You could probably grab a replacement lift gate from a junkyard and just keep driving it until it gives out.
madisonwilson said:
You could probably grab a replacement lift gate from a junkyard and just keep driving it until it gives out.
Exactly this.
madisonwilson said:
You could probably grab a replacement lift gate from a junkyard and just keep driving it until it gives out.
I checked a parts place recently and saw a white tailgate available. Might not even need painting.
Thanks for all the ideas. My mechanic thinks the transmission could last until 300k. She’s great with this van and says newer ones are harder to work on. I’m keeping it for now.
Lilnim said:
Thanks for all the ideas. My mechanic thinks the transmission could last until 300k. She’s great with this van and says newer ones are harder to work on. I’m keeping it for now.
We had a similar issue with our 2009. Insurance covered repairs, and ours has just 120k on it.
Lilnim said:
Thanks for all the ideas. My mechanic thinks the transmission could last until 300k. She’s great with this van and says newer ones are harder to work on. I’m keeping it for now.
Fix it and keep going. It’s cheaper than buying a new car.
If the damage isn’t too bad and you like the van, I’d fix it. Even on the higher end of repair costs, it’s probably cheaper than getting another car.
These vans are everywhere. I’d go ahead and repair it, like others said.
You’ve got almost 90k miles left in it. A lift gate should be easy to find, and parts for these vans are cheap.
My van got hit at the mechanic’s place, and they found and installed a new lift gate without much trouble.
Our 2011 Sienna made it to 345k before the transmission quit. Definitely repair it and keep driving .
Slurry said:
Our 2011 Sienna made it to 345k before the transmission quit. Definitely repair it and keep driving!
Absolutely .
Neither of the options seems great.
It probably has a chain tensioner since it doesn’t use a timing belt. Glad you’re fixing it up—I’d do the same with my 2007.
That’s tough. My van looks just like yours.
Since you’ve already invested in maintaining it, I’d keep repairing and driving it unless you’re really ready for something new.
ChrisBunnet said:
Since you’ve already invested in maintaining it, I’d keep repairing and driving it unless you’re really ready for something new.
Exactly. I’ve already spent quite a bit to make it last longer.
Let insurance total it and then buy it back.
Finch said:
Let insurance total it and then buy it back.
Thought about it, but they wouldn’t give much, and getting a salvage title here is a pain.