I've got a 2002 Dodge Durango that looks beautiful, sans one minor superficial dent on the rear hatch, and a mark or two on the bumper. Unfortunately, this vehicle has a couple of mechanical difficulties that I do not have the funding right now to fix. Now that I'm out of the upper midwest and associated blizzard conditions, I'm looking for a smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicle anyway.

Regarding selling this vehicle, I'm not quite sure where I should start trying to price it for sale. There are two primary mechanical points that I believe require me to take it down from the blue book 'excellent/good' condition status.

First off, there is a problem that, having dealt with it before on a Blazer, seems to be either tie rod wear or balljoint replacement needing to be handled very soon (and, well, it needs new suspension, as well, now that I think about it).

Second, the engine has a slight clacking going on that is indicating to me something along the lines of valves, push-rods, or lifters that need to be worked on. It isn't really a knocking yet (knock on wood, lol), but I know what working on that entails, so I know I need to mark down a bit for this as well.

Thanks in advance, any assistance or pointers in the right direction very much appreciated. Knowing the amount of labor on the suspension alone, at general mechanic rates (and not having a shop to work in to do it myself), and the standard bluebook putting it around $2200ish, I'm just afraid it's totalled and my best bet might just be to part it out. :(

Please no responses via netmail as I still don't have that configured correctly since I've finally gotten FIDO working again.

Best wishes!
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On Fri, 23 Jan 2015, Damon A. Getsman wrote to All:

the suspension alone, at general mechanic rates (and not having a
shop to work in to do it myself), and the standard bluebook
putting it around $2200ish, I'm just afraid it's totalled and my
best bet might just be to part it out. :(

set it at $2500 and let them talk you down to whatever the lowest is you'll take for it... make them work for the drop, too... maybe $1600-$1800 bottom? who knows, maybe you'll get $2000 for it and they'll be happy as all get out even with the apparent problems that they find out about...

just on the surface, perhaps just the bushings on the rob arms need to be replaced... possibly also adjusting the valves if they have adjustment screws on them under the valve covers like we used to see and handle with feeler guages and a couple of hours under the hood...

just my 2 pesos and i generally don't sell my vehicles once i've gotten them ;)

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Re: Depreciation (w/mechanical repairs somewhat identified) 2002 Durango
By: mark lewis to Damon A. Getsman on Fri Jan 23 2015 17:50:57

set it at $2500 and let them talk you down to whatever the lowest is you'll take for it... make them work for the drop, too... maybe $1600-$1800 bottom? who knows, maybe you'll get $2000 for it and they'll be happy as all get out even with the apparent problems that they find out about...

That is a damn good idea. I'll give it a start there. I do have a guy in a local shop that's offered a free appraisal, but who knows what the motives might be there... Hell, I've got to offload it fairly quick here, too, due to economic issues, that's a great way to start at least.

just on the surface, perhaps just the bushings on the rob arms need to be replaced... possibly also adjusting the valves if they have adjustment screws on them under the valve covers like we used to see and handle with feeler guages and a couple of hours under the hood...

I'll check that out... I'm aware of how to do that kind of work on a carbeurated engine, but not on one with fuel injection, unfortunately. I think I've still got a chilton's manual for this one somewhere, and I do have a [rudimentary] set of tools. If nothing else, youtube is almost certain to have something on handling that, should it be possible without pulling the engine. I just thought it'd have to go below the valve covers, making it fairly helpless for me to handle w/out a shop & a picker.

just my 2 pesos and i generally don't sell my vehicles once i've gotten them ;)

I very much appreciate it. I've worked on getting to that point, but my repeated loss of resources has held me back quite a bit. Thank you for your advice!
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