Gotta vent - this junker is killing me
#1
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Gotta vent - this junker is killing me
My 95 is causing me more grief than any sane person can tolerate. Every month it is something new, something big. Last month PCM, previous month - EGR, in July - the cooling fans. This month air mix actuator. Now traction control. C'mon - no one can keep a car going under these circumstances.
Last year, water pump, rear struts (not fixed), air conditioner (not fixed), master cylinder sensor (not fixed).
The list is much, much longer. Many things are unfixed because of time and cost.
Supercharger coupler rattles, radio lights & controls don't work, wiper arms bent, fuel pump chirps like a bird, boost and temp gauge dance incoherently.
Here is the real gripe. I bought this car new in 95. It has been babied and garaged it'* whole life. I have receipts for every thing I purchased for this car including wiper blades and even gasoline. I am no mechanical slouch. I actually owned a repair garage for 6 years in the early 90'*. I just can't justify trying to keep this thing going. It is very clear that GM engineered this car for 10 years or 150K miles and then it will completely self-destruct.
In the last two years I have only put 5K miles on this car because it is always broke or too uncomfortable to drive because of it'* condition at the time. It was very reliable for the first 10 years of it'* life (unlike my GXP). This really makes me wonder if my GXP will screw me even worse later on.
I know there are fixes for all the stuff I mentioned. But who has the time or energy to do an 8 hour car repair in their garage once a month. It'* no longer worth it. Someone tell me why I still have this car??? It'* like continuing to date a girl you know is bad, because of the memories.
This will probably get moved to General Chat because I really don't want advice on fixing this stuff, I already know how, I'm just too tired and frustrated to do it.
Last year, water pump, rear struts (not fixed), air conditioner (not fixed), master cylinder sensor (not fixed).
The list is much, much longer. Many things are unfixed because of time and cost.
Supercharger coupler rattles, radio lights & controls don't work, wiper arms bent, fuel pump chirps like a bird, boost and temp gauge dance incoherently.
Here is the real gripe. I bought this car new in 95. It has been babied and garaged it'* whole life. I have receipts for every thing I purchased for this car including wiper blades and even gasoline. I am no mechanical slouch. I actually owned a repair garage for 6 years in the early 90'*. I just can't justify trying to keep this thing going. It is very clear that GM engineered this car for 10 years or 150K miles and then it will completely self-destruct.
In the last two years I have only put 5K miles on this car because it is always broke or too uncomfortable to drive because of it'* condition at the time. It was very reliable for the first 10 years of it'* life (unlike my GXP). This really makes me wonder if my GXP will screw me even worse later on.
I know there are fixes for all the stuff I mentioned. But who has the time or energy to do an 8 hour car repair in their garage once a month. It'* no longer worth it. Someone tell me why I still have this car??? It'* like continuing to date a girl you know is bad, because of the memories.
This will probably get moved to General Chat because I really don't want advice on fixing this stuff, I already know how, I'm just too tired and frustrated to do it.
#2
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I have had a few moment where I was ready to Burn mine to the ground.. I was ready to go park the sucker in an empty lot and throw the fire at it and be done with it...
If I had the $$ I would come get the car from you and fix it..
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If I had the $$ I would come get the car from you and fix it..
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#3
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I know how that feels, my 98'* been giving me problems lately, but I just decided to drive it till it dies, fixing it as I can, and when either engine or trans goes, I'm gonna buy something else and just take my time and restore it.
#5
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Everything has its mechanical limits and It seems that yours is hitting that mark with all thats wrong with it. Id say hit up a junk yard for the parts that you need.
No sense in going new if you can offset the cost by going to a JY for your parts.
No sense in going new if you can offset the cost by going to a JY for your parts.
#6
DINOSAURUS BOOSTUS
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Our cars do continue to get older. I found myself doing a lot of maintenance when I got the car. It'* a pretty long list..and now...
It'* like a new car. (prolly cause I did every stinking thing)
It'* like a new car. (prolly cause I did every stinking thing)
#7
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My list is nuts... and grows... When motor #2 went down the crapper I was ready to Buy a Montanna and head back to FL...
The Bad part, and good part... I still have the bonnie... And all it really needs is paint at the Paint booth of Brad
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The Bad part, and good part... I still have the bonnie... And all it really needs is paint at the Paint booth of Brad
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#8
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Re: Gotta vent - this junker is killing me
I am going through this right now with my 02 Just yesterday the wife and I were weighing the pos/neg on keeping or selling it. Since it'* paid for it'* hard to go back into debt on a new car, so for now I don't plan on getting rid of it. It'* sad because we bought this because of how great our 95 has been. This car is quickly proven to not even be close to the 95. The 02 only has 26K miles
The only issue I blame myself for is I should have researched the shimmy issue more before I bought the car. I noticed the shimmy when I test drove the car but I thought it was do to a unbalanced tire. I spent around 1300 in it trying to fix it.
