wow...forgot about those odd birds...reminds me of a couple others...Isuzu I Mark diesels, LUV diesels, Chevette diesels etc. Seemed like everything had a diesel option for a while.
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Limited Velvet Red over Wicker Beige
2024 Audi Q5 Premium Plus Daytona Gray over Beige
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I also remember Lincoln bustleback and Mk VII Continental diesels, Ranger and Escort diesels, of course the big GM diesels (I remember finding a diesel Monte Carlo on a used car lot about 10 years ago - how rare is that?), and IIRC the first gen Camry was also offered in a diesel.
someone that lives near me has an early vintage Rabbit diesel, and I occasionally would get stuck behind it on the way to work. Did not smoke much at least. ] I had to laugh though, since it has a trailer hitch on it. Hope it is not a very heavy one!
He was being European. You'll see trailer hitches on insane stuff there, and they use them too. Note to caution, never buy a normal used car with a trailer hitch.
Just heard from the kid. Dealer got to the Acura today (the one that was towed in Saturday, dead as a doornail). They could not even jump it in the parking lot, so had to put a new battery in. After doing that, they said it was running fine in the shop and everything seemed to have checked out. So must have been a complete battery meltdown.
too bad he did not make it to walmart. Would have saved me some money! Or if he had tools and knew what to do with them...
hopefully this is now it for the year. Just need him to make it to May (graduation) and get a job, then go get his own car!
Oh yeah, yesterday I went for a ride in my sister's new Sonic. I forget the trim level, but it has fancier wheels, foglights, bluetooth and XM radio, etc. Not a turbo. It's a blandbox, but she had it on the road after tax, fees, and gap insurance for 18K even - so you get what you pay for. Made in the USA, that's a plus. Seemed smooth and quiet enough for a small car, I didn't notice any assembly problems. Sportbike-style instruments are funny. I am sure it will survive it until it hits around 150K or so and she's ready to move on again.
It replaced an 04 Focus, which she loved, but she feared was about to have problems - not to mention it was over 160K, worn brakes, cracked windshield, had been in an accident, and she claimed was consuming coolant and she couldn't figure out where. So maybe not a bad time to move on. Equivalent new Focus she shopped was over 22K, which exceeded her comfort level.
stick - glad to hear that it was a simple fix. Let's hope he can get through one more NY winter with it.
fin - for some odd reason, the Sonic hatch really appeals to me. Yeah, it's kind of funky looking, but the one Edmunds is testing is winning over folks left and right (once they got the funky smell out of it). Could probably get an LTZ with the 1.4T for under $20K out the door.
It's a blandbox, but she had it on the road after tax, fees, and gap insurance for 18K even - so you get what you pay for.
The Sonic we were looking at was just under $20k I think, LTZ, pretty loaded up. Glad we picked up the Focus instead, $17.5k OTD after rebates for a $21.5k car, then subtract the $6500 trade which was more than the Chevy dealer was offering.
Focus has just over 800 miles on it now and hubby loves it. He said its so much better than the Civic, quiet and very pleasant to drive. I don't find it pleasant, then again, my knee hates clutches. Its funny how the car drives just like the Escort and the 04 Focus we had, shifts the same, clutch is the same. Ford is good at making small cars.
Funny, I drove the same car y'all just bought and didn't like the auto tranny at all...couldn't wait to get back in my '06 Civic with it's smoother shifting. At this point, we've taken Ford off our list of possible new vehicles. Thought the Jetta I drove about an hour after the Focus was a much better drivers car also...a possible contender right now.
The Sandman :sick: :shades:
2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2025 VW GTI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)
Same here, I miss having the chance to choose a Grand Marquis or Towncar now and then. These days I try to get a Fusion but they have become pretty rare on the rental lots, I'm fine with the new Focus or Escape. I wish the Jetta and Passat models they carry had a least ONE option on them, but they are all stripped base models but I still like driving them.
