Advice - to repair, sell, ditch, set on fire, etc. etc.
 

Hi all -
I have a 2001 Prelude SH and it's been a pain in the A ever since I got it a couple years ago. I do not have a red key. It's had weird electrical issues. But in its defense...I've been driving it every day for the past three years. So it has been good enough until now.
Anyway, it died on me while I was leaving work. Couldn't get it to start again - all the lights flashed on the dash and the engine sounded like it was starting just fine but it never turned over. Towed it to mechanic. After he looked at it for awhile he believed it was something with the ECU. While looking for the part, he ended up seeing that the wire harness was bad and was the cause of the bad ECU. So his diagnostic - need new wire harness, need new ECU. Talking about around $2,000. I don't want to put another penny into it. But I also want to sell it - I was actually planning on selling it and getting around $4,000 based on blue book.
I'd rather sell it as is. The mechanic said they buy cars but they'd only offer $3-400 because of all its issues.
I'm at a loss.
I've had some advice to get a second opinion - which would of course require me to pay him the $85 diagnostic and then the tow and another diagnostic.
Anybody have any wisdom to share? Thx!

Re: Advice - to repair, sell, ditch, set on fire, etc. etc.
 

start educating yourself instead of consulting thieves.
ecu and harness are cheap just learn to diy.
watch youtube, grab a cheap haynes manual from ebay /bookfinder.
grab the helm manual too. if you cant find it just pm me.

Re: Advice - to repair, sell, ditch, set on fire, etc. etc.
 

Thanks much. I would love to learn more but I am not very familiar with cars generally.....I want to be but i'm a twenty-something female and my dad taught me nothing. Ha ha just kidding but I guess I better get a more low maintenance car for my next one:thud:
i think I've decided my best bet is finding someone who will buy it from me who wants a "fun" project

Re: Advice - to repair, sell, ditch, set on fire, etc. etc.
 

2000!? I think that mechanic is kinda screwing you - just find some used ecu and harness (ebay or some forum ad about parted out ludes etc?) and get em installed, shouldnt be that expensive

or get second opinion from some other place

Re: Advice - to repair, sell, ditch, set on fire, etc. etc.
 

A new ECU will also need to be paired to your keys in order to start the car, you can't just buy a used one and pop it in. Engine harness is a pretty easy fix.