Since then I've had the steering rack replaced, a water leak with the sunroof, a water leak in the trunk and a water leak in the rear drivers side door. My drivers side window makes noise when it gets rolled down. It is now leaking oil on top of the engine, valve covers or intake, I'm not sure. It also shifts harsh in light parking lot driving. I had to realign the glass in the sunroof because it dropped.
The water leaks and the sunroof adjustment were not covered under warranty. I was able to fix those items from the info on this site, very cheap I should add I would have to say it was less than 60 at most.
As far as some of your complaints, I too have have had a lot of the same issues with my 95
Steering wheel controls don't work. Look in the Techinfo I plan on fixing mine as soon as I can get around to it. The traction control on mine has never worked. It doesn't bother me though, it doesn't drive any different. Do a search there are a couple things you can check and it might be an easy fix. In my case it'* an expensive repair. I also had to replace the ac compressor on mine along with the struts and water pump (including all the hoses). Oh yeah, I almost forgot I also replaced the master cylinder both rear wheel cylinders and fuel pump a few thousand miles back and I had to do the upper/lower intake manifold twice (one on the lower, twice on the upper). My Cd player quit working a long time ago. I recently bought a used one on ebay that works great. I've put 3 or 4 batterys in it since I've owned it and a few sets of tires and brakes. I consider a lot of this to be maintenance on a car with over 200K
Even though I've had a lot of the same problems as your is giving you I've been very pleased with it. I would trade my 02 in a second to have my 95 new again.
The only issue I blame myself for is I should have researched the shimmy issue more before I bought the car. I noticed the shimmy when I test drove the car but I thought it was do to a unbalanced tire. I spent around 1300 in it trying to fix it.
Since then I've had the steering rack replaced, a water leak with the sunroof, a water leak in the trunk and a water leak in the rear drivers side door. My drivers side window makes noise when it gets rolled down. It is now leaking oil on top of the engine, valve covers or intake, I'm not sure. It also shifts harsh in light parking lot driving. I had to realign the glass in the sunroof because it dropped.
The water leaks and the sunroof adjustment were not covered under warranty. I was able to fix those items from the info on this site, very cheap I should add I would have to say it was less than 60 at most.
As far as some of your complaints, I too have have had a lot of the same issues with my 95
Steering wheel controls don't work. Look in the Techinfo I plan on fixing mine as soon as I can get around to it. The traction control on mine has never worked. It doesn't bother me though, it doesn't drive any different. Do a search there are a couple things you can check and it might be an easy fix. In my case it'* an expensive repair. I also had to replace the ac compressor on mine along with the struts and water pump (including all the hoses). Oh yeah, I almost forgot I also replaced the master cylinder both rear wheel cylinders and fuel pump a few thousand miles back and I had to do the upper/lower intake manifold twice (one on the lower, twice on the upper). My Cd player quit working a long time ago. I recently bought a used one on ebay that works great. I've put 3 or 4 batterys in it since I've owned it and a few sets of tires and brakes. I consider a lot of this to be maintenance on a car with over 200K
Even though I've had a lot of the same problems as your is giving you I've been very pleased with it. I would trade my 02 in a second to have my 95 new again.
#9
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Re: Gotta vent - this junker is killing me
Originally Posted by whitecrystal1
It'* sad because we bought this because of how great our 95 has been. This car is quickly proven to not even be close to the 95.
I find the '04 LeSabre we bought this year to be kinda...how should I put this...cheaply constructed compared with the '98 LeSabre.
It'* like GM pinched a penny, nickel or dime on every single body, frame, suspension, and steering component on the newer design--and it shows (and feels, and sounds).
I call the '00+ H-body a "stretched" W-body.
(I'm just glad neither of my cars have sunroofs or spoilers as leak sources)
#10
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I dare not speaketh of my list of things that have been repaired/replaced. It'* probably close, if not more than, what Boosty has done with his.
And I still have a ways to go yet.
Well, I guess I can list off what I can remember:
Engine
Transmission
Suspension (new struts, bushings, strut bearings)
Cat converter
Fuel Tank
Fuel Pump
Brakes
Cooling system (all but the radiator...and I have a new one of those ready to go in)
Steering column
Sunroof
Sunroof motor
Fixed the recline for both front seats
HUD
...and a few other things that I can't remember.
And that does not include the mod list.
And I still have a ways to go yet.
Well, I guess I can list off what I can remember:
Engine
Transmission
Suspension (new struts, bushings, strut bearings)
Cat converter
Fuel Tank
Fuel Pump
Brakes
Cooling system (all but the radiator...and I have a new one of those ready to go in)
Steering column
Sunroof
Sunroof motor
Fixed the recline for both front seats
HUD
...and a few other things that I can't remember.
And that does not include the mod list.