What’s Car Talk’s Second Opinion? Joe Might Be Able to Skip the New Engine!

• Location: Boston, MA
• The Opinion: New Engine
• The Boat Payment: $5,000
• The Savings: $1,400

Joe’s daughter let her Honda Element run low on coolant. Unfazed by those increasingly stern warning lights appearing in the dash, she drove on for miles — until the car overheated, warping the engine block.

Realizing that it was time to see a mechanic, she turned the keys back over to dear old dad, who took it to the dealer. Repair was out of the question due to the extent of the damage.  The Element needed a new engine and the dealer could get one for $5,000. Or he could consider a rebuilt engine for less money– but also fewer guarantees.

Joe picked up the phone and called Car Talk Second Opinion. Our mechanics thought that putting a brand-new engine in a used car didn’t make the most sense. And for a car with less than 100,000 miles, the dealer’s $5,000 offer to repair the car was not all that generous. With a little research, our mechanics found a replacement engine that came with a 70,000-mile warranty. And, once that engine is purchased and installed (for an estimate of $3,600), the car’s trade-in value will be back up in the neighborhood of $12,000.  Our mechanic saved him $1,400 up front and even with the initial investment, ensured that Joe can look forward to getting almost twice as much on a trade-in as the dealership originally offered.

Update: Joe replaced the engine with a used model and a brand-new water pump (the probable culprit). The Element is still a beloved member of the family.

Source: http://www.cartalksecondopinion.com/blog/2012/02/08/whats-car-talks-second-opinion-joe-might-be-able-to-skip-the-new-engine/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=whats-car-talks-second-opinion-joe-might-be-able-to-skip-the-new-engine

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