5 Car Problems That Are Not Worth Fixing

Fixing your car in a major way is like walking a tightrope between deciding if it's worth saving--or ditching entirely. There are times it's worth the effort (and money), but there are other times it's better to just throw in the towel, and start looking around.

The question is: How will you know if your car's a lost (and hopeless) cause? Here are the cases where this might be the case:

Surface corrosion (and rust)

Surface corrosion and rust are some of the most difficult ones to get rid of. What's more, they can come back, even if you've successfully removed them (for the time being).

There are some areas with rust that are really much harder for your car.  These areas can cost you a lot more on repairs, particularly if they're spreading like bacteria on "prime locations" like the rear quarter panels and frame rails. 

Rod knocks

Rod knocks or connecting rods are the portion of the engine that connects the piston to the crankshaft. It's a serious problem. Or to put it in another way, it's a death sentence to your engine, because that knocking sound tends to linger around and get worse in time.

One indication that your rod knocks are damaged is when you hear a low pitched knocking sound that increases in frequency as the engine accelerates. If the sound disappears when the engine warms up, then it's probably just  leaking exhaust gasket. But if it's the real deal, then expect to spend a lot of your money to remove or disassemble your engine completely.

Transmission Locks

There's nothing really good to say about transmission locks. Aside from leaving you stranded in God-knows-where, it can also be very expensive to replace. And even if the replacement parts may not cost you a lot, the labor costs would be more than enough to make you gasp in utter horror.

PCM Defects

The Power Control Module (PCM) houses the engine control unit (ECU) and the transmission control unit (TCU). Basically, it's the car's brain, with nerves that spread far and wide. Any damage to this is extremely serious, because it can affect many parts--like the car's charging and communication system, and even the transmission and emission controls.

And just when you think everything's under control, another problem crops up somewhere else, and you're on to the next puzzle. So it's basically a "trial-and-error" game with a huge bill as your consolation prize.

Damaged Frames

Damaged or bent frames are often caused by vehicular accidents, such as hitting something while speeding or colliding with another vehicle. While you can actually restore them back to their original shape, they already have weakened parts that are vulnerable to--and can easily be damaged--by sudden impact. This is bad news if you drive a lot on rugged roads, and might mean a continuous cycle of wrecks and repairs that can rack up on your expenses fast.