Last week I was driving home from work when I noticed my car was smoking and temp was at red. I pull my car over as soon as I could but not before the car steering became tight. it was towed to dealer service center were less than 2 months ago had oil pan, oil filter and sway bar replaced and they were supposed to check the car for any other problems (they gave me a check list all stated good). The mechanic called me the next day and said it was a water pump and radiator hose $450 then later said spark plugs were black another $180 then called and said I need a new motor $5800 and none of it is covered under warrantee. I still owe $6400 on the car and planed on trading it for a new car but now I do not think a dealer would take it for a trade in and I do not think it is worth me putting all that money into even if I had it. What should I do? You know of a dealer that would trade it in as is?
2007-07-23 08:43:49 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Get a second opinion from a independent mechanic. If everything is as you say. You have a pile of junk on your hands. Good Luck. Been there done that.
2007-07-30 23:08:03 · answer #1 · answered by Old Man 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Having run into this problem before (I spent many years working at a dealership) , I can give you some information on how to handle this situation. There are 3 methods you can use:
1) The "They didn't even kiss me afterwards" method. I'm sure you are familiar with this method. This is where you either take out another loan to have your car fixed, or trade it in and disclose it's problems, thus ending up with most of the $6400 you owe on it rolled into your next car payment. I am not a fan of this method.
2) The "bend over and take it" method. That is, buying a cheap piece of junk and still making payments on a car that doesn't run in order to save yourself the extra money it would take to fix it. I'm not a big fan of this method, either.
3) The "But I parked it right here, officer" method. This is where you thank the shop for thier time, and have it towed to your house. The next day, you rent a U-Haul pickup truck, and tow the vehicle to a city at least an hour away. Park it in a public place. Remove the plates. Smash a window. Drive home. The next morning, report it stolen. If you have done a good job of finding a place to park it (in a back corner of a big lot, don't make the smashed window look too obvious, clear the broken glass from the frame, just leave the pieces in the car.) then it will be weeks before it is recovered. Hopefully by then you will have your insurance check (which will be used to pay off the vehicle and get another.) I like this option the best, but it has a couple of drawbacks. First, it may be against the law in most states. (All fifty of them , as a matter of fact....) Second, if you don't have 'GAP' insurance protection on this vehicle, you could end up owing money on it even after your insurance settlement. (GAP insurance covers the difference between what you owe and what the car is actually worth. Check your original loan agreement. It should list it if you have it.)
I truly feel for your situation. Getting 'bent over' like this has put you between a rock and a hard place. I hope everything works out ok. Good luck.
2007-07-23 09:02:26 · answer #2 · answered by Bruce J 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
To start with, call the mechanic and tell him to kiss you, cause he is definately trying to screw you. There is no way a set of spark plugs can cost $180 to install. 6 plugs at $3 each is $18. $162 labor is not only rediculous, but may even be illegal. If he wants that much for the plugs, he is probably ripping you off on a $49 water pump too. I woould probably suspect the new motor was a rippoff too, although I have seen a few burned up engines after only one overheating episode. Get a second opinion from a different mechanic.
2007-07-30 08:33:45 · answer #3 · answered by Dondi 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that the dealer is trying to take you for a ride. There is a big difference between spark plugs and a new engine. with the engine overheating, it is possible that you have ruined it, but they shouldn't be hitting you up for new parts and then tell you that it needs an engine. It just doesn't make sense to me.
Don't deal with these people. They may be trying to get you to buy a new car from them. Then they won't give you anything for your car. Then they will fix it and sell it for a big profit. There are a bunch of dealers that will trade with you. None of them will give you much for your car the way it sits, but that's the way the game is played. The dealers will just add what you owe on the old car to the bill on the new one and your payments will be higher. good luck.
2007-07-23 08:54:12 · answer #4 · answered by Fordman 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First of all, they don't have a magic crystal ball that allows them to foresee every problem you are going to have in the future. When you overheated the engine, you must have caused some serious damage. A mechanic would have to tell me more than simply "you need a new motor". Why are they recommending the motor should be replaced? Be specific. You've had parts replaced here that shouldn't need replacing in the normal life of a car: Oil pan, sway bar - was the vehicle in an accident? Did you run over something?
2016-05-21 03:00:33 · answer #5 · answered by rosalind 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have a second opinion. Water pump and hose maybe, burnt head gasket, maybe, water seals in engine block, maybe, but is the block is not crack, no stuck or broken pistons or rods, why new engine? First thing you had to do was to check if there were no leaks, oil, after oil pan was replaced, and filter. Black plugs have nothing to do with blown engine, it has to do with poor coil, or metering fuel/ air. also with poor plugs cables. Have a second check I take it that you are using the right coolant and have check the thermostat
2007-07-30 13:31:18 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
YOU SHOULD GET THE VEHICLES COMPUTER SCANNED AND CHECK FOR ANY PROBLEMS AS WELL AS CODES AND THEN YOU WILL HAVE A GOOD IDEA ON WHAT THE PROBLEM TRULY IS.
TRY FINDING AN INDEPENDENT SHOP INSTEAD OF THE DEALER OR A CHAIN STORE BECAUSE YOU WILL BE OVERALL MORE PLEASED WITH THE FINDINGS AND THE SERVICE.
LEAVE IT THERE WITH THEM SO THAT THEY CAN FIND THE PROBLEM FOR YOU, IT WILL BE A LOT BETTER THAN JUST REPLACING PART AFTER PART AND NOT DOING ANY GOOD.
2007-07-31 07:11:06 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
track down a low mileage engine at a salvage yard and pay a local mechanic to put it in. You will save thousands. Then, trade it in and go with a Japanese Car or VW. (not the bug!).
2007-07-31 08:08:23 · answer #8 · answered by sematlock77 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When a car starts getting hot it's time to quit driving it, otherwise you will burn up the engine. Oh.. I guess you just learned that.
2007-07-27 15:59:38 · answer #9 · answered by jjohnny65 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a new motor i dont think so i think there trying to rip u off if ur gonna sell it sell it urself and save ur money
2007-07-30 11:45:03 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