I've still tried to keep track of repairs and happenings related to Vic 3.0, and just put together a quick list (Some mileage is approximate due to the odometer display finally quitting):
- 6/8/2023 – Driver side window switches
- 8/9/2023 (186,000 approx) – Cooling fan controller
- 10/9/2023 – Gas tank straps
- 12/2/2023 – Rear brakes
- 6-7/2024 (177,000 approx) – Transmission lines
- 10/28/2024 (182,000 approx) – Front brakes
- 12/13/2024 (184,993) – Floor repair/oil change
- 4/8/2025 (190,000 approx) – Alternator
- 9/22/2025 – Cooling fan controller
- 10/18/2025 – Radiator
- 10/20/2025 – Cooling fan controller
I don't know if enough people are truly interested enough for me to type up posts about every repair, but I hope to do some for repairs I took photos of, which may help people with their cars, so STAY TUNED.
On the RUST front, things haven't got better. The fenders just got a treatment of rust convertor but I don't expect it to help much.
Notice the 12/13/24 "floor repair" entry. I had noticed for a while a crunchy noise beneath my feet while driving, and asked a friend who does body work (aka "Jeep Guy") to take a peek underneath for me, and sure enough, there was at least one hole in the floor. He fabricated a replacement for me. The carpet in this car is nice, so I asked him why the floor rotted, and only on the driver side. He said the trooper assigned to the car might have got in and out and drove with wet feet a lot, since the passenger side was still solid. All I know is we've never had to do a floor on a 1998-2011 Vic before.
Also this is the first car between myself and Mystery Mechanic that has had paint failure. It does NOT make the car look very nice.
I am also in dire need of tires. The snows were never taken off (I honestly didn't expect the car to still be on the road this long!) and are almost slicks. They handle GREAT on dry roads, but wet ones... well...
Our now retired mechanic (aka "Taxi Guy") is up from Florida and helped us this weekend with the radiator. He plugged Vic in and was able to tell me the mileage: 196,471.