The only thing I won't drive is a Malibu, compared to the other options in that class (Fusion, Altima, Accord) it's absolutely horrible.
Ditto, congrats on the Focus. I've had a few for rentals and I'm really impressed with them. Your hubby's Civic was one of my all time favorite cars but I'd consider the new Focus a solid replacement, hope it holds up well over the years.
My parents had a '95 Camry exactly like this, out of the 3 they owned (this one, a 2002 and 2008) this was by far the best of them all, I loved that car. They put well over 200k on the first two, then ditched the 2008 in favor of an AWD Murano. I still think the Camry is a great appliance car but the new ones don't come close to this era.
Funny, I drove the same car y'all just bought and didn't like the auto tranny at all...couldn't wait to get back in my '06 Civic with it's smoother shifting.
Hubby hated the automatic in the Focus, hated it in the Civic too. That's why his Civic was a manual and so is his new Focus. He won't drive an automatic, unless its my Sierra or my daughter's Yaris. For his own car he likes to row his own gears.
I'm the opposite, I hate driving a manual, but that's only because of 3 surgeries on my left knee several years ago left it badly damaged. Pushing in a clutch is very painful to me.
Ditto, congrats on the Focus. I've had a few for rentals and I'm really impressed with them. Your hubby's Civic was one of my all time favorite cars but I'd consider the new Focus a solid replacement, hope it holds up well over the years.
Thanks. He's super happy with it. I like the car, don't like driving a manual transmission, so I'll stick to my Sierra. I don't miss the noise and ride of the Civic. If our 95 Escort (160k miles, sold to a friend) and 04 Focus (54k with no issues before I sold it) are any indication I think this Focus will be just fine.
those suckas do like to rust. Always an adventure, not knowing which RR crossing is the one that will snap your frame in half.
I wonder if you had way too much time on your hands and a big enough garage, if you could take them all apart and make one actually good/sound/running (though likely multi-colored) truck out of this mess?
I'm sure there's enough in there to make one or two halfway decent trucks. How did the frames on these tend to hold up? I know the beds were usually the most rust-prone component of the truck.
I guess if you started with one of the 1-ton frames, you might be able to build a decent truck out of all those parts.
it lives again. Son has car back, after a new Honda battery and full check over. My wallet is $143 lighter, not really that much more than a DIY from autozone, and at least we have peace of mind. Plus, son gets another hard lesson in the realities of being poor (so maybe he will apply himself more to his last year of classes, and job hunting!).
but, said it is running fine, lights work, all that good stuff. Once he found the radio code in the owners manual. No tunes would have been a fatal failure.
oh, the dealer decided to try to take advantage of a "rube". Recommended changing the PS fluid, trans fluid,and brake fluid, as they were "dirty". Plus a fuel system cleaner (guess the throttle parts were dirty too, though not sure how they would know!)
the PS I could believe, since is probably original (170K almost). But I am skeptical, since I replaced the trans fluid last year, and the brake fluid was changed with the front brakes this spring. So I will wait until next oil change (I have those done down here when he is home) and see what they say about the PS. Will probably throw a bottle of hi-po Techron in next time I see the car to take care of the fuel system. The car runs fine and gets good mileage, so can't be causing too much of a problem!
That's not too bad overall, stick. I might recommend to him not to drive to far from his home base at odd hours for little while, though, just in case the alternator is not as sound as the dealership would like him to believe. If that's the case, it will take a little while before the new battery is drained out. (not trying to freak anyone out... just playing it cautious!)
2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
well, he is at college. So it pretty much sits around a lot, with a couple short hops (like to the beer store!) real local, and every few months a long trip (250 miles) to come home.
So it could take a while for a problem to resurface! But if your fear came true, he would likely be close by.
and the Moe's and the Wegman's that sells beer are right across the street from the dealer. So most likely, he will be close to that too.
The non-OEM battery in the Altima was around $125 with tax installed, so your price sounds fair.
