Advice - fix or sell my 2001 crv

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Feb 22nd, 2023 11:27 pm

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Feb 16th, 2023 6:25 pm

joshua18 [OP]: Deal Addict; Aug 24, 2011; 1097 posts; 460 upvotes; MTL/TO

Feb 16th, 2023 6:25 pm

Advice - fix or sell my 2001 crv

For starters I'm not a car guy so I won't be doing any of my repairs ....

I took a gamble last summer (july 1st) and bought a black 2001 Honda CRV ex head edition . I love the car. It comes with a stock honda foldable picnic table. Cool right? Body is 9 on 10 for that year.

In December a check engine light came on and it is I think a catalytic converter code. So I have to get The exhaust inspected and fixed.

But the other real issue - AC doesn't work. Two mechanic said it's the compressor so I believe that's the case, but one mechanic said it's not worth fixing as it might be on opening a can of worms.

I paid $2,600 for the vehicle. It was country and highway driven with 300K kilometers, and this was in the hype of demand last summer. I was the first caller to the ad and his phone did not stop ringing.

To pass inspection I had some suspension work. I purchased new tires and battery. Overall I'm about $5500 all in. Ive put 11k km since.

I'm assuming I can sell it for $3, 000 easily.

Edit: don't think I can do another summer without AC.

Fix or sell?

Last edited by joshua18 on Feb 16th, 2023 6:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.

47 replies

Feb 16th, 2023 6:36 pm

joshua18 [OP]: Deal Addict; Aug 24, 2011; 1097 posts; 460 upvotes; MTL/TO

Feb 16th, 2023 6:36 pm

Update so I repaired/replaced two control arms, all shocks, bushings, battery, tinted the windows, all season tires, bought 4 extra rims with winter tires

Feb 16th, 2023 6:41 pm

elkhaze: Member; Dec 9, 2008; 431 posts; 94 upvotes; Toronto

Feb 16th, 2023 6:41 pm

If you can live with no AC, that is best solution. Ac fix on old car usually lasts for one season, and then back to fixing next summer.

+6

Feb 16th, 2023 6:45 pm

joshua18 [OP]: Deal Addict; Aug 24, 2011; 1097 posts; 460 upvotes; MTL/TO

Feb 16th, 2023 6:45 pm

elkhaze wrote: ↑ If you can live with no AC, that is best solution. Ac fix on old car usually lasts for one season, and then back to fixing next summer.

Not sure i can live without it! I got the it on july 1 2022. Not going an other summer without ac.

Feb 16th, 2023 7:02 pm

coolintheshade: Deal Fanatic; Aug 24, 2016; 9828 posts; 11287 upvotes; The Prairies

Feb 16th, 2023 7:02 pm

You’ve already put more into a 20+ year old car that’s been to hell and back, than I would have spent on it.
Sounds like you’ll take a loss on it if you do sell.
On another note, for a used vehicle in these times, you’re going to pay.
For a new vehicle in these times, you’re going to wait.
None of your 3 options are a win IMO.

+11

Feb 16th, 2023 7:48 pm

joshua18 [OP]: Deal Addict; Aug 24, 2011; 1097 posts; 460 upvotes; MTL/TO

Feb 16th, 2023 7:48 pm

coolintheshade wrote: ↑ You’ve already put more into a 20+ year old car that’s been to hell and back, than I would have spent on it.
Sounds like you’ll take a loss on it if you do sell.
On another note, for a used vehicle in these times, you’re going to pay.
For a new vehicle in these times, you’re going to wait.
None of your 3 options are a win IMO.

I can sell my crv tomorrow for what i paid and likely a bit more. I already got almost 8 months use and 11k km. taking a 2500$ loss isn't the biggest of tragedies (approx 300 a month). Id rather that than financing or leasing something for years at 500$+ a month.

Feb 16th, 2023 8:04 pm

Quentin5: Deal Expert; Feb 8, 2014; 27761 posts; 11874 upvotes; Socially Distanced

Feb 16th, 2023 8:04 pm

Figure out what the AC repair cost is.

In fact in Rand McNally they wear hats on their feet and hamburgers eat people

+4

Feb 16th, 2023 10:48 pm

someone16: Deal Addict; Jul 19, 2004; 1512 posts; 848 upvotes; Vancouver

Feb 16th, 2023 10:48 pm

If everything else with the car works fine then I would just fix whatever's wrong and continue driving. Older CRV's are pretty bulletproof so it's worth to keep it running assuming everything else is ok and there are no major rust.

Unless you get another new/near new car you're going to have to do repairs either way.

