From time to time we hear from an AutoGuide.net reader with a predicament that makes us say, "If only we could have talked before you got into this situation!" The following dialog is taken from e-mail correspondence I had with a lady this week:
Reader Question: I bought a certified pre-owned vehicle on Wednesday. On the way home, the oil light came on/beeped on the dash panel. For the next several days it continued to come on periodically. On Saturday, three days after buying the car, I took it back to the dealer and was told that the water pump was broken and needed to be replaced. Does this seem like the time to try to get out of this deal? My fear is that this is a sign of more problems to come. P.S. The car is a 1999 Passat with 35900 miles on it.
Dear concerned car owner,
Austin: Although I haven't inspected this car myself, my gut says to read your contract and determine if you can get out of it (now!) That is low mileage to have a broken water pump, and I really don’t feel comfortable about that being the source of the oil light coming on. I am not a lawyer, and really don’t have the experience to give you legal advice. I can however tell you the deal sounds very fishy... OK, it stinks! If the dealer is willing to replace the pump at no cost to you, and you really like this car ...OK I guess. If not then I would look very hard at trying to get out of this agreement.
If you bought the car AS IS, you might be stuck with it. Does it have a clear title (meaning it doesn't have a lien against it, hasn't been totaled in an accident or flooded)? My gut also tells me there is probably something the dealer is not telling you??? I would ask to speak to the manager and have a nice sit down talk with him, explaining how you are gun shy about this car now, and you are giving serious thought to legