Fixing a $500 Non-Running Chevy Trailblazer for Cheap!
With a couple of simple tools, automotive YouTube star ChrisFix was able to bring this SUV back from the dead.
You know you’re in for a treat when a video starts with “at the end of this winch cable is a car I just got for $500 that doesn’t run and doesn’t drive.” One of the biggest automotive channels on YouTube, ChrisFix, is the one responsible for ridiculous content like this. As you might imagine if you are familiar with his channel, he’s going to show you how to fix this vehicle, DIY-style.
His plan with the car is not only to get it running and driving again, but flip it afterwords to make a profit. So for those that are savvy with a wrench and have some free time, this might be a video worth watching. According to Chris, he plans to fix this $500 SUV with less than $1,000 spent total. Thus, producing the possibility for a healthy $2,100 profit. Do we even believe him? I guess we’ll have to find that out ourselves.
The vehicle in question? A 2005 clean title Chevy Trailblazer LT. Honestly, this SUV has definitely seen better days. This is why Chris states “while the title is clean this car is a mess…we are going to have to do a lot of work to get it clean.” However, not all is lost. There is some decent options on this particular Trailblazer, including heated front seats and a sunroof.
While the SUV didn’t manage to start or even turn over thanks to a completely dead battery, the engine seemed to be in okay condition after checking the oil and other vital fluids. However, this is just test one of many that need to be done. While checking the underside of the car, Chris noticed some heavy rust damage to the muffler. At the same time, he noticed some burnt wires and damage to the gas tank.
Chris definitely makes sure his purchases are worth it, because an online dismantler offers $410 bucks for this particular SUV and they’ll tow it for free. Sounds like a pretty minor loss even if it isn’t worth fixing in the end. “Worst case scenario, I lose 90 dollars.” Best case? A profit of $2,000 according to the average sale price for this SUV in running condition.
So what will you actually need for the job? We recommend checking the description of the video, where Chris provides a comprehensive list of the tools required. Not to mention, links to purchasing them.
Now, on to the actual repair. Chris begins by replacing the dead battery. To his dismay, the car still won’t crank.The previous owner said the car had an issue with the fuel pump. Thus, he decides to begin checking the fuses and discovers a bad fuse. After replacing, the fuel pump hums to life on start up. There is crank now and after a second try, the Trailblazer roars to life. Perfect!
However, this is far from the end of the job. Next up, replacing the fuel tank and its accessories. Chris managed to find this good condition tank for only $100. However, he did decide to buy a new OEM fuel pump to prevent any long-term issues. Not to mention, a new replacement muffler to fix the old rusty broken one. Now, if you’d like to understand the step by step process of actually doing this work, we highly recommend watching the video. The guide Chris provides is simply too comprehensive for an article like this one. Not to mention, he does such a good job of explaining!
After pulling the fuel tank, Chris discovers the reason the car was having these issues. “I’m guessing that bad exhaust caused all that hot exhaust gas to get all over this [gas tank] and just melted the EVAP lines, the vent tubes, all this stuff here…he’s lucky he didn’t have an explosion or fire.” However, after the installation of the new fuel tank, fuel pump, and adding some fresh fuel, the Trailblazer seems good to go! A successful 20 minute test drive later, we realize Chris managed to fix the car for less than $1,000, including the purchase price of the car itself.
The total price list?
- Muffler – $70
- Gas Tank – $100
- OEM Fuel Pump – $230
- 2005 Chevy Trailblazer – $500
- Total: $900
This just goes to show you guys, sometimes if you just put a little extra effort into fixing a car and know a little bit about what you’re doing, you can make a profit!
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