Our 2002 CRV had the AC compressor replaced recently and it was like $1000 so it can't be much different unless it's much harder to fix for the 2001 model.

+1

Feb 16th, 2023 10:49 pm

Kingsmen17: Sr. Member; Aug 6, 2017; 907 posts; 1577 upvotes

Feb 16th, 2023 10:49 pm

I would just keep it

Feb 16th, 2023 11:09 pm

kkkat: Deal Addict; Dec 14, 2007; 1856 posts; 1370 upvotes

Feb 16th, 2023 11:09 pm

I would drive it without A/C too.

+3

Feb 17th, 2023 10:07 am

joshua18 [OP]: Deal Addict; Aug 24, 2011; 1097 posts; 460 upvotes; MTL/TO

Feb 17th, 2023 10:07 am

someone16 wrote: ↑ If everything else with the car works fine then I would just fix whatever's wrong and continue driving. Older CRV's are pretty bulletproof so it's worth to keep it running assuming everything else is ok and there are no major rust.

Unless you get another new/near new car you're going to have to do repairs either way.

Our 2002 CRV had the AC compressor replaced recently and it was like $1000 so it can't be much different unless it's much harder to fix for the 2001 model.

1000$! Hmm.. how much was labour??

Feb 17th, 2023 12:48 pm

Avatar: Deal Addict; Feb 24, 2007; 4191 posts; 1176 upvotes

Feb 17th, 2023 12:48 pm

If you drive on highway all the time, then AC is no big deal. The problem is that you have already investing money to repair your car and done tinting (??? seriously?). Might as well keep it. If I were you, I would've sold the car as it is right before fixing the catalytic converter.

FS : Promise NS4300N NAS,Linksys RE400W,E5151,HBB1,VIVOTab RT,MemoPad 8

+1

Feb 17th, 2023 1:09 pm

TheTall: Deal Addict; May 2, 2017; 1598 posts; 2361 upvotes

Feb 17th, 2023 1:09 pm

You can get a new A/C compressor under $300 on rockauto. Can even get a kit with the condenser too for $350. I can't imagine it would be too many hours of labour to swap it out, pull a vaccum on the system and charge it back up. Although, that assumes they diagnosed the problem properly.

That's where you get into problems - if they were wrong, and the system is leaking, it could be leaking anywhere. If the evaporator (usually installed inside the dash and not super easy to swap out) is leaking, that could end up being expensive due to the labour involved.

Take it to an A/C specific shop, they'll have the tools and machines to diagnose it properly, check for leaks, etc.

+1

Feb 17th, 2023 6:17 pm

joshua18 [OP]: Deal Addict; Aug 24, 2011; 1097 posts; 460 upvotes; MTL/TO

Feb 17th, 2023 6:17 pm

Avatar wrote: ↑If you drive on highway all the time, then AC is no big deal. The problem is that you have already investing money to repair your car and done tinting (??? seriously?). Might as well keep it. If I were you, I would've sold the car as it is right before fixing the catalytic converter.

I love the look of the old school CRV and the body is nice enough to merit tinted windows. I'm a little bit commitment phobic so I rather splurge on little things on a used car and not have to do with payments for the next three to five years... I also don't like buying cars that are 10 or 15k because you can still have big repairs and then you're really down.

TheTall wrote: ↑You can get a new A/C compressor under $300 on rockauto. Can even get a kit with the condenser too for $350. I can't imagine it would be too many hours of labour to swap it out, pull a vaccum on the system and charge it back up. Although, that assumes they diagnosed the problem properly.

That's where you get into problems - if they were wrong, and the system is leaking, it could be leaking anywhere. If the evaporator (usually installed inside the dash and not super easy to swap out) is leaking, that could end up being expensive due to the labour involved.

Take it to an A/C specific shop, they'll have the tools and machines to diagnose it properly, check for leaks, etc.

I actually called this place called Radman Radtech on rexdale. Sounds like a super legit nice guy that knows his ac stuff.. he mentioned that it could just be an electrical issue with the compressor which is most likely the case cuz he knows these CRVs inside out and highly doubts it's the compressor.... I'm going to give him a shot when I have time.

The way I see my experience with this vehicle is that I paid a $2,600 investment and the repairs are basically payments that I would otherwise do with a new car although much less $$ overall

+1

Feb 17th, 2023 9:38 pm

iflyplanes: Deal Addict; Feb 9, 2013; 1984 posts; 2009 upvotes; Ottawa

Feb 17th, 2023 9:38 pm

Keep it and get the AC looked at. Those CRVs are legendary and if the body is rust free, I’d be keeping it for sentimental value alone

+1

Feb 18th, 2023 3:34 am

UrbanPoet: Deal Expert; Jan 27, 2004; 50867 posts; 15228 upvotes; ONTARIO

Feb 18th, 2023 3:34 am

joshua18 wrote: ↑ For starters I'm not a car guy so I won't be doing any of my repairs ....