Theoretically, the alternator light is supposed to come on if there's something wrong with the charging system, but I would bet many here have a story of a dead alternator with no warning.
My son had his first accident, today... Rear-ended a pickup truck that had stopped quickly... Following too closely.... tow hitch and bumper on the truck was higher than his.... pushed in the grill and creased the hood.
14,510 miles, as of this morning at my fuel stop on the way to work. Overall average MPG now at 23.28 – calculated with Excel.
Smiles per gallon = at least that many!
Even setting aside the European delivery trip with my Daughter, my experience with this BMW has been quite sublime. With the sole exception of very low speed ‘stop & slow’ traffic [ a couple of miles on my commute home, on a typical afternoon ] the dynamics have proven to be simply wonderful. My enjoyment is commensurate with the [ admittedly high ] cost. I am very pleased with my choice, and I would do this again – in a heartbeat. [ If I could afford it. ]
As I have written here before, the twin turbocharged engine is smooth and powerful. Low RPM TQ and extraordinary flexibility. High RPM HP available at a moment’s notice. A jewel. The DCT is a paragon of quick but very smooth upshifts and perfectly rev-matched downshifts. The exhaust plays music – to my ears. The brakes and suspension have never failed to impress me. The sport seats are quite comfortable, supportive and widely adjustable. Everything is holding up very well – no signs of wear, no rattles, creaks, moans or groans.
- Ray Looking forward to another 15,000+ miles of motoring bliss . . .
Theoretically, the alternator light is supposed to come on if there's something wrong with the charging system, but I would bet many here have a story of a dead alternator with no warning.
I think I've had two alternator failures out of all the cars I've had. The first was on a 1980 Malibu. In its case, when you started the car, the light would come on, but then would just glow faintly. The way my Granddad explained it, "it didn't have enough juice to turn itself all the way off", which I thought just seemed odd.
My '68 Dart had an alternator failure, too. It had a gauge instead of an idiot light, with a "D" on the left and "C" on the right. Normally the needle would stay in the middle, but on acceleration or at higher speeds it would be a bit towards the "C". In some situations, such as stopped at a traffic light with the a/c on, it would be towards the "D". And stopped, with the turn signal or hazards on, the needle would bounce in time with the lights. When the alternator failed, the needle just stayed toward the "D" side of the gauge, and didn't move at all.
my wife had a 68 Dart and the alternator went just before we traded it in on a 71 chevy Nova. Kept parked for a week Took the fully charged battery inside the apt. then installed and drove it to the dealer with no problem. Beautiful blue coupe with vinyl roof and matching seats. I think it was the Dart 270. They still look great.
In all of the many cars I've ever owned, I have had ***ONE*** alternator fail and it failed in dramatic fashion.
It was my 1989 Buick Le Sabre T Type. All was well with the world until one morning it started right up, drove a half mile and the radio became full of static. As I fiddled with the radio, the engine started to miss. No warning lights or anything else.
Then the engine died leaving me in the middle of a busy street. I was able to coast far enough that I only partially blocked the lane I was in.
And, it was DEAD!! The 4 way flashers wouldn't even work.
I had NO IDEA what had happened! How can a fully charged battery go totally dead in a half mile?
Luckily I have a long standing Triple A membership that I rarely use. I've carried the card since high school.
The Buick was towed to a shop where they determined the alternator was bad.
They installed another one and charged the battery and all was well.
I asked the guy how such a thing could happen without warning and he told me.." They do that!"
A buddy had the identical thing happen with his Oldsmobile.
I had one go in my 79 Continental. It went while I was driving home. Lights were dim and wipers veerryyyyy slow. I limped it home and put a reman in the next day from one of the big-box part's stores.
That one lasted for about 6 months. So, 20 something years for the first and less than a year for the reman.
The first time I had the engine out of my '96 Subaru, I failed to tightly connect, upon reassembly, one of the two connectors that attached to the back of the alternator. The unit was working (not spectacularly well, but it worked at highway speed) at the time, but stopped charging the battery because of this little oversight as the connector worked its way loose.
