# 1000 miles, needs ball joints and position sensor!? **URL:** \ **Category:** NEV & LSV Forum\ **Created:** [May 15, 2011, 8:04pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/1000-miles-needs-ball-joints-and-position-sensor/1605 "2011-05-15T20:04:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tedkidd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc8723/32.png) [@tedkidd](https://community.electricforum.com/u/tedkidd)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2011, 8:04pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/1000-miles-needs-ball-joints-and-position-sensor/1605/1 "2011-05-15T20:04:26Z")
2009 Gem with 1000 miles, … in Limp Home with wrench on display. (Did not get code - dumb.) I’m told it needs: a motor position sensor which is not an expensive part but takes 3 hours, a boot of some type ball joints are loose and need replacement :eek: I guess one issue is luck of the draw, but this pile of issues is upsetting for such a new, low mileage vehicle. I live in the city of Rochester NY, so not like the things been driven on washboard roads. Is this the level of durability I’m to expect? Will this car cost $1500 in repairs every 16 month/1000 miles? They say a boat is a hole in the water you attempt to fill with MONEY. Is this thing going to cost more than owning a BOAT!? ---
**Author:** ![bko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8797f3/32.png) [@bko](https://community.electricforum.com/u/bko)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 9:12am UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/1000-miles-needs-ball-joints-and-position-sensor/1605/2 "2011-05-17T09:12:07Z")
[QUOTE=tedkidd;9051]2009 Gem with 1000 miles, … in Limp Home with wrench on display. (Did not get code - dumb.) I’m told it needs: a motor position sensor which is not an expensive part but takes 3 hours, a boot of some type ball joints are loose and need replacement :eek: I guess one issue is luck of the draw, but this pile of issues is upsetting for such a new, low mileage vehicle. I live in the city of Rochester NY, so not like the things been driven on washboard roads. Is this the level of durability I’m to expect? Will this car cost $1500 in repairs every 16 month/1000 miles? They say a boat is a hole in the water you attempt to fill with MONEY. Is this thing going to cost more than owning a BOAT!?[/QUOTE] I’m new to GEM cars, owned one for all of three days now. But that sounds way out of line, without doing too much research, the boot is probably a CV boot, black rubber, cone shape and there are two one each axle. $25 each. about the same price for each ball joint, and I don’t know how much the motor sensor is but those usually are not much. So I’d be suprised if all the parts added up to much over $100. $500 labor IMO is generous. I’d shop for better option than that $1500 quote, sounds way too high, keep us posted, good luck ---
**Author:** ![tedkidd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc8723/32.png) [@tedkidd](https://community.electricforum.com/u/tedkidd)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 11:54am UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/1000-miles-needs-ball-joints-and-position-sensor/1605/3 "2011-05-17T11:54:17Z")
I suspect the dealership has a business model they follow. I can’t imagine they indiscriminately gouge, as that could come back to bite them. Also, if they overprice to the market they’ll get a reputation there as well. I understand they have overhead to cover. On the other hand, with a unique car they do have the advantage of a less than transparent marketplace. I’m gonna go straight to GEM. It’s their product, and if goodwill doesn’t matter to them I’ll be a vocal advocate against the product and Chrysler in general. My first brand new vehicle was a Dodge Cummins pickup. So I am clearly someone who purchases their products.