I've maintained my 99 Jimmy (68,000 miles) carefully, and recently had a water pump leak (which also required new head gaskets) fixed, costing me $1600. Steep, but everything ran like a top.
Until last week, when a noticeable knock started. I took it to the same garage that has always worked on it since the warranty and the dealer expired.
They called me today, and asked if I remembered the head gaskets. I said I did. They say, don't worry, they're still fine. But you have a main crankshaft bearing failure.
With a bad engine, it's worth $500 for parts (vey nice parts, no rust, immaculate interior, $600 of new tires), or $4K with labor for a rebuilt engine with 3 years parts/labor warranty.
I'm going for the new engine, and then turn around and sell it. Even if the engine was good for another three years, I could have another catastrophic failure elsewhere. Besides, GM is offering hugh rebates on SUVs (including the midsize ones I favor) this month.
The two other 4.6l V6s I've had were running strong, with no major repairs, when I traded in the vehicles at 125,000 and 175,000 miles. 68,000 miles on this one, and I need a new engine.
In the good news department, I found more ammo when I started straightening up my work area in the basement. I found about 1500 rounds of M193 (that stuff is coming out of my ears), 1000 rounds of M885, and 500 rounds of 7.62x51 ball, all neatly packed in ammo cans.
I remember doing a clean-up three years ago, and put that ammo "temporarily" on a bottom shelf, until I could find a permanent home. Unfortunately, I also "temporarily" put something else in front of it, and lost sight of it.
Now my "lost sheep" are found, and returned to the "flock", which is harder to lose track of.
Oh, winmag, that just bites! Think you’ve got a good plan mapped out. What mid-size models are you favoring? LSA
I’ve never had trouble with any firearms but my piece of junk 15 year old car finally gave out last year, after costing me over a thousand $.
Yay for found ammo!