My car hates me...

bcredliner · #1 03-19-2016, 01:28 PM

I think that any vehicle with say, 65,000 miles or greater, even one with a complete history and great PPI is a shot in the dark as far as what will be the cost to keep it going. Certainly, if there is complete history, 1-2 owner, PPI checks out and it is low miles the risk is considerably less but I think a reasonable expectation of reliability of any vehicle of that age and with significant miles on it would be to spend less than the payments, depreciation, insurance. It's still a "some you win, some you lose".

If DIY is not in the cards, I would add to the best way to buy is to buy a newer model and a warranty that will cover at least the major potential repairs, for no other reason than labor cost. Not that many years ago labor cost was not as big a factor, not because price of labor was less, but because things were simpler and there was more room to work so less labor hours were warranted for work. Very seldom do I tackle a DIY project than I don't spend a considerable amount of time removing other stuff to get to what I want to replace.

upallnight · #2 03-19-2016, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bcredliner

..................................Not that many years ago labor cost was not as big a factor, not because price of labor was less, but because things were simpler and there was more room to work so less labor hours were warranted for work. Very seldom do I tackle a DIY project than I don't spend a considerable amount of time removing other stuff to get to what I want to replace.

On most cars or truck to disconnect the battery to work on something like an alternator is just a 2 minutes job, but on our X you need to empty the trunk, remove the trunk floor, remove the spare tire, remove or loosen the compressor from it mount in order to get to the battery to disconnect the negative cable. So a simple 2 minutes job is now a 20 minutes job, add back the time it takes to reassemble everything back together at the end and you end up with close to 40 minutes.

bcredliner · #3 03-20-2016, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by upallnight

On most cars or truck to disconnect the battery to work on something like an alternator is just a 2 minutes job, but on our X you need to empty the trunk, remove the trunk floor, remove the spare tire, remove or loosen the compressor from it mount in order to get to the battery to disconnect the negative cable. So a simple 2 minutes job is now a 20 minutes job, add back the time it takes to reassemble everything back together at the end and you end up with close to 40 minutes.

I took care of that a few years ago with a quick disconnect but I know what you mean, that was frustrating.

squidzilla · #4 03-20-2016, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bcredliner

I took care of that a few years ago with a quick disconnect but I know what you mean, that was frustrating.

There is a quick disconnect option? Do you mind elaborating a bit? I would prefer that over the usual 40 minute headache that I go through.

admranger · #5 03-20-2016, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bcredliner

I took care of that a few years ago with a quick disconnect but I know what you mean, that was frustrating.

That sounds handy, as others have mentioned. Details please!

X53Jay4.8is · #6 03-20-2016, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by upallnight

On most cars or truck to disconnect the battery to work on something like an alternator is just a 2 minutes job, but on our X you need to empty the trunk, remove the trunk floor, remove the spare tire, remove or loosen the compressor from it mount in order to get to the battery to disconnect the negative cable. So a simple 2 minutes job is now a 20 minutes job, add back the time it takes to reassemble everything back together at the end and you end up with close to 40 minutes.

Can't you just disconnect the alternator power cable from the fire wall in order to change the alternator?

upallnight · #7 03-20-2016, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by X53Jay4.8is

Can't you just disconnect the power cable from the fire wall in order to change the alternator?

Never did it that way since most of the write ups calls for disconnect at the BATTERY.

Disconnecting a live wire with all the grounds near the firewall and the firewall itself is not something I would recommend, not unless you want to weld your wrench or socket to to whatever it happens to touch.