Car Needs a CV Axle Boot

@win231, It is sometimes hard for me to get things done like @Ruthanne. I am not worried about the money. I just picked mine up, $477 later. most of it routine maintenance.

My question is, I was to have an inspection done. They could not do it as the brake lights were out. Electrical problem, they fixed that but now the car has to be driven 100 miles to reset everything before inspection. Why is that, why did someone come up with this stupid idea?
 
@debodun Believe me when I tell you that you are living on borrowed time with that car. Probably what has saved you so far is that you drive so little.

However, I just had a brilliant idea! The Honda dealer will pay top dollar on a trade-in for a new car because used cars right now are very hard to find. And interest rates are high so new cars are moving slowly.

You have said yourself that you suffer from analysis paralysis. This ain't the time. Figure out the value of your car, choose a new car, make the deal, pay, and do it before your axle breaks and you're sitting by the side of the road wondering what to do next.

Go to edmunds.com and enter all the relevant info to get a ballpark figure of the value of your car. You can also go to kbb.com to see how much they say. IMO, edmunds.com is more accurate and more realistic than kbb.com.

1. Ask at the dealership about buying a new car. They'll want your car.

2. Do not answer any questions that aren't asked. If asked if there's anything wrong with it, just say it needs a CV boot and let it go at that. The repair is small potatoes to them. Otherwise, don't say a word.

3. Pay cash but do not tell them you are paying cash until you have agreed on a car, have worked your best deal and are ready to sign and write the check.

The reason you don't tell them you're paying cash is because they'll be eyeing the $$ they'll make from whatever institution where they place your (non-existent) loan. If they know you're paying cash, there's no $$ forthcoming from that bank/credit union and they won't be so anxious to negotiate.

Trust me. I'm old and know stuff;)
 

Deb, with your vision issues, having a car with the latest features is great. Remember, I have the same vision issues you have.
My car warns if I‘m too close when parking.
The backup cameras are better than any mirror and twisting of your neck.
The brakes can respond better than you can.
Some cars warn when you’re drifting out of a lane.
If someone comes into my blind spot, there are lights that flash or give a warning.
This car is six years old so there are probably more features available now.
Buy the very best you can and plan on having it for the rest of your life.

Remind yourself that whomever inherits your money will be doing something for themselves. Probably buying a fancy new car.
 
So when your axle breaks or something else major goes wrong due to not replacing that boot it's the dealer's fault?

For crying out loud! Stop being intractable and inflexible and ornery and just plain stubborn.

The ball is not in their court. The ball is in your court. Go over there to the service department. Tell them what you need and make an appointment. Get a loaner while your car is in the shop. In the meantime, don't drive your car anywhere that isn't absolutely critical. You're putting your life in danger and possibly the lives of others when the axle goes, and it will. There's just so much stress it can take.
 
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debodun said:
24 hours now and the dealership service department has not contacted me.
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And it's not likely that they will. They are busy. You know, busy? Their customers can't afford new cars so they're repairing what they have. There's likely a steady stream of people in and out of the service department so who the heck do you think has the time to deal with a phone call? Go there.

Oh, botheration! You asked what you're supposed to do. You've had a lot of good suggestions. You still won't do anything. So don't. Let the car fall apart. Let it require extremely expensive repairs that you still won't do anything about but will complain about long and loud. Meanwhile, you'll have nothing to drive unless you want to rent a car...like you'll ever part with the $$ for that.

You've asked many times in the past what to do about this problem or that. You've ignored suggestions, just like you're ignoring the suggestions for what to do now. Your car is going the way of the too-long-deferred maintenance and repairs on your former home. Soon, very soon, the car will have no value except maybe to be parted out.

What the heck use is your money to you when you won't let it work for you when needed?
 
Buckeye said:
Hmmm. Perhaps your "reputation" has preceded you at the Dealer Repair shop. I dunno.
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Probably. Like the contractors who wouldn't work on her house or even show up to quote on a job. The CV boot isn't the problem, @debodun; you are!

ETA: Once again, as with many other threads started by Deb, I'm done. Deb doesn't want suggestions and doesn't want solutions. She just wants to complain about her lot in life.
 
Georgiagranny said:
Probably. Like the contractors who wouldn't work on her house or even show up to quote on a job. The CV boot isn't the problem, @debodun; you are!

ETA: Once again, as with many other threads started by Deb, I'm done. Deb doesn't want suggestions and doesn't want solutions. She just wants to complain about her lot in life.
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debodun said:
I knew you'd understand, Georgiagranny.
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Sadly, I think she does.

God Bless!
 
May be if you call them and tell them you'd like to make an appt to bring in your car, or that your thinking of buying a new car...they'll probably call you RIGHT back.

It's worth a try....say it in such a way that they want your business.
 
The problem wasn't the front axle CV boot after all. The service advisor at Honda said there were other things leaking (oil pan and cam plug) that the previous mechanic may have mistook for a bad boot. However, they said I needed rear end sway bar links for it to pass state inspection. Bottom line for that repair was $323.36.

Now my question is - how critical are the oil pan and cam plug leaks? Should I have them repaired ASAP? The estimated cost of the oil pan leak would be $700 + tax and the cam plug would be $165 + tax.
 
debodun said:
The problem wasn't the front axle CV boot after all. The service advisor at Honda said there were other things leaking (oil pan and cam plug) that the previous mechanic may have mistook for a bad boot. However, they said I needed rear end sway bar links for it to pass state inspection. Bottom line for that repair was $323.36.

Now my question is - how critical are the oil pan and cam plug leaks? Should I have them repaired ASAP? The estimated cost of the oil pan leak would be $700 + tax and the cam plug would be $165 + tax.
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How important is it to you to NOT run out of oil going down the road and lock up your engine? THAT would cost you thousands, if it were even still repairable. THAT is how critical it can be.
 
That poor car has apparently been neglected for far too long. Trade it before it nickels and dimes you to the poorhouse.
 
The simple answer is potentially very important (If as I think 'oil pan' means 'sump' ) Unless it has been damaged, I would have thought that possibly only the gasket had failed. However if you leak oil and the engine loses oil pressure, you could wreck the engine.

However,as we found, once you start having problems, you keep on having them. So, when Mrs. L's car started having problems, we went looking for a new car. I don't know if they're sold in the US, but the Dacia range is very popular here. It's a subsidiary of Renault and uses tried and tested technology. It's very well equipped and has a 4 year warranty. It may lack some finesse, but it's half the price of an equivalent VW.
 
debodun said:
I don't see any oil spots on the garage floor where the cars usually sits. Probably should get a second opinion.
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No hurry. Let your analysis paralysis have free reign. Give it a few months before you get a second opinion, another few months for a third opinion...

There's a difference between being tight and being frugal.
 
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