Death With Dignity

I’d been hoping to keep the Sentra going through September, when its inspection sticker expires.  Nor was I sure it would fail the safety inspection, so it might have been fine for longer.

Yesterday it developed - or made clear that it had been developing - a fuel leak.  That might explain the reduced mileage and altered performance it’s been experiencing for months.  (Google U. also says it might be an oxygen sensor or something like that, for some of the behavior.)

On the driver’s side, a little ahead of the rear wheel, up near the gas tank, there are what appear to be multiple fuel lines that disappear and then presumably get to the front of the car somehow.  Up where I can’t really see or reach without a better jack or lift, it dribbles gas down onto the lower bits of gas line and the ground below.  Last night on the damp driveway it showed up as a trail of circular silvery slicks up behind the left side of the car.

It’s impressive enough that I’m not sure I’d dare drive the car much farther than the service station around the corner.  It doesn’t leak at all when the car isn’t running.

Anyway, if we take it to a shop, they’ll probably want to replace the whole fuel line, if not more, and charge a bunch of money.  If I could get it jacked up far enough, or on a lift, it’s likely even I could patch it.  Perhaps one of my brothers or my nephew could bring a jack over and help me out, and we’ll have a reprieve, but despite that, it’s time.

The poor Sentra is coming up on 19 years old.  I’ve owned it for 10 1/2 years of the almost 28 years I’ve been driving, and 104,000 of its 155,000 miles.  It’s been as reliable and low cost as you could ever dream of having a car be.  I love that car more than anyone probably should; it’s just a car, after all.  Even now it starts right up and if you don’t mind trailing absurd amounts of gas and smelling it in the car, it can get you where you’re going rather well.  You could probably take out the engine, transplant it to another body, give it a tuneup and replace some of the rustier exterior bits, and run it another 100,000+ miles.  The body is dying, though.  It’s earned its rest.  But it feels like having the family dog put to sleep.

So we’ll be looking for a replacement starting as early as next week; at least something temporary.  We’re not sure there won’t be need for a vehicle that holds three carseats down the line, so we’ve been assuming needing a van or SUV.  However, my brother had a rental car, not even full size, that would hold three, so such things exist.  It even got 34 MPG, which compares favorably with the almost 30 MPG the Sentra usually got prior to the last several months.  For now we don’t strictly require anything larger than the Sentra.

We’re trying to avoid payments (though that option is available in a pinch), and assuming something used will promptly need a grand of work.  The Sentra was $2000 and immediately needed $400, though that was the last it needed for a long time.  The van was $2500 and immediately needed $1400, but that turned out to be merely the start for that traitorous moneysink.  I can afford something in the $1000 - $2000 range as early as next week (preferably lower rather than higher for a couple of reasons), so we’ll be asking people to keep an eye out for the proverbial friend or family getting rid of a car cheap kind of thing.

Luckily, it’s at least a few weeks before there’s anywhere we all need to be at the same time.  As far as we know or can anticipate.

After discussing it, though, we’re pretty well set on death with dignity for the venerable old car.  If it runs with a cheap-as-possible patch, cool, and we could use the little bit more time, but basically it’s done.  No more money for repairs beyond a few bucks for do-it-yourself parts.

On a less somber note, I’d forgotten how much stuff I had in the trunk.  I felt like one of those clowns with the endless handkerchiefs.  To get at the jack I removed:

Pack & play
Two folding chairs we take to cookouts so we still have nowhere to sit
Tool bag
Husky socket set
Cheap driver set
Gas can
Air tank
Battery charger
Tarp in unopened package
Hammer
Hatchet
Hacksaw
Bow saw
Collapsible mini snow shovel
12-pack of cherry Fresca

Not removed from the trunk were the spare tire, a couple ponchos, a blanket, light sticks, several quarts of oil, several containers of other automotive fluids and sprays, empty gallon container, old battery, emergency belt kit, emergency hose repair kit, other stuff I’m forgetting.  Not like I could restart civilization out of the trunk, but add to it my briefcase and I’d be well on my way to emergency camping.  For proper bugout/emergency I’d want the knives from the briefcase, some clothes, food, and maybe a few other odds and ends.

For a tiny car the trunk holds an insane amount of stuff.  I’d almost be as happy to have another car, because in a van or SUV I’d miss the trunk.  Guess we’ll see what happens.

1. Jay, you have a little bit of luck on your side. The Sentra has a Carburetor, and I believe wouldn’t have an oxygen sensor on it. Also, the rotted line could be patched with rubber fuel line and clamps. There is no fuel pump in the gas tank, so the fuel delivery is from a pump driven by the crankshaft. Simply put, it’s a low pressure deal, and an old school fix, I think. If not, the hardlne that’s bad can be replace with a new piece and connected with compression fittings. I don’t know if I can do it anytime soon because the weekend after I come back from the Cape, I will be working on the Escort.
   Ryun.

   Posted by  on  08/03  at  08:55 PM

2. Hopefully it’s not R.I.P. yet, but best wishes if you must say goodbye. 
   This site seems to have comprehensive reviews:  http://www.galttech.com/research/cars/used-car-buying-guide.php

   Last fall, I leaned heavily on Consumer Reports buying guide, along with the annual used car issue.

   Posted by  on  08/08  at  11:25 PM

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