The sound usually tells you first: a knock that gets louder, a bang and a cloud of smoke, or a transmission that suddenly won’t go into gear. Then the shop calls with a number, and that number is often more than you expected to put into an old car.
Before you decide, get the right facts.
Make sure it’s really the big repair
“It won’t start” and “the engine is blown” aren’t the same thing. A dead starter, a failed fuel pump or a slipping transmission caused by low fluid can look serious and cost far less. Ask the shop what the diagnosis was based on, whether they checked compression or ran the transmission codes, and what’s included in the quote. If the car was towed in and only looked at briefly, a second opinion can be worth it.
Do the math the plain way
Put three numbers side by side:
- The repair quote, with parts and labor, in writing.
- What the car would be worth fixed. A used-car guide or local listings for the same model and mileage give you a fair idea.
- What else is coming. Tires, brakes, rust, a check engine light that was already on. A new engine doesn’t fix any of those.
| If… | Then… |
|---|---|
| The quote is small next to the car’s fixed value, and the rest of the car is sound | Repairing it is reasonable |
| The quote is close to the fixed value | Selling as is usually comes out ahead, once you count time without a car |
| The quote is more than the fixed value, or other big repairs are waiting | Sell it as is |
| You can’t get a clear diagnosis | Get a second opinion before you spend on either |
The middle options
A used or rebuilt engine or transmission can cost less than a new one, and for a newer car with low miles that can be the right call. Ask the shop about the warranty on the replacement part and the labor, because a cheap used engine with no warranty puts the risk back on you.
What to tell a junk buyer
If you decide to sell, a few details let us price the car properly:
- whether the engine turns over at all, or is seized
- whether the transmission still shifts, slips, or has no gears
- the rough mileage, and whether anything was already removed
- where the car is: your driveway, the curb, or a shop lot
You don’t need to get it running, and you shouldn’t drive it to us. A car with a failing engine can leave you stranded on the Bishop Ford. We tow it from where it sits, free. Our page on cars that don’t run explains the rest, and what sets a junk car offer breaks down the price. For a box truck or a semi with the same problem, see box trucks and semis.
We pick up cars with dead engines from Pullman to Morgan Park and the rest of the communities we cover. Describe the car or call (773) 200-7724.