We headed out of town on a trip to Chugiak and made it approximately 30 miles when all of a sudden the speedometer just went dead (no other lights on at the time). I was a little concerned by that, but kept driving. A mile or two later, the other lights on the dash started randomly coming on and going off, including the battery light, then came on constant (all dash lights), then all went out. Moments later, the engine started misfiring and it became clear to me what the issue was (power!).
We drifted to the side of the road. I popped the hood expecting to find a major issue, but 30 seconds later we were ready to go. I just needed another motorist to stop and give us a jump! Lucky for me, the next car along (about three minutes later) stopped. I already had my cables ready and waiting, so it took moments for us to be back on the road.
But, no pre-warning of a charging issue.
To contrast, my 1998 Escort blew two alternators while I owned it. Both times, the dummy light on the dash would come on any time the alternator was not charging. Because of that, I was able to deal with the issue in a non-emergency fashion.
2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
I just thought of something really stupid that I did a few years ago. My buddy's '04 Crown Vic died on a busy highway, with a very narrow shoulder. He called me for help. I knew I wouldn't be able to get beside him to jump him, so instead I pulled a battery out of one of the other cars, came up to where he was stranded, and planned to jump start him with that battery.
I also called the mechanic I was using at the time, whose shop is in the area, and he said my friend could bring it in (this was a Saturday afternoon, so I really thought we lucked out there). Well, I jumped my friend with that battery, told him to go on to the shop, and I'd follow him.
The car ended up dying about 4 more times between that point and the repair shop. Now why neither of us didn't think to just put the spare battery in his car, I'll never know. The second time it died, though, my friend suggested putting the spare battery in the passenger compartment and running the jumper cables from it to the other battery under the hood. I told him that sounded like an accident just waiting to happen!
Anyway, I had another obligation to get to, so I left my friend at the repair shop and went on my way. Found out later that the mechanic just threw in another battery and said "you're good to go", only to have it fail in a day or two. Turns out it was the alternator.
Still, looking back, it bugs me to think that neither of us thought to just put my spare battery in his car! The only thing I can think of is that I was in a hurry, didn't think it through in that detailed of a fashion, and I probably just grabbed whichever battery was easiest to get to. And didn't bother to find out whether the Crown Vic had top posts or the side mount. In retrospect, it was probably a side mount, since most modern cars have those it seems, and the battery I grabbed was probably a top post.
n retrospect, it was probably a side mount, since most modern cars have those it seems
Not a Crown Vic. Top post all the way. I hate side post batteries. The one in my S10 was so nasty with corrosion it broke the terminal when I went to change the battery.
well, seems that the story is not over. Just heard from my son, who said he took the car down to the supermarket and it started doing the exact same thing (dash going wonky, starting to run funny) as last time.
so, back to the dealer. Something is obviously not right that they did not bother to figure out the first time.
thankfully the Honda dealer is pretty much across the street from the shopping center where the wegmans is, so he (crossing fingers!) can limp over there, and get the courtesy shuttle back up to his apartment.
good thing he doesn't actually need a car for the most part (until it is time to come home).
but, I am starting to get tired of this car. Giving me strong vibes that I may have kept it a little too long, as opposed to getting rid of it a bit too early!
Just hope whatever they trace ti to (assuming they can!) doesn't break my wallet, since the car itself can't be worth all that much. Though if it doesn't run, it is worth even less!
he almost made it to the dealer. a few red lights did him in. But he could see it from the taco bell parking lot where it died. Considering they just took money and sent him on his way yesterday, they should feel guilty enough to go down and retrieve it! Most likely they can jump it off a box, and get it to at least limp in.
does not sound like they really checked anything else out. The new battery just seemed to cure the problem, since it had plenty of juice to run on for a while.
I really don't want to have to deal with it being dead. No money for a replacement (well, I do have a minivan I don't need, but I want the money out of that!).
so, even if it needed an alternator ($$?) or BCM, most likely I would just bite the bullet and do it, hoping that was the end of it.
