Dead Saturn...What To Do?

Hello,

My wife's '92 Saturn was starved for oil last spring when a timing belt
guide was not cleaned out of the oil pan properly (after the belt was
replaced) and the car was driven basically without oil for almost twenty
minutes some months afterward. Suffice it to say that I don't think a
pissing match with the mechanic would change anything (we have since
driven it for eight months as it progressively underperformed), and one
of the lasting problems is an underperforming cylinder. Well, now her
transmission is going very bad (ie. not shifting properly, engine
seizing mid-intersection, etc.) and I think it's high time to junk her.
Is this a $50 piece of junk to a junk yard, or is there anyway to
extract more value from it? Selling parts on Ebay? Please let me know.
We're trying to buy a replacement (minivan) and any money will help.

Thanks,

Mothy

 

<sad story of the car's demise snipped>

You could try and donate it to a charity, but be aware that in the last few
years they have become very picky about what they will take. The car has to
be running and drivable. If you know what junkyards in your area
participate in a charity program, and you can actually get the car there
without them having to tow it, you might be able to get them to take the car
and give you the donation letter.

The 'donation letter' will have words that basically say "Thank you for your
donation of your 1992 Saturn..."
It will NOT have a $$ value on it. That is for you and your accountant to
determine when filing your tax return.

FWIW, I have found the 'Special Olympics to be less picky than the others.
I have donated two or three cars to them.

-David

 

May even be difficult to junk...
I was at a scrap yard last winter and noted a sign that all Saturns (and a
few other manufacturer's models) were no longer accepted for recycling. When
I questioned this, I found that there wasn't enough steel in them to make it
commercially attractive to recycle them. All the plastic components have to
be separated first. Then there was the one humorous reply that they put the
Saturn in the car crusher and when it comes out, pops back into original
shape <G>.
Good Luck -
Oppie

 

With steel prices the way they are anyone is stupid not to accept any scrap
steel. China has forced a crisis in the world for scrap steel. What was
cheaper to bury than recycle 6 years ago in scrap steel is not worth
hundreds and hundreds. Ask anyone in North America who works with steel.
They'll tell you about the monthly surcharge increases.....