My dad's car died last week. It's a 1999 RX300 in outstanding condition cosmetically. Even though he paid $2500 last year for an engine overhaul (for the oil gellation problem), it is now dead with a seized engine. All of the oil went out of it and the engine seized within a matter of minutes.

Now the question: what to do with the car? The dealership offered to fix it for $9,000 (LOL) or scrap it and give my dad about $2,000. But these cars seem to sell for quite a bit - like $10,000 - so it seems like a shame to scrap it. But what are the other options? We don't have the equipment to replace the engine at home and I don't know if paying $2,500 to have it fixed somewhere else would be worthwhile.

What can we expect the car to sell for in the 'dead' condition?

 

find a used engine and drop it in.

 

its worthless with any powertrain related problems everytime if you bought a cherry picker $200.00 and tools and were mechanically inclined you could do it at home although im sure it would be a pita but the engine 1mzfe correct?, came in the camry avalon etc. so Im sure you could find one cheap....... What happened to cause the oil to leak out anyways?

 

which type of RX was it? It wasnt a coach edition was it? If so send me the headrests! Anyhow to get to your question...why wouldnt it be worth it to pay 2500 to put in a new engine if you can sell the car for 10k??? your not doing any work a mechanic is and then you can sell it and make around 5k after you take the loss for the engine work that you just recently did.

Some mechanics can help you track down pretty good used engines and like other users have mentioned the engine might be the same block used in another vehicle. I know when my brothers ES300 died they put a avalon engine in it and then the lexus engine cover back on.

Or if you want Ill buy the car from you for 2500 and you make 500 more then the dealer and ill spend the time doing the work for a later profit.

 

haha he has a point

 

Who did the engine overhaul? Was there any type of warranty? Try to find where the oil leaked out from.

 

Really depends what you wnat to do.

$$: To make the most money, you should part it out, The down side is storage, time and eventually to discard the carcass,

Least cost to fix: Buy a used working engine and install it in your garage [need skill/firend, tools etc]. Down side is lack of warranty.


Best warranty possible: Go to big name shops including the dealer to get warranty (longest). Down side is cost to you. Watch out as you take delivery of the vehicle, what you spend n fixing it may be more than the resale value. I would do this only if I plan to keep the vehicle.

Salim

 

If I faced that problem with my daughter's '99, I would find a reputable independent mechanic and get some kind of guaranteed used engine. For the amount of money you'll have invested, I don't think you would find a vehicle with anywhere near the quality!

 

Well, you won'r get $10,000 in todays market - you'll be lucky to get 1/2 that. You can get a used engine put in it, or take the $2000 and run. Was the $2000 in trade or cash? Don't get the engine replaced at the dealer!

 

Thanks for the replies; the $2000 was cash.

I think he would part it out if we had a place to keep the car; for now it looks like he will try to sell it to someone besides the dealer.

 

What color is it?

 

Unless you have the time and skills (mechanical, organizational, etc) to part it out yourself, I'd get the engine fixed at an independent or take the cash and run (frankly, I would do the latter). You probably don't want to deal with the place that fixed it for you last time but you should at least talk to them to find out what went wrong and if they will offer a warranty repair of share the cost of repairs.

 

yea you should sell it...to me. PM ME

 

Keith the problem is $2000 is low ball number. It aught to be 3K less than the market value of a working RX. Just the wheels are about $400. Door lock actuators are another $400 and on and on.

... the above are all ballpark numbers.

Salim

 

i sold me wheels with almost new goodyears for 350...no one seems to want the 16s anymore ...I guess it depends on if you want to put your time into it. Time is more valuable then anything so I mean give your dad his options and he can go either way. Maybe its time for a CPO RX330