Brakes

I have worked on cars - I am guessing it is a brake control unit. That is a computer, and it is quite expensive to replace as it controls how the brakes work (all those fancy features like ABS, Traction Control, etc.) Those can easily run you over $1000 to fix as the part is nearly that on its own without figuring in the labor to replace and ensure the programming is okay. Figure another $400 in labor (about four hours or half a day of work so that $1800 is an honest estimate for something like that part).

I would believe your mechanic and not deal with it. I am only guessing and that is all any of us can do as you don't know the name of the component that is broken.

Hey, thanks for letting me know. I don't tend to answer mechanical quesitons very often as I have knowledge but at the same time it is very hard to diagnose based on just some text. Glad I got it right this time. Using a used part is a very smart idea. That saves you a lot of money - particularly on a part like that one.

If mechanically it is a good as you say it is, if you like it, you could buy used parts and fix it... but it seems you want a newer car. Cannot blame you.

I buy my cars new or used using a checklist I built that allows me to check out a used car and find major issues. My current car I bought new - a GM built 2006 Saab 9-3 that now has 187,000 miles on it and it has never stranded me or had a major problem. I am thinking with all the new safety features after 12 years the time is approaching me to bite the bullet in the next year or two and sell it and buy a new car. Maybe a Kia Stinger or Buick Regal GS after they have been built and are into their second model year. I never buy a first year model from anyone - they have too many problems, including Toyota.

Best of luck Buck, I appreciate your repsonse.
Best wishes

Thanks for the update and best of luck.

I'm glad to hear that your repair was MUCH cheaper than you thought. Even if it was $1800, that car is probably worth at least $7000 with that really low mileage. They were tanks. Good luck!