# Fix, Sell, or Junk?

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/fix-sell-or-junk/48743>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** odyssey, honda\
**Created:** [May 12, 2010, 2:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fix-sell-or-junk/48743 "2010-05-12T14:06:47Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![bassriley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3d9bf3/32.png) [@bassriley](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bassriley)\
**Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 2:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fix-sell-or-junk/48743/1 "2010-05-12T14:06:47Z")

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Van needs a new transmission. 2000 Honda Odyssey - going to cost $2500 at least. It has 135,000 miles on it. Body has several problems(scrapes etc.) and the video doesn’t work anymore and can’t be fixed. Here is the kicker. We owe $2500 on it and it is worth $2500 - working. What should we do?

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**Author:** ![mcparadise](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mcparadise/32/32_2.png) [@mcparadise](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcparadise)\
**Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 2:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fix-sell-or-junk/48743/2 "2010-05-12T14:14:25Z")

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Replace the transmission, drive it while you pay it off, then trade for something else before the transmission goes again.

Pay it off as quickly as you can.

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**Author:** ![Triedaq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Triedaq](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Triedaq)\
**Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 2:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fix-sell-or-junk/48743/3 "2010-05-12T14:15:57Z")

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One consideration is the engine. If the timing belt hasn’t been changed, there is another potential problem. I don’t know if the Honda Odyssey has an interference engine, but if it does and the timing belt breaks, the engine is ruined. You wouldn’t want to put $2500+ into this minivan for a transmission and then have the engine blow.

If you can sell it “as is” and get a few hundred dollars to apply to the loan, this might help. You are still paying for a dead horse, but this is probably the best you can do.

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**Author:** ![missileman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/missileman/32/1366_2.png) [@missileman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/missileman)\
**Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 2:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fix-sell-or-junk/48743/4 "2010-05-12T14:50:19Z")

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This is an interference engine. If the belt has not been replaced then you are looking at further expense. If the belt breaks the engine will be ruined. I would sell the vehicle if possible and cut your losses.

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**Author:** ![bassriley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3d9bf3/32.png) [@bassriley](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bassriley)\
**Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 6:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fix-sell-or-junk/48743/5 "2010-05-12T18:31:56Z")

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We had the timing belt replaced last year.

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**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\
**Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 6:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fix-sell-or-junk/48743/6 "2010-05-12T18:39:04Z")

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So the only real question at this point is: Do you have the $2500 (better figure $3200) to rebuild the tranny?? If you must borrow this money too, you are in a real jam…You will now owe $5000 on a car that’s only worth $2500…