Nuts and Bolts with Buffalo Jim

Hey Buffalo Jim,

I need a little advice. I have a 1984 Buick LeSabre with 148,000 miles. I change the oil regularly and the engine is still strong, but the transmission recently started slipping out of gear. At first it only happened once in a while, but now it happens regularly (mostly in the higher gears). My mechanic told me that the transmission was about to go and that I needed to replace it with a rebuilt unit. So, I'm wondering, is it worth it? I'm told that it will cost more than $1,000, and I don't want to spend it if I'm going to have to shell out a bunch more money down the road. What would you recommend?

--Bill Wirth

I'd like to give you some good news, bro, but automatic transmissions can be a trick that even the Buffalo can't handle. The problem is, once they get old, they become a lot like people--surly and set in their ways. It sounds to me like the clutches in your LeSabre's transmission are jumping in and out of overdrive, which will give the car that herky-jerky feel at high speeds. And unfortunately, your mechanic's correct: It'll take a complete rebuild and about $1,100 to fix.

As to whether you should keep the car, I can't say for sure. It's basically a question of emotional attachment. Is there some kind of positive memory that binds you to this particular vehicle? If so, it might be worth hanging on to. Otherwise, the car itself is basically worth about $1,000, making the entire operation a financial wash. If you had an '84 Cadillac Eldorado convertible, on the other hand, it might be worth keeping because convertibles have a collectible value. Plus, you've got to consider the wear on the rest of the car. Sure, the engine may be good for another 50,000 trips around the maypole, but what about the brakes, springs, bearings, hoses, axles, pumps and all the other bits and pieces that keep you on the road? Unless you've kept the car in tip-top shape, it might be time to say bon voyage and ship it off to a peaceful retirement in the nearest salvage yard.

Buffalo Jim is the owner of Allstate Auto Marine. He wasn't born with a beard, but he can't remember living without one either. E-mail him all your car questions at buffalojim@lasvegasmercury.com.