Hi-mileage cars (150K+): what have you needed to replace?

[Ken_W]

Am trying to figure out what sorts of things one should keep an eye on as our cars age. Besides the standard items that are listed on the Club's 3800 Maintenance List and Common Issues List, and consumables (tires, brakes, shocks, battery, wiper blades, etc), what items have you had to fix/replace on your car to keep it on the road? Please only reply if your car has 150K or more. If you have over 200K, most definitely please reply!

Particularly interested in things like bad superchargers, engine/trans rebuilds, new radiators, mounts other than front, suspension parts other than shocks & struts, steering components other than I-shaft and tie rod ends, stuff inside the dash (like blower motors, heater cores, etc), electrical problems (besides common issues). Also any body issues, including issues with exterior trim that might become more common over time.

If your car has been scrapped, what caused that to happen (if reason was something other than a collision)?

Only items for me so far are new alternator (at 150K), a bad fuel injector (#4) (at 160K), and rebuilt trans (at 156K). Everything else was known common issues so far (and there are/were LOTS of those to fix).


Ken_W

[2002Bonnie]

Just replaced the power steering pump....173553 miles....rear shock compressor is on its last legs as well.

[2002Bonnie]

Also, something is up with the Transmission....its still shifts and drives great but when I dropped the pan for this last filter change, there were A LOT of bright silver shavings in the pan.

[crash93ssei]

Bought the 03 SSEi at at 125,000 miles, currently has 220,000.


Transmission replaced at about 167,000 miles (original was replaced under warranty at 30,000 miles, so actually had about 137,000 on it)
All wheel bearings replaced other then drivers side rear
Passenger front strut spring broke
Windshield wiper motor twice
Current issue with blower not working, IPM seems to be the culprit, have one on the way
Drivers door switches not working, switch module seems to be bad, replacement on the way

Engine and all accessories to my knowledge are original, or at least haven't been touched since 125,000 miles when I purchased it, other then I replaced the intake gaskets.

[00Beast]

Oh god, do I really have to answer this?

On my car, off the top of my head:

Trans - 144k
Axle - 144k
Both front hubs
Both Front Tie-rod ends
rear shocks
A/C Compressor
Blower Motor
SWPS is out, still needs to be replaced
CD Changer
Battery - 169k-ish
EGR Valve - 178k
Boost control solenoid - 178k


The S/C isn't a known failure point, other than the coupler ($50 and an hour) and maybe the nosedrive bearings ($200, hour-ish for rebuilt nosedrive). The rotors don't normally fail, nor do the gears or bearings in the main plate.

Only body issue I have is an emblem that's been falling off for 3 years....

[swampthing]

Let's see here... first off the car has 198,000+ miles. In the 105,000 miles I have owned it I have replace the fuel pump (that went early less then 130,000 on the car) intake gaskets, drivers wheel bearing, cv joints(one gas been changed twice, can't remember which one) ignition coils, a/c compressor, I have had the transmission serviced twice and did it myself once, it needs it again, oh yeah count on each idler puppy deciding to seize and sling your supercharger belt off right when you least expect it.

No major engine or transmission work has been done to the car since I have owned it the only scary thing I have noticed is that my oil pressure drops at idle when the car is hot. If the rpm's are up the pressure is fine its only at stoplights or in park that it drops

EDIT: I meant idler pulley stupid DROID has puppies on the brain

[santacarl]

Hmmm, let's see. Where to begin?

Rack
tie rod ends
Both front hubs
Transmission modulator
4 window lift motors
Intake manifold gasket
EGR Valve
IAC valve
Idler pulley
Body Control Module (but that didn't fix the problem...and now GM wants to replace a second module (programmer).
Cat Converter
Both O2 sensors

PLUS several of the things on the common issues list.....and I feel like I've missed something....

You'll notice that most of the replaced items are on the expensive side....this car has been VERY expensive to maintain......

[Hans]

I'm not going to count brakes, battery, or plugs/wires. These are normal for any car to go out.

From 100k-185k:

Problems:
- Transmission is probably on its last legs since it is original and car has been driven fairly hard. The intake gaskets needs to be replaced as they leak a tiny amount of coolant, have to top off the overflow tank twice a year.
- Sunroof deflector broke
- Front Transmission Mount
- Oil Sending Unit
- Fuel level finger thing (see youtube video I made)
- Driver side outer tie rod end
- Passenger Rear window regulator
- Engine burns about 1 quart every 2000 miles.
- After hitting a curb hard, I had to replace a wheel bearing.
- Strut mounts need to be replaced, they are noisy.
- Windshield wiper motor on its last legs, sometimes it will get stuck.
- Hood is bubbling
- LEDs on radio are 1/2 burnt out

Other optional things I replaced:
Fog lights
head lights

The plastic lights only last a few years, you can buff them down however that does not quite make them "good as new", I do a lot of night driving and wanted BRIGHT headlights, perfectly clear plastic. My 98 SSEi had glass headlights, they looked brand new at 180K.