Really don’t know what to do about this car

[Immadismom]

Purchased a 2012 Nissan Sentra 3 years ago with 58,000 miles on it for DD to drive, in hopes It would last through college. It’s been great until the last 5 months. In 5 months we’ve replaced the A/C for $900, replaced the transmission at 96,000 miles for another $3,000, new brakes & rotors for $250.

Now, the check engine light is on. We’re getting codes via a code reader for an O2 sensor, a torque clutch solenoid, and lean fuel in B1. I have limited knowledge of what any of these mean. Add to that, DH believes it needs a new left front rack & pinion. And, 3 of the door locks don’t work.

I owe on this car still (dont want to get into that), and it has 97,000 miles on it.

DD and I want to sell it, recoup what we can and get her something else. It’s likely we could get enough for it as-is to have $1,000 left toward a down payment on another vehicle. DH feels like we should just fix the rest of what’s wrong and hope for the best. DH feels like with the current car market, we’re better off to “go with what we know” than possibly end up with another car with headaches. We’re not finding anything under $12,000 with less than 100k or more miles. I strongly want to get DD a Honda or Toyota at this point, as we’ve had great luck with both for our other two kids, and DH and I both drive one of each.

I truly don’t know what to do!

 

[Southernmiss]

I'm with you and dd.

However, this is an awful time to buy a car and I don't know when it will be any better.

Does she drive it long distances or is she away at college?

Truthfully, in May of 2020 we had to buy 2 new to us autos and one this February. The prices for something decent are now outrageous and we had to spend close to $20,000 even in 2020 to get a reliable Toyota Corolla.

 

[Immadismom]

I'm with you and dd.

However, this is an awful time to buy a car and I don't know when it will be any better.

Does she drive it long distances or is she away at college?

Truthfully, in May of 2020 we had to buy 2 new to us autos and one the February. The prices for something decent are now outrageous and we had to spend close to $20,000 even in 2020 to get a reliable Toyota Corolla.

Around town isn’t so bad, she drives 3 miles each way to work. However, she will be returning to college mid-August and that is 2 1/2 hours away. I can’t send her that far away with this car unless we drop a bunch more $ to fix it, or get her something different.

 

[tvguy]

Man, you are in a tough spot. ANYTHING you buy right now is going to be over priced.
Nissans are known for their awful CVT transmissions. Everything else seems to be normal wear items that you would have with any car of that age and mileage. I would start by taking it back to the transmission shop and have them address the torque clutch solenoid. THAT should be covered under their warranty.
Financially, you will be thousands ahead fixing it. Whether you are comfortable with that is another question.

 

[Southernmiss]

Around town isn’t so bad, she drives 3 miles each way to work. However, she will be returning to college mid-August and that is 2 1/2 hours away. I can’t send her that far away with this car unless we drop a bunch more $ to fix it, or get her something different.

I'd say get something else.

In May of 2020, we had a similar situation. Our son had an otherwise decent Honda Civic that just randomly shut down as he drove! He was at college 2.5 hours away and drove at night in not so good parts of town. 4 mechanics couldn't track the issue.

We cut our losses and got him the Toyota Corolla.

He's graduated and still driving it and will be for some time.

 

[TwoMisfits]

Here's the thing - if you daughter thinks this car is unsafe, she won't feel safe driving it. And if she doesn't feel safe driving it, I wouldn't want her driving to college in it.

That would be my starting point. Everything else would be secondary.

If it were me, I'd be seriously thinking of a small new car (or practically new car) with zero bells and whistles and high safety. And I'd be thinking college graduation gift.

PS - I never put more money into a car than it's worth. That said, the money that's already in shouldn't be counted b/c it's a sunk cost.

 

[Immadismom]

Man, you are in a tough spot. ANYTHING you buy right now is going to be over priced.
Nissans are known for their awful CVT transmissions. Everything else seems to be normal wear items that you would have with any car of that age and mileage. I would start by taking it back to the transmission shop and have them address the torque clutch solenoid. THAT should be covered under their warranty.
Financially, you will be thousands ahead fixing it. Whether you are comfortable with that is another question.

