I don't know what to do, I need your help.

Since the forums don't have an automotive section, my post is going here.

I have a 1991 Dodge Caravan SE with 280k miles on it. I bought it for $600 flat from a used car dealership, and it's been nothing but trouble. Including the cost of the vehicle, I've invested about $3,000 into the beast. And it's still having problems. Most of the money went into having the engine partially rebuilt (seals replaced, retouched etc). Now the transmsission is shot, and they want around $1,200 to fix it. The money's been coming out of my savings (which originally had a mere $5k) and is now down to 3.8K. I'm afraid that if I go have the transmission fixed, something else is going to fail and cost me even more money!!!

What I was thinking of doing now, is selling the van or parting it out to reclaim as much money from it as possible, then rebuild my savings, and start over. The only problem is that I can't help but wonder if I DID fix the transmission, that it would run perfect for a long time??!! I've already done SO MUCH to it, cleaning/refurbing the interior, engine work, new tires, even the winshield wipers are new! I don't want to make a seriously bad mistake here! PLEASE HELP! (and don't strike me for buying the van in the first place)

Thank you~

 

dont spend another penny on that badly designed old worn out shitbox ...it will continue to break and break again . cut your losses n run .

 

280k it is probably not going to ever be in good shape. Just thinking aloud with the 5k you had in savings why didn't you just buy a nicer car to begin with instead of wasting money into the piece?

 

A fool and his money, I suppose.

 

Wow heero what a nightmare!


I don't know anything about cars but I would tend to agree with Makno on this one.

You sound like me when I'm sitting at the blackjack table after losing all night, afraid to walk away because I know I'm going to pull blackjack on the next draw.

Don't throw good money after bad, cut your loses, bite the bullet, and take the lesson.

 

in life your first loss is your best loss . i do know a bit about cars but this relates to everything ....if only i could applied my get out when it dont pay theory to pretty girls ...but no i got a little to attached and sought to bolster my bad investment with yet another ....well then the inevitable ......those vans dont work well at their best 280 000 miles is = to 101 years old

 

Heh the only problem now is getting the damn thing to move. Before I completely knew what was wrong I parked it in front of RadioShack (where I work) and it hasn't moved since. I can't even get it into neutral, and the tires are brand new so I need to avoid skidding on them as much as possible. Wow this is going to be fun.

 

yea fucking machienes break fucking people die ....se la vie se la guerre

 

Working at a car dealership myself I know there are always deals. If you haggle with a a salesman at any reputable dealership you can get a pretty good car with low mileage ranging anywhere from $4-10,000. I don't know how much you can finance or afford but it might be worth it to invest a little into something reliable and safe.

 

In the personal forum section there's one called "Backyard Mechanic" ask there.

 

Dodge caravans and plymouth voyagers are notorious for blowing trannys. I understand the predicament you are in. it is kind of a catch 22. Unless you can afford to buy a newer vehicle in perfect condition, you are going to have to make repairs. You could get rid of this vehicle and buy a different headache, or you can continue fixing the headache you have. I would suggest getting a Chiltons manuel from the auto parts store and learning to fix it your self. You can get parts that are in good shape frm the junkyard and save alot of money. As far as moving it right now without skidding the tires, if you can't get it to shift into neutral, climb underneath the van and disconnect the drive shaft. It will most likely leak some fluid, so if you do this remember to put some back in after you fix it. I wish I could be more helpful, but I don't really know much about cars.

 

Well things are looking up!!! The people that towed my van know my parents and gave me a deal, and might be able to throw a used tranny in it for almost nothing! Things might work out fine~

 

i didnt read all the responses or even past the first paragraph of the original post...

but i must say.... kid, you just learned a lesson. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER!! buy a cheap ass car like that. what the fuck you thinkin?