill is more than it's worth
beyond that, something else major is likely to happen sooner rather than later

**disneysteve** · 11-11-2020, 10:02 AM

I think the cars know when you're thinking about replacing them

.

The same thing happened to mine. The check engine light came on not long before I got rid of it. Took it to the shop and it was the catalytic convertor. I didn't really have a choice but to do the repair. I couldn't trade the car in like that.

**ua_guy** · 11-11-2020, 10:08 AM

Obviously, it's worth more when it's running/driving without major issues, and a road-worthy pickup truck is always worth something. That's a big expense though. I would assume if you're fixing it that you are still a ways off from your new truck purchase?

**LivingAlmostLarge** · 11-11-2020, 09:11 PM

that's too much for a truck worth less than that. Couldn't you get a pickup for $4500 or am i so way off base? I mean a newer truck with less miles but still old. I would not sink money into a truck like that. Then again I didn't sink that much in cash into a car that was 11 years old and 100k miles and worth $2500 is what we sold it for.

**myrdale** · 11-13-2020, 04:19 AM

Minor update, the shop came back and said the best price they could give me was $3,500. At least they came down by $1,000. I told them to go ahead with the repairs. I don't have any other problems at the moment. I should have it back next week.

For me personally, the payback for the repairs is a good six months. By that point I should have the new truck purchased and paid in full and this one will be sent back home to the family farm. It's on the ragged edge of the curve where it is no longer worth it.

**LivingAlmostLarge** · 11-13-2020, 09:57 AM

Why didn't you use the $3500 to put down on a newer truck and focus the next six months on paying off anything you'd have to borow? Wouldn't that be a better use of the $3500?

**myrdale** · 11-13-2020, 12:49 PM

Originally posted by LivingAlmostLarge View Post

Why didn't you use the $3500 to put down on a newer truck and focus the next six months on paying off anything you'd have to borow? Wouldn't that be a better use of the $3500?

Possibly.

The major unknown is what the actual life of the 02 Frontier will be. Spending the $3,500 is a gamble. It very well may last another 50,000 plus miles before there is another major issue. The engine or transmission could blow up when I pull it off the lot next week.

The ultimate goal is to pay cash for the new truck, preferably with an account I opened specifically for that purpose, without touching my checking or savings.

When I started saving, I had originally planned to budget $32k, and as of today, the account is at $33k. The vehicle I am interested in currently is listed with an MSRP of $39k. When I hit $35 or 36k is when I am planning on pulling the trigger.

I could move that from checking or savings today, but between that and the repair cost I'd be below my comfort zone.

I could make the purchase today and have a car loan which would be paid off within a year, but that is outside of my goal of remaining debt free.

Then again I may be able to talk them down to the $33k mark today. Chances are though I will need to order the truck so I am guessing that is less in my favor for negotiating pricing down.

I could have postpone the repairs on the Frontier, it was running just fine when I took it in the shop, other than problems that have most likely existed for months for which I was unaware of.

I could buy a cheaper model Tacoma. I don't "need" four doors, or 4 wheel drive. I want them.

I could buy a used Tacoma. The popular phrase I hear is "Toyota's hold their value". A 10% discount on a truck with 20,000 miles does quit balance for me.

Despite the shock of the repair bill that I had yesterday, I have put myself in a position with several options.

On paper, I believe the most economical decision is chunk the old truck, buy a used truck for $10k or less, and put the balance towards my future rental empire. In 20 year's I'll let you know if choosing a want was the right choice or not. After all, that point the Tacoma will hopefully be in the same place the Frontier is today.

**LivingAlmostLarge** · 11-16-2020, 01:09 PM

But $3500 + $33k is $36.5k And that's the amount you were thinking of spending.

**QuarterMillionMan** · 12-23-2022, 04:22 PM

This is the closest matching thread I could find. BTW, I hope someone doesn't have a hissy fit for me resurrecting an old thread, lol. But my dreaded engine light came on so I used my diagnostic tester and it gave me a code PO420, which has something to do with the catalytic converter and/or O2 sensors. I cleared the code hoping it was a mistake code last week but this week it came back on. I just ordered two O2 sensors for the upstream and downstream w/each sensor costing $25 each so $50 total would be a cheap and easy DIY fix. But these check engine light deals can be complicated and if needed I would take it to the dealer or Pepboys but they often will find something else that they want to service so I'll try and fix it myself first if I can.

**Fishindude77** · 12-24-2022, 06:02 AM

When you consider the price of new vehicles, $3500 is peanuts to keep one going.
Kudos to you for getting your money's worth out of a vehicle.

Note - I looked at the Tacomas and have stuck with half tons. They get nearly the same mileage plus a lot more room and better ride. Only reason to have a Tacoma, Ranger or similar would be if your garage space is tight.

**ua_guy** · 12-24-2022, 07:02 AM

Originally posted by QuarterMillionMan View Post

This is the closest matching thread I could find. BTW, I hope someone doesn't have a hissy fit for me resurrecting an old thread, lol. But my dreaded engine light came on so I used my diagnostic tester and it gave me a code PO420, which has something to do with the catalytic converter and/or O2 sensors. I cleared the code hoping it was a mistake code last week but this week it came back on. I just ordered two O2 sensors for the upstream and downstream w/each sensor costing $25 each so $50 total would be a cheap and easy DIY fix. But these check engine light deals can be complicated and if needed I would take it to the dealer or Pepboys but they often will find something else that they want to service so I'll try and fix it myself first if I can.

Don’t forget the anti-seize for the threads on the new sensors. And an O2-sensor socket, unless you think you can put the new ones in with a wrench.

Just 2, not 3? Must be a 4-cylinder?

**QuarterMillionMan** · 12-24-2022, 08:17 AM

Good points ua_guy, I have Loctite for the threads, and I ordered an 02 socket w/the opening for the wires, it uses a 3/8" drive rachet for $7 on eBay. Yes 4 cylinder. The O2 sensors looks easy to access with lots of space to work with.
7/8-Inch 22mm Offset Oxygen O2 Sensor Socket Wrench Removal Tool Drive 3/8" | eBay

Truck Maintenance