I took a gamble last summer (july 1st) and bought a black 2001 Honda CRV ex head edition . I love the car. It comes with a stock honda foldable picnic table. Cool right? Body is 9 on 10 for that year.

In December a check engine light came on and it is I think a catalytic converter code. So I have to get The exhaust inspected and fixed.

But the other real issue - AC doesn't work. Two mechanic said it's the compressor so I believe that's the case, but one mechanic said it's not worth fixing as it might be on opening a can of worms.

I paid $2,600 for the vehicle. It was country and highway driven with 300K kilometers, and this was in the hype of demand last summer. I was the first caller to the ad and his phone did not stop ringing.

To pass inspection I had some suspension work. I purchased new tires and battery. Overall I'm about $5500 all in. Ive put 11k km since.

I'm assuming I can sell it for $3, 000 easily.

Edit: don't think I can do another summer without AC.

Fix or sell?

So paid $5500
Lets over shoot and say worst case you sell for $2000

So total $3500
Divided by
7 months

Pretty much $500/month cost of owning this vehicle. If you go ghetto style. Just don’t fix the cat. Melt a bit in the heat. Run it to the ground.
This is if saving money is the biggest concern.

All my threads are upvote parties! All positive vibe post get upvotes.

+1

Feb 18th, 2023 8:21 am

joshua18 [OP]: Deal Addict; Aug 24, 2011; 1097 posts; 460 upvotes; MTL/TO

Feb 18th, 2023 8:21 am

UrbanPoet wrote: ↑ So paid $5500
Lets over shoot and say worst case you sell for $2000

So total $3500
Divided by
7 months

Pretty much $500/month cost of owning this vehicle. If you go ghetto style. Just don’t fix the cat. Melt a bit in the heat. Run it to the ground.
This is if saving money is the biggest concern.

Balance between saving and comfort. 2000$ would be gifting the car. These are pretty saught out.

Itll be 8 months in a few weeks, now its 437$ avg

I will always get back what i paid imo ($2600), so long the car doesn't rust out.

So my repairs are the monthly payments finance or lease im not making.

Feb 18th, 2023 8:40 am

spike1128: Deal Guru; Oct 7, 2010; 14085 posts; 4750 upvotes

Feb 18th, 2023 8:40 am

Drive with no Ac and open the windows.

Or sell it.

Old cars are known for this anyhow.

Feb 18th, 2023 8:59 am

Quentin5: Deal Expert; Feb 8, 2014; 27761 posts; 11874 upvotes; Socially Distanced

Feb 18th, 2023 8:59 am

Sometimes squeezing every penny backfires.

With an old car your goal should not be to beat a new car, it should be to get the best Total Cost of Ownership.
So if you save $1 a month over new car ownership then you are actually in bad shape, because if you bought say off lease and kept until major repair it would be much cheaper when you add up total ownership costs.

The other risk is that you could have a major wear related repair come out of the blue such as an engine failure that is far less likely in a newer car with less wear. And this tends to happen after you just put money into the car.

Instead of dumping money in to this car i would get the AC repaired if the cost is reasonable then just do regular maintenance (fluid/belts, oil changes). And save up for your next car. The worst is when you get many small repairs because thats eating money you could put on a more reliable vehicle and you don't have a clear indicator that you should quit and move on.

In fact in Rand McNally they wear hats on their feet and hamburgers eat people

Feb 18th, 2023 9:49 am

devilsadvocate: Member; May 31, 2008; 489 posts; 894 upvotes; GTA area

Feb 18th, 2023 9:49 am

The first gen CR-Vs (1997-2001) had the least number of problems and complaints by far so at least you have that in your favor, but keep in mind we are talking about a vehicle that is now over 20 years old. At this point, it's not a matter of "if" you will have a problem, it's "when".

With that said, however, you paid next to nothing for it. Even if you spend $2000 a year on repairs, that only works out to be $166 a month. Heck, even $3k is only $250 a month, and I can't see there being that many problems year after year. Is the frame in good condition? That and rust tend to be what ultimately ends the life of a vehicle even when everything else is running.

The other question to ask is: Do you need a reliable vehicle for work, life, etc? If you don't have a backup vehicle, can you easily get by if this one has to spend a lot of time in the shop?

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