My money's on the alternator, sir! Depending on the cost of that itself, I wouldn't think more than $300 out-the-door. I agree that they should get it to their shop from the TB location down the street as a courtesy given the limited diagnostics the first time around. :sick:
2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
Comments
The Autocheck says the other 3 owners were in the Vegas area.
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Limited Velvet Red over Wicker Beige
2024 Audi Q5 Premium Plus Daytona Gray over Beige
2017 BMW X1 Jet Black over Mocha
I also remember Lincoln bustleback and Mk VII Continental diesels, Ranger and Escort diesels, of course the big GM diesels (I remember finding a diesel Monte Carlo on a used car lot about 10 years ago - how rare is that?), and IIRC the first gen Camry was also offered in a diesel.
There was a diesel Maxima hanging around my area until a few years ago...I bet it sold to someone out of the area, that would be weird enough to keep.
they had a FS olds, a Maxima, and a Benz.
Even found the link:
http://www.caranddriver.com/features/battle-of-the-diesel-beaters
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
]
I had to laugh though, since it has a trailer hitch on it. Hope it is not a very heavy one!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
I had just moved up north the year before and only remember some pickups that wouldn't start in the winter.
Funny reading all the "black cloud" comments in the article.
I think old slow smoky early 70s diesel MBs and troublesome Rabbits hurt diesels as much as the GM issues.
too bad he did not make it to walmart. Would have saved me some money! Or if he had tools and knew what to do with them...
hopefully this is now it for the year. Just need him to make it to May (graduation) and get a job, then go get his own car!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
It replaced an 04 Focus, which she loved, but she feared was about to have problems - not to mention it was over 160K, worn brakes, cracked windshield, had been in an accident, and she claimed was consuming coolant and she couldn't figure out where. So maybe not a bad time to move on. Equivalent new Focus she shopped was over 22K, which exceeded her comfort level.
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Limited Velvet Red over Wicker Beige
2024 Audi Q5 Premium Plus Daytona Gray over Beige
2017 BMW X1 Jet Black over Mocha
fin - for some odd reason, the Sonic hatch really appeals to me. Yeah, it's kind of funky looking, but the one Edmunds is testing is winning over folks left and right (once they got the funky smell out of it). Could probably get an LTZ with the 1.4T for under $20K out the door.
Well, I can think of worse ways to do that! :P
The Sonic we were looking at was just under $20k I think, LTZ, pretty loaded up. Glad we picked up the Focus instead, $17.5k OTD after rebates for a $21.5k car, then subtract the $6500 trade which was more than the Chevy dealer was offering.
Focus has just over 800 miles on it now and hubby loves it. He said its so much better than the Civic, quiet and very pleasant to drive. I don't find it pleasant, then again, my knee hates clutches. Its funny how the car drives just like the Escort and the 04 Focus we had, shifts the same, clutch is the same. Ford is good at making small cars.
The Sandman
2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2025 VW GTI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)
The only thing I won't drive is a Malibu, compared to the other options in that class (Fusion, Altima, Accord) it's absolutely horrible.
Hubby hated the automatic in the Focus, hated it in the Civic too. That's why his Civic was a manual and so is his new Focus. He won't drive an automatic, unless its my Sierra or my daughter's Yaris. For his own car he likes to row his own gears.
I'm the opposite, I hate driving a manual, but that's only because of 3 surgeries on my left knee several years ago left it badly damaged. Pushing in a clutch is very painful to me.
Thanks. He's super happy with it. I like the car, don't like driving a manual transmission, so I'll stick to my Sierra. I don't miss the noise and ride of the Civic. If our 95 Escort (160k miles, sold to a friend) and 04 Focus (54k with no issues before I sold it) are any indication I think this Focus will be just fine.
the only thing that scares me on it is the AT (DSG), but you solved that problem!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
I wonder if you had way too much time on your hands and a big enough garage, if you could take them all apart and make one actually good/sound/running (though likely multi-colored) truck out of this mess?
