Pickup Truck Dilemma, Fix Old or Buy New?

[workinallthetime]

i would take the unit to a local delership and have them check it out, should cost you about a 100 bucks to get the COMPLETE diag on the ses light with estiamte for repair as well as take care of any outstanding recalls. If the repairs are more than what you want to do the unit is allready at the dealer and you can get a quote for a trade in. Most dealers will give you a free 20-50 point inspection as well as recomended service's needed for your units condition.

 

[Builder]

i would take the unit to a local delership and have them check it out, should cost you about a 100 bucks to get the COMPLETE diag on the ses light with estiamte for repair as well as take care of any outstanding recalls. If the repairs are more than what you want to do the unit is allready at the dealer and you can get a quote for a trade in. Most dealers will give you a free 20-50 point inspection as well as recomended service's needed for your units condition.

Hey, where you been?

Workinallthetime?

You haven't been around much!!

 

[Sackett2]

The check engine light is usually an emmissions part problem like the oxygen sensor or something. If you go to Autozone, they will diagnose it for free. If the engine and transmission are still good, I would keep it and repair the minor problems.

Auto zone will read the code, but diag can be more complicated.

 

[Sackett2]

Check engine light!!! I went 60K miles with the check engine light on. I put duct tape over the light because it bugged me so much. When I traded it at 100K in they said it was the O2 sensor.

It ran fine I wasn't about to take it in for $200.00 worth of diagnostics so they could just push a reset button - no thanks.

need to look past the "push the button" it dosn't work that way.
A o2 sensor determines how much fuel your engine needs based upon the emissions. A faulty sensor can effect mileage and/or performance. So bu not repairing it, the fuel mileage can go down, you burn more fuel, clog up the cat and end up getting towed to the shop. Dad's 91 ford truck had the cel on when he bought it used, within a few months the bill was 900.00 a 250. diag and repair would have been cheaper.
While the tech has the ability to turn off, or reset a light, if the problem isn't repaired it will just come back on again. It's important to know why the light is on and when it needs to be fixed.

 

[Turbys_1700]

I squeezed 225K miles out of a 96 Seville and traded her in when the head gasket was ready to go. I spent some money on her to keep it going but overall I saved a bunch of dinero putting off buying earlier. I am now of the mindset to keep on repairing until a transmission of engine is ready to go. Just my take but I would repair the truck and run her until the wheels fall off.

 

[canoetrpr]

In my experience, you have to have a LOT go wrong before it becomes worthwhile to replace a vehicle over repairing it - particularly with a new one.

That said, I tend to replace after 10 years - not because I have to but because I WANT to. My needs do change over that period. Just sold my 10 year old Honda Accord. With 300k km it was generally running like a swiss watch. Even if I needed a new engine, it would only cost a few months of what I am paying on my truck! I really wanted a truck though and I had a crappy back and the 5 speed manual was getting to be a pain.

There are lots of reasons to buy new, but none of them are about saving money IMHO.


All of that said, I think this is about the best time you will find in a while to buy new if you want to do it. If you are a dodge man - the 2009 redesign of the Ram is really sharp. 2010s should be out soon. All three of the big 3 are making some REALLY nice 1/2 tons and good discounts and/or financing can be had.

 

[Gem99ultra]

<snip>A o2 sensor determines how much fuel your engine needs based upon the emissions. A faulty sensor can effect mileage and/or performance. So bu not repairing it, the fuel mileage can go down, you burn more fuel, clog up the cat and end up getting towed to the shop.<snip>

You are exactly right! O2 sensor will eat up your gas mileage like a stuck choke. BT-DT on my '97 Chebie 1/2 ton. The fix is as close as your nearest auto parts store. CRC has a fix-it-in-a-bottle for O2 sensors, $8.00, that is guaranteed to fix it within 300 miles. It does clean off the sensor and clears the light. Beats $200+ to replace the sensors, for sure.

 

[The Dougster]

It's been my experience that Autozone's testers are pretty low level and almost always point to the oxygen sensor(s) .... same experience suggests that more often than not, it will be the mass airflow sensor (MAF), which should run well under $100... if'n it wus me, that's the first part I'd replace then have the check engine light reset...

 

[nmu98]

It's been my experience that Autozone's testers are pretty low level and almost always point to the oxygen sensor(s) .... same experience suggests that more often than not, it will be the mass airflow sensor (MAF), which should run well under $100... if'n it wus me, that's the first part I'd replace then have the check engine light reset...

Most MAF's can be cleaned with alchohol. Especially if you use a foam air filter. Its not a bad idea to clean them often if you use any type of oiled filter. Most do not need to be replaced.

 

[workinallthetime]

Hey, where you been?

Workinallthetime?

You haven't been around much!!

hey man been workin, lol. bought done with the live in remodel job, running a service department at a gm dealer, and educating techs and customers on gm units. I still do some tractor work as I have time and cant wait to dive back into it full time.

To the O/P, we can talk and talk about this ses light but until you get some sort of diag on it we are all just doing something up a rope, lol. With the economy the way it is, the "who owned this before me" factor, and the fact that you know your ole truck, spend a little and get it looked at by a pro and let us know what they say. I have customers bring me the autozone print offs on a regualr basis, I will usually advise my techs of it with a slight chuckle and tell them to figure it out. I cant count the times ive seen someone spends countless $$$$ chasing a simple problem but they didnt want to take it to a dealer to fix cause they charge to much. In the end the they spent way more than the trip to the delare would have ever cost.

SES light is said to be due to an emission problem, that being said a trans not shifting right is an emission problem due to extra fuel being used, a engine missfire is an emission problem due to unburned fuel exiting the exhaust, see where im going? lots of things can turn on your ses along with actual exhaust problems.