Click and Clack - Car Talk

"Look at her. She knows you don't love her anymore..."

That's what my friend said about my Jeep when he saw that she had been demoted to street parking. As mentioned previously, we purchased a new vehicle last weekend. Shiny new car sits proudly in the drive while good old Bucket of Bolts Betsy cries a few drops of oil on the street. So sad.

But I've got to dress the old girl up and get her ready for her new home. I already have a buyer. She'll probably end up in a chop shop in Mexico, that's where they all go eventually. I don't want to know...

She's served me well and has been my absolute favorite of the 6 cars I've owned in my lifetime. I tried replacing her once before, but she stood with me, steadfast while the newer car fell to pieces.

Now it's time to part ways.

I took her in to see my mechanic yesterday and have the most critical of repairs made; broken track bar replaced, front end alignment (required after track bar), fix the oil leak, have the brakes done and figure out what was wrong with the ABS.

There was something very strange happening with the ABS system. The idiot light came on every time I started up and it kept making a buzzing sound every 8 seconds (yes, I timed it) which sounded like the system test it performs at start up, except it was happening constantly. Turns out I need a new ABS actuator, pump and motor, to the tune of about $800 in parts ($200 core) - PLUS labor. Add that to the $360 for the track bar/alignment, $300 for a new oil pan gasket (I know that seems outrageous however there is a cross bar and something else that has to be removed before you can even get to the pan to remove it, so labor is rated at 3.5 hours) and god knows what $$ for the new brakes. Add that all up and I might as well GIVE the fucking car away.

After scoping out some junkyard options for the ABS parts, then debating whether or not to just disable the ABS and go with standard power brakes, I discovered to my delight that the whole ABS system is a recall item and has a lifetime warranty! Chrysler will fix it free of charge. Woot!

As for the rest of it, I'm fixing everything except the oil pan. The guy who is buying it seems handy... He can fix it (yes, I've disclosed). Which brings me from $1600+ down to about $500. That I can live with.

If you have a Jeep, check out the recall section on the Chrysler website. Plug in your VIN and find out what they'll fix for free!

As for shiny new car, we're still in love. I can't wait to take her up to SF in a few weeks. We're going to have a blast!