1990 Corolla: fix tranmission, or junk?

As most here have suggested in the past and will likely suggest again...

Have you checked the transmission fluid levels? Are they where they should be? How many miles on the car? Have you drained & filled the transmission fluid recently?

Do you do regular maintenance?

Your Corolla is old enough that it doesn't have as good safety equipment as later vehicles. That's another reason to get a new one.

However, while we can't predict what will break next, generally older cars are cheaper to own than new cars, even with these repairs. Insurance is cheap and payments on the new car are years away (you hope).

If you decide to junk it, the junk will come and get it and give you some bucks. And can also shop around for a transmission rebuild or replacement.

Jeff

Oh, why not? More likely they don't want the trouble of the job. Point is, if the trans is shifting OK, then replacing the bearing is not an insurmountable job, but the amount of labour is quite large to pull the trans out, split the case and replace the bearing and whatever else absolutely needs doing while the trans is apart.

You likely best bet is to see what $2500 will buy you as a used car in the

Call the nearest wrecker and ask what they'll give you if you drive the car there. Typically its about $100. Don't just give it to them. Remove any extras you want, esppec newish tyres, replacing them with worn out ones.

SD

Get a $$$ value for the car. If everything else is OK, fix it to 30% of that $$$ value. Maybe 50% if you really like the car.

If it were something like a Supra, a Cressida or a Celica All-Trac or something like that, you'd be doing well to fix it, as these models are appreciating daily. But Corollas are a dime-a-dozen.

One thing you haven't mentioned is the miles on the car. If it's quite high (probably is, given 17 years' service) it would figure into the rationale for keeping or ditching it.

Also, how's the body and interior, pristine or full of Big-Mac wrappers and mud? Dents? Tires? We know the alternator is good. You also say the engine is leaking in several places. How good or bad is it otherwise?

Not knowing the details above, I'd be inclined to advice ditching it for a few bucks at the wrecking yard. If it's a daily driver and your skill at repairs is not terrific, it'll be laid up a long time....can you cope without it? The other factor is the 'commonness' of the car. If it were an odd one, like a Buick Wildcat or Grand National, or high end car like an old Lezus or Infiniti, or a convertible, or classic beetle, yeah, maybe it will gain in value, but a Corolla, unless previously owned by Paris Hilton or the Pope, not a chance.

"mack" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@corp.supernews.com:

If the car was once owned by Paris Hilton you'd have to fumigate the cooties out of it before driving it.

Is that pre-jail cooties or post-jail cooties?

Find out what it would cost to replace your car and weigh it in terms of how long you will keep the car after a costly repair. If you choose to have it repaired make sure that the "warranty" includes the cost of labor. Don't buy into "warranties" that just cover the component. IMHO.

With her, there's a diffrence?