$16,000 Repair or New Truck?

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by PE_T, May 23, 2020.

  1. PE_T

    PE_T Road Train Member

    When is it time to buy another truck? So I have a 2014 Freightliner Cascadia with a DD15 engine and about 850k miles. The Freightliner dealer is saying it needs a new One-Box, which will total about $16,000 with parts, labor, and taxes. I should also add that I have other repair charges that the dealer has already done and that will bring the “grand total” to roughly $20,000. Yup, one hell of a bad news for me.

    Anyway, I don’t know if I want to keep throwing money at this truck when my current truck value is likely around 20k (if not lower due to the coronavirus). Your thoughts and advice?
     

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    Last edited: May 23, 2020
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  3. shatteredsquare

    shatteredsquare Road Train Member

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    Why
     
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  4. DUNE-T

    DUNE-T Road Train Member

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    Usually people just get rid off that box. Why are u doing your repairs at the dealer btw? Once your truck or car is out of the warranty, you don't go to dealer anymore
     
  5. buddyd157

    buddyd157 Road Train Member

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    One Box - Get it done. Right. - Refurbishing | Replacement | Parts
     
  6. PE_T

    PE_T Road Train Member

    They’ve been troubleshooting the truck for a few days due to a check engine light, and they finally said that the problem is the one-box.
     
  7. PE_T

    PE_T Road Train Member

    I almost never go to the dealer as I do most of the repairs myself, but I wasn’t able to fix the check engine light myself (and with mechanic help online). My truck can still run, but the power is derated by about 10% (which is not that bad), although now with all the nonsense they’ve been doing to the truck who knows if it can still run (smh).
     
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  8. DUNE-T

    DUNE-T Road Train Member

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    Anyway, I vote to get something new. Your truck is just starting to fall apart at that mileage. My buddy got rid of his 2013 Cascadia with 870k miles after spending $6500 on fuel pump, he also said engine most likely will fail just before one mil. He bought a fully rebuilt 99 Volvo with Detroit for $42k
    The way equipment prices are right now, you better dump it and get something else
     
  9. shatteredsquare

    shatteredsquare Road Train Member

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    Well there's two reasons you'd need a completely new one box, is the check engine light on because of one of those two reasons?
     
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  10. PE_T

    PE_T Road Train Member

    There was a check engine light on (SPN
    3609, FMI 4). I tried solving it and with the help of an online mechanic, yet I wasn’t able to. The dealer mechanic went through something similar to what I went through, replacing parts and the problem still being there. They even replaced two harnesses, yet it did not solve the problem.
     
  11. TheLoadOut

    TheLoadOut Road Train Member

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    Best to have a trustworthy independent diesel shop that knows all makes. You can get a used one box much cheaper than the dealer price. Sounds like you're in kinda deep already. First see if your one box truly can be cleaned/saved.
     
    Last edited: May 23, 2020
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