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
I guess if you started with one of the 1-ton frames, you might be able to build a decent truck out of all those parts.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
but, said it is running fine, lights work, all that good stuff. Once he found the radio code in the owners manual. No tunes would have been a fatal failure.
oh, the dealer decided to try to take advantage of a "rube". Recommended changing the PS fluid, trans fluid,and brake fluid, as they were "dirty". Plus a fuel system cleaner (guess the throttle parts were dirty too, though not sure how they would know!)
the PS I could believe, since is probably original (170K almost). But I am skeptical, since I replaced the trans fluid last year, and the brake fluid was changed with the front brakes this spring. So I will wait until next oil change (I have those done down here when he is home) and see what they say about the PS. Will probably throw a bottle of hi-po Techron in next time I see the car to take care of the fuel system. The car runs fine and gets good mileage, so can't be causing too much of a problem!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
So it could take a while for a problem to resurface! But if your fear came true, he would likely be close by.
and the Moe's and the Wegman's that sells beer are right across the street from the dealer. So most likely, he will be close to that too.
Hopefully it does not of course.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Theoretically, the alternator light is supposed to come on if there's something wrong with the charging system, but I would bet many here have a story of a dead alternator with no warning.
My son had his first accident, today... Rear-ended a pickup truck that had stopped quickly... Following too closely.... tow hitch and bumper on the truck was higher than his.... pushed in the grill and creased the hood.
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So.. I got that going for me... :surprise:
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14,510 miles, as of this morning at my fuel stop on the way to work. Overall average MPG now at 23.28 – calculated with Excel.
Smiles per gallon = at least that many!
Even setting aside the European delivery trip with my Daughter, my experience with this BMW has been quite sublime. With the sole exception of very low speed ‘stop & slow’ traffic [ a couple of miles on my commute home, on a typical afternoon ] the dynamics have proven to be simply wonderful. My enjoyment is commensurate with the [ admittedly high ] cost. I am very pleased with my choice, and I would do this again – in a heartbeat. [ If I could afford it. ]
As I have written here before, the twin turbocharged engine is smooth and powerful. Low RPM TQ and extraordinary flexibility. High RPM HP available at a moment’s notice. A jewel. The DCT is a paragon of quick but very smooth upshifts and perfectly rev-matched downshifts. The exhaust plays music – to my ears. The brakes and suspension have never failed to impress me. The sport seats are quite comfortable, supportive and widely adjustable. Everything is holding up very well – no signs of wear, no rattles, creaks, moans or groans.
- Ray
Looking forward to another 15,000+ miles of motoring bliss . . .
I think I've had two alternator failures out of all the cars I've had. The first was on a 1980 Malibu. In its case, when you started the car, the light would come on, but then would just glow faintly. The way my Granddad explained it, "it didn't have enough juice to turn itself all the way off", which I thought just seemed odd.
My '68 Dart had an alternator failure, too. It had a gauge instead of an idiot light, with a "D" on the left and "C" on the right. Normally the needle would stay in the middle, but on acceleration or at higher speeds it would be a bit towards the "C". In some situations, such as stopped at a traffic light with the a/c on, it would be towards the "D". And stopped, with the turn signal or hazards on, the needle would bounce in time with the lights. When the alternator failed, the needle just stayed toward the "D" side of the gauge, and didn't move at all.
So, what car will you be driving for those miles?
(Remember what discussion you're posting in lol).
Nice encapsulation of a fun ride.
but the next 15,000 miles will be
in the same car....
- Ray
... unless I hit the lottery
It was my 1989 Buick Le Sabre T Type. All was well with the world until one morning it started right up, drove a half mile and the radio became full of static. As I fiddled with the radio, the engine started to miss. No warning lights or anything else.
Then the engine died leaving me in the middle of a busy street. I was able to coast far enough that I only partially blocked the lane I was in.
And, it was DEAD!! The 4 way flashers wouldn't even work.
I had NO IDEA what had happened! How can a fully charged battery go totally dead in a half mile?
Luckily I have a long standing Triple A membership that I rarely use. I've carried the card since high school.
The Buick was towed to a shop where they determined the alternator was bad.
They installed another one and charged the battery and all was well.
I asked the guy how such a thing could happen without warning and he told me.." They do that!"
A buddy had the identical thing happen with his Oldsmobile.
That one lasted for about 6 months. So, 20 something years for the first and less than a year for the reman.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Icon I6L Golf Cart
We headed out of town on a trip to Chugiak and made it approximately 30 miles when all of a sudden the speedometer just went dead (no other lights on at the time). I was a little concerned by that, but kept driving. A mile or two later, the other lights on the dash started randomly coming on and going off, including the battery light, then came on constant (all dash lights), then all went out. Moments later, the engine started misfiring and it became clear to me what the issue was (power!).
We drifted to the side of the road. I popped the hood expecting to find a major issue, but 30 seconds later we were ready to go. I just needed another motorist to stop and give us a jump! Lucky for me, the next car along (about three minutes later) stopped. I already had my cables ready and waiting, so it took moments for us to be back on the road.
But, no pre-warning of a charging issue.
To contrast, my 1998 Escort blew two alternators while I owned it. Both times, the dummy light on the dash would come on any time the alternator was not charging. Because of that, I was able to deal with the issue in a non-emergency fashion.
I also called the mechanic I was using at the time, whose shop is in the area, and he said my friend could bring it in (this was a Saturday afternoon, so I really thought we lucked out there). Well, I jumped my friend with that battery, told him to go on to the shop, and I'd follow him.
The car ended up dying about 4 more times between that point and the repair shop. Now why neither of us didn't think to just put the spare battery in his car, I'll never know.
Anyway, I had another obligation to get to, so I left my friend at the repair shop and went on my way. Found out later that the mechanic just threw in another battery and said "you're good to go", only to have it fail in a day or two. Turns out it was the alternator.
Still, looking back, it bugs me to think that neither of us thought to just put my spare battery in his car! The only thing I can think of is that I was in a hurry, didn't think it through in that detailed of a fashion, and I probably just grabbed whichever battery was easiest to get to. And didn't bother to find out whether the Crown Vic had top posts or the side mount. In retrospect, it was probably a side mount, since most modern cars have those it seems, and the battery I grabbed was probably a top post.
Not a Crown Vic. Top post all the way. I hate side post batteries. The one in my S10 was so nasty with corrosion it broke the terminal when I went to change the battery.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Icon I6L Golf Cart
so, back to the dealer. Something is obviously not right that they did not bother to figure out the first time.
thankfully the Honda dealer is pretty much across the street from the shopping center where the wegmans is, so he (crossing fingers!) can limp over there, and get the courtesy shuttle back up to his apartment.
good thing he doesn't actually need a car for the most part (until it is time to come home).
but, I am starting to get tired of this car. Giving me strong vibes that I may have kept it a little too long, as opposed to getting rid of it a bit too early!
Just hope whatever they trace ti to (assuming they can!) doesn't break my wallet, since the car itself can't be worth all that much. Though if it doesn't run, it is worth even less!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
I'm three weeks from the wedding so I feel your pain. About to get the final bill from the venue. :sick:
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Icon I6L Golf Cart
Could be the BCM, which was $600 to replace on my Saturn L300.
This might be the death knell for the Acura.
does not sound like they really checked anything else out. The new battery just seemed to cure the problem, since it had plenty of juice to run on for a while.
I really don't want to have to deal with it being dead. No money for a replacement (well, I do have a minivan I don't need, but I want the money out of that!).
so, even if it needed an alternator ($$?) or BCM, most likely I would just bite the bullet and do it, hoping that was the end of it.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.