Major Car Decision--Repair or Replace?
Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2015 12:05 pm
Since there seem to be some mechanically inclined people on this board, I thought I would post this question.
I have a 2002 Honda Accord LX sedan with 185,000 miles on it and the original engine. I am the original owner. I just learned that cylinder 1 has low compression most likely due to worn rings. I was quoted $1800 to tear down and rebuild the engine or $3100 to replace the engine with a used one that has 75,000 miles on it. The Honda dealer mechanic recommended the latter option since the former one meant keeping an engine that already had 185,000 miles on it. That could just be "trash to cash" talk on his part.
I am not sure what else could go wrong with an engine that old other than perhaps the cylinders themselves wearing. That was what finally made me unload my last Honda, a 1987 Accord hatchback with 232,000 miles on it and the original engine. A third party (not dealer) mechanic recommended I just get a new car after he diagnosed the excessive cylinder wear. So I traded it for my current Honda.
The car drives okay but idles rough because of the cylinder 1 issue and is not acceptable to drive this way long term. I am a little miffed because I just replaced the timing belt and steering rods (again at a third party mechanic). The compression issue was diagnosed at Honda shortly after these services. (My reasons for using multiple mechanics across time are too complicated to explain here.)
The third option is just to trade the old car for a new one even though I love the current car and it is in excellent shape otherwise. The third party mechanic actually complimented me on how well-maintained my car looked for its mileage. I would prefer not to change cars since I despise car payments. But my preference may be due to unexamined emotions rather than sound reasoning about just how much mileage I can reasonably put on this car and the comparable "pennies per passenger mile" of the two options. Repairs are getting costly.
Edmunds has an article on this subject at http://www.edmunds.com/car-care/fix-up-or-trade-up.html which was interesting.
I welcome any informed opinions including suggestions for more "technically oriented" boards to post the question.
I have a 2002 Honda Accord LX sedan with 185,000 miles on it and the original engine. I am the original owner. I just learned that cylinder 1 has low compression most likely due to worn rings. I was quoted $1800 to tear down and rebuild the engine or $3100 to replace the engine with a used one that has 75,000 miles on it. The Honda dealer mechanic recommended the latter option since the former one meant keeping an engine that already had 185,000 miles on it. That could just be "trash to cash" talk on his part.
I am not sure what else could go wrong with an engine that old other than perhaps the cylinders themselves wearing. That was what finally made me unload my last Honda, a 1987 Accord hatchback with 232,000 miles on it and the original engine. A third party (not dealer) mechanic recommended I just get a new car after he diagnosed the excessive cylinder wear. So I traded it for my current Honda.
The car drives okay but idles rough because of the cylinder 1 issue and is not acceptable to drive this way long term. I am a little miffed because I just replaced the timing belt and steering rods (again at a third party mechanic). The compression issue was diagnosed at Honda shortly after these services. (My reasons for using multiple mechanics across time are too complicated to explain here.)
The third option is just to trade the old car for a new one even though I love the current car and it is in excellent shape otherwise. The third party mechanic actually complimented me on how well-maintained my car looked for its mileage. I would prefer not to change cars since I despise car payments. But my preference may be due to unexamined emotions rather than sound reasoning about just how much mileage I can reasonably put on this car and the comparable "pennies per passenger mile" of the two options. Repairs are getting costly.
Edmunds has an article on this subject at http://www.edmunds.com/car-care/fix-up-or-trade-up.html which was interesting.
I welcome any informed opinions including suggestions for more "technically oriented" boards to post the question.