I’ve learned about the CVT issues, after we were already stuck with the car. Hard Lesson learned!!! Sadly, we had to replace with a brand new Nissan transmission & have a 1 year warranty on that. Do you really think they will fix the torque clutch solenoid with that? That seems the most costly repair from what I’m reading.

I know we’re in a horrible spot right now. It makes me physically ill to even think about it.

 

[tvguy]

I’ve learned about the CVT issues, after we were already stuck with the car. Hard Lesson learned!!! Sadly, we had to replace with a brand new Nissan transmission & have a 1 year warranty on that. Do you really think they will fix the torque clutch solenoid with that? That seems the most costly repair from what I’m reading.

I know we’re in a horrible spot right now. It makes me physically ill to even think about it.

The torque clutch solenoid is part of the transmission, and the one year warranty should cover the part and labor.

 

[Immadismom]

The torque clutch solenoid is part of the transmission, and the one year warranty should cover the part and labor.

Thank you!! I will be taking the car back for this fix, at a minimum. This may help us if we decide to sell, so we can at least have one less thing wrong with it!

 

[JAMIESMITH]

02 Sensor is really a non issue. Every vehicle we own has a code for that.

 

[dclpluto]

You get yourself a new car give your car to your daughter. When I say new I mean new not new to you.

 

[kymom99]

You get yourself a new car give your car to your daughter. When I say new I mean new not new to you.

I was going to suggest having her take one of your cars to school. That’s what I would do. Not sure of your situation but my husband and I could make due with the problem car until we could figure something out. Our cars aren’t anything fancy. Nothing we wouldn’t trust our adult son with. Try not to purchase anything in a hurry.

 

[Micca]

Man, you are in a tough spot. ANYTHING you buy right now is going to be over priced.

tvguy is right. Under other circumstances I could see cutting your losses and getting a different vehicle, but in today's car market you'll over-pay the value of the vehicle. It is a tough spot, I'm sorry to hear about the stress it's causing you.

 

[LYSE]

You get yourself a new car give your car to your daughter. When I say new I mean new not new to you.

Might be the best option...if you special order a car you could avoid paying a markup in exchange for patience.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I would likely fix it in this market, too. Car prices are ridiculous. (Like everything else!)

 

[sam_gordon]

I would lean toward fixing the issues simply because you will overpay for a new (or new to you) vehicle right now. What will the repairs cost? I wouldn't expect the O2 sensor to be that much (possibly something you can do yourself?), the solenoid I'd take @tvguy at his word and ask at the transmission place. The lean fuel may be related to the O2 sensor?

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

Do not buy a new car. You are going to be so far upside down since you will have to get a loan that you will be stuck with it for YEARS. Fix it and drive it yourself and send your daughter with one of your cars.

 

[qle]

Would selling it + use public transportation/ Uber be an option until car prices come down?

 

[tvguy]

Might be the best option...if you special order a car you could avoid paying a markup in exchange for patience.

I guess it depends on the region and the dealer. Here if you order the dealer still wants $10,000 over MSRP. My neighbor tried to order a car and he got the same response from all the dealers when he complained about the markup. They understood people were upset, but it was simple supply and demand. If my neighbor didn't pay the markup, someone else would, and the dealers are only getting about a quarter of the cars they could sell, so they have to make four times as much on each sale.

 

[LYSE]

I guess it depends on the region and the dealer. Here if you order the dealer still wants $10,000 over MSRP. My neighbor tried to order a car and he got the same response from all the dealers when he complained about the markup. They understood people were upset, but it was simple supply and demand. If my neighbor didn't pay the markup, someone else would, and the dealers are only getting about a quarter of the cars they could sell, so they have to make four times as much on each sale.

It does depend..so I ordered a car out of state and will have it shipped or fly and drive back (shipping is less than 1500 worst case scenario) I ordered it at about 1k under sticker