Quote:
Originally Posted by jb92563
Its not fun to drive it when you feel like it is unreliable and could fail at any moment.
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Absolutely! Mine is a hobby and after an engine rebuild I have slowly been giving it more responsibility. First it was just driving around (with a AAA card), then back and forth to work (1 mile each way) then (take a breath) picking someone up from the airport. The engine mechanicals are rock solid, but all the ancillary bits are suspect, will the clutch switch allow the car to start?, how about the ignition switch, or the light switch, or the alternator? I won't even mention the wheel bearings.
So what's the therapy? Change the parts that bug you even if they are good (yes, that's a tip of the hat to the bearing that must not be named). Some folks find this a waste of money, but for me it's peace of mind while driving.
When you get a new car, all of the parts are new and have plenty of run time before they fail. With a decade old car, maybe some of those parts need replacement even if they are still functional (for now).
Every car I've owned has been over ten years old. I figure out what fails first and carpet bomb the car with new parts. This includes everything on the engine that always spins when the engine is running as well as the braking system. It costs more up front but keeps things simple.
I've followed that philosophy with my current box and have been driving more and more. I'm actually beginning to trust it for long distance trips. I also occasionally drive with everything but the engine off just listening to the mechanical sound just to make sure everything is cool. So far, it sounds solid so it's time for more driving, except the horn recently stopped working...