Home » It’s Wrenching Wednesday! What Car Problems Are Not Worth Fixing?

It’s Wrenching Wednesday! What Car Problems Are Not Worth Fixing?

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Vetatur Fumare
Vetatur Fumare
9 months ago

The ones that begin with a Blue Oval up front. (sorry; I hate my Ford Focus)

Theotherotter
Theotherotter
9 months ago

My Sentra SE-R has had a worn bushing in the upper driver’s door hinge that means the door sags about half an inch when I open it. It’s been this way for well over 15 years, and I have automatic muscle memory for pulling the door nearly shut then lifting it gently to latch. Likewise, one of the two trunk hinge springs has been out for, again, well over 15 years. I did fix it once and it came out again. It’s a pain to do it solo. So I lift up *just so* on the lid before pulling the release, or I often have to stick something under it to push it up; I close it gently. The key in the lid has likewise been stuck for closing on 20 years. One fog light has had a broken lens for that long – I’ve had a replacement for that long, but never felt like tackling the rusty hardware to take the lamp off. The AC quit working and I just went without, since I’ve had something else to drive since 2004. Geez, this makes the car sound like a mess but it’s not!

The seat heater (driver’s side for sure) on my Saab doesn’t work – it’s automatic – and I probably know why, but fixing it requires removing the seat covers and I really never felt like doing that. It is mostly garaged in the winter so this is no big deal. I have fixed almost every other little thing on that car.

Mr. Asa
Mr. Asa
9 months ago

Right now I have a set of wheels on the Miata that don’t have TPMS sensors in them. Its a non-issue for me for now, mainly because the last shop I talked to wanted about $185 to dismount, install sensors (that I provide,) mount, and balance tires.

Bleh.

Josh Jones
Josh Jones
9 months ago
Reply to  Mr. Asa

Ooof… I’m really glad that I have the amazing tire shop that I do ~1 mile up the street from me. They charge slightly more for their tires than the other local places, but everything else is basically included for free.
You have to call for an appointment because they’re so busy, but they’ll do just about anything you need with your wheels/tires. Balancing, rotations, fixing flats, installing stems/tpms, etc. is all dirt cheap or free if you’re a regular, and they’re usually done by the time you get through the line to pay.
They’re awesome, and also just a bit insane… their shop literally caught fire a decade or so back and they kept changing people’s tires on the other side of the shop until the fire department kicked them out.

Mr. Asa
Mr. Asa
9 months ago
Reply to  Josh Jones

I used to work at Pep Boys, and had several friends that still worked there until about a year back. Up until they left I hadn’t paid for a tire balance or mounting for near 10 years.

I hate it.

Aardvark775
Aardvark775
9 months ago

Dents in left right front and left rear fenders from minor mishaps, various scratches and scuffs, cracked windshield. Car drives just fine and is an absolute base spec 2009 Accord with 4cyl, cloth seats, and manual trans. No problem with it in 140k miles other than the starter died and needed replacing recently. I see no point in fixing any of the cosmetic stuff as this is just transportation, not a collectors item. I’ll keep it running and fix mechanical stuff until it either becomes impractical or gas engines are outlawed, whichever comes first.

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