3500 SPRINTER IS LIMPING
#1
12-23-2007 | 03:38 PM
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 12
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3500 SPRINTER IS LIMPING
Well I have had this van since it was new in late 2002. Over 160,000 miles on it. This year I have spent more on this van than I have on any other vehicle I have owned. Fuel line problems (now replaced $400) , leaky fuel injector replaced ($400), all of that in addition to the standard expensive regular maintenance: just had transmission serviced, oil and filter and fuel filter, full brake-job and fluid flush, power steering fluid flush, and new tires ($2,000+). Some major cash-o-la this year.
My Authorized Sprinter Service center here in Lawrenceville GA has been telling me for a while that the motor is dying...
Crankshaft has play in it. Cylinder head had major crust under it from the leaky fuel injector.
Performance has slowly but surely been decreasing. my babe is dying a slow death.
We all know that the cost of a Sprinter motor is about as much as buying a whole car. Even trying to rebuild one or buy a used engine is not an inexpensive ordeal.
NOT TO MENTION the price for diesel fuel here in Atlanta (about $3.50/gal). All of these reasons are causing me to do some hard thinking on what to do with the babe.
As much as I luv the Sprinter and love all of its features and benefits, it's just killing me financially to hold onto this van.
Still have a year remaining on the loan (about $7,000 left) and I see used 2003's selling for much more than that. HOWEVER, with this motor limping like it is I guess I have to decide what to do:
-Sell it as is
-Part it out
-Trade it in
I refuse to spend that kind of money to rebuild the motor or put a used motor in it. I just refuse to do that. It's just not financially practical to me.
I hate to say this but I'm afraid I'm going to have to leave the Sprinter family. The van is fabulous and all but the overall cost of purchasing the van, maintaining it, buying parts for it, etc. have just about broken my wallet.
Tough part is there is no other van out there with the cargo capacity of the Sprinter. So, I am going to have to go back to a truck and enclosed trailer. I'm not happy about it, but, I gotta do what I gotta do.
The Sprinter was my everything vehicle. I didn't even have a regular car for the past 5 years. Just the 3500 and that's it.
So, what do you guys think?
My Authorized Sprinter Service center here in Lawrenceville GA has been telling me for a while that the motor is dying...
Crankshaft has play in it. Cylinder head had major crust under it from the leaky fuel injector.Performance has slowly but surely been decreasing.
my babe is dying a slow death.We all know that the cost of a Sprinter motor is about as much as buying a whole car. Even trying to rebuild one or buy a used engine is not an inexpensive ordeal.
NOT TO MENTION the price for diesel fuel here in Atlanta (about $3.50/gal). All of these reasons are causing me to do some hard thinking on what to do with the babe.
As much as I luv the Sprinter and love all of its features and benefits, it's just killing me financially to hold onto this van.
Still have a year remaining on the loan (about $7,000 left) and I see used 2003's selling for much more than that. HOWEVER, with this motor limping like it is I guess I have to decide what to do:
-Sell it as is
-Part it out
-Trade it in
I refuse to spend that kind of money to rebuild the motor or put a used motor in it. I just refuse to do that. It's just not financially practical to me.
I hate to say this but I'm afraid I'm going to have to leave the Sprinter family. The van is fabulous and all but the overall cost of purchasing the van, maintaining it, buying parts for it, etc. have just about broken my wallet.
Tough part is there is no other van out there with the cargo capacity of the Sprinter. So, I am going to have to go back to a truck and enclosed trailer. I'm not happy about it, but, I gotta do what I gotta do.
The Sprinter was my everything vehicle. I didn't even have a regular car for the past 5 years. Just the 3500 and that's it.
So, what do you guys think?
