Is it time??

[Tonka]

2013,190000 miles, timing chain slapping and cackling pretty hard at times, fuel mpg has decreased greatly averaging 11.6 mpg, needs a few bushings replaced and a few other things, and window switch, and little leak in rear cv axle. Just got it out the shop not too long ago for throttle body. Had front differential done in January! It’s starting to eat money and timing jobs are expensive$. It’s my daily driver to haul the family around. I don’t know if i want to put more money into it . Thoughts?

 

[DieselMonk]

Well… you only told half of the story. What is the condition of the frame, body and inside?
If you got not much rust, tranny works, outside and inside looking good, I don’t see any reason to part with it yet.

 

[Trainmaster]

I just replaced my 2008. In the past two months, I installed new springs because one broke and one shock leaked. The rear differential was leaking and was a quart low. One axle seal was replaced. A mild wheel bearing noise has begun. I replaced four body mounts, and one leather seat back cover. It has 178,000 miles and two of the body mount flanges are rusted away. A flexible braided steel brake line let go in a panic stop at 60 MPH which could have been disastrous. I heard a very faint bottom end knock when hot.

I fully intended to let it go another year or two. It rides like new and excepting the faded black parts, look like new. The body's perfect and the rocker panels have been replaced.

A fantastic deal came along on a new two-year old SSV. $16,000 below sticker price with ten miles on it. A new car.

I'm still feeling like I should have pushed the old babe another year or two, but I was starting to fear reliability on Long trips. Just made two trips of over 1500 miles with no trouble.

But --- did I want to risk another brake line blowing out? Or a sweating power steering hose bursting on the George Washington Bridge. Around here a tow can cost well over $1000.

Replacement is a question of reliability. Do you putter around town? Or will you be 500 miles from home when the fuel pump bites the dust?

Anyone want my 2008?

I suppose it comes down to two questions:

Has the truck earned its retirement?

Can you afford its replacement?

 

[max78]

You could spend about $3k or $4k to fix all the issues and have a nice driving reliable truck.

Or you could go and buy a newer truck, that's what we did with our 09 with 240K miles on it. Just too much going on to justify dumping $ into it.

 

[Tonka]

Thanks for the feedback! The frame is good and solid. Rust on passenger rocker panel. Inside is to be expected lol kids! I’m going to keep it I’ve always keep cars till they couldn’t drive anymore lol. Plus stuff is so expensive these days but if I can find something for a good price and have this as a second car I will and work on the stuff I can do. I feel the truck still got more life, hopefully I can find someone to do the timing job for a good a price.

 

[BigOleFordFan]

Well, I won't buy a new Expy due to the high prices, even though I can easily afford one, but I simply don't believe they are worth the $85-125K asking prices....

So the good ole '011 will just have to keep on keepin on a while longer

BUT OTOH, rumor has it that used car prices are trending downwards, so this MIGHT be a good time to be shopping for a newer mode, if you can find one with the features you want, low-ish mileage etc....

No harm in looking, or waiting a bit longer too....

Good luck either way !

 

[Vincent Vega]

@Tonka I would replace the engine vs a timing job due to the amount of miles you have on it, and swapping an engine is not much more work than a timing job on these. A new engine done by a good mechanic will cost $8-10k. I would do it myself, for around $5k for the engine and other parts I would renew like hoses, motor mounts, etc. The window switch is something like $100, easily done yourself. The CV axle leak would cost a few hundred bucks for a gear shop to fix. I wouldn't do that myself because special tools are needed, its a pain in the ass if you haven't done it before, and it isn't that expensive to have it done. I would have both seals replaced and a fluid service.
If you like working on cars, keep it because new ones are about a million dollars. If you have to call a mechanic every time something goes wrong, fixing the old one probably won't pencil out for you. Something else is going to wear out after you fix these issues.

 

[skydude]

2013,190000 miles, timing chain slapping and cackling pretty hard at times, fuel mpg has decreased greatly averaging 11.6 mpg, needs a few bushings replaced and a few other things, and window switch, and little leak in rear cv axle. Just got it out the shop not too long ago for throttle body. Had front differential done in January! It’s starting to eat money and timing jobs are expensive$. It’s my daily driver to haul the family around. I don’t know if i want to put more money into it . Thoughts?

220,000+ miles , 2012 Florida car.. replaced the engine at 130,000 (cam phaser issue),
Shocks, bushings, all the hoses and a few other things.. I figure spent 10k.. no regrets, I tow a boat, and I've cross this country twice and been to Canada 3 times.
I am very happy with the comfort of this car.. and will probably keep it for awhile.. hopefully it will take me to Alaska.

 

[Jamo]

I kind of have the opposite problem. I only have 114,000 on my 2014 EL LTD, but the rockers are toast. Thanks to the rubber lowers, she still looks good, and runs/drives great. I hate to upgrade (if it is in fact an upgrade) as I have the last of the V8's, the reason I went for that year in 2018. My body guy said it was not worth the money to fix them. I'll most likely keep running her until things get worse. Very happy with it...

 

[Snuffy]

Unfortunately, unless you plan to replace the engine and keep it for the long haul, yes it’s probably time. My 2013 in amazing condition with 185K and full synthetic oil changes every 5K miles, started making the normal timing chain/phaser noises. Truck was otherwise in great shape.

My mechanic said it could be a few weeks or many months, but after seeing all the metal shavings in an oil change I knew it was not good. It was only a few weeks and it died a horrible death, leaving me stranded in rush hour traffic, and worth WAY less than than if I’d been able to sell or trade in a running vehicle, even with a condition disclosure to a private buyer.

Just be aware that no matter what you put in to repair it (parts or new engine) you are not likely to get that money back when you do eventually sell it. Running, my otherwise perfect 2013 King Ranch was worth about $4-5K. Non-running, I managed to get $2500.

Sorry I don’t have better news, at least based on my experience 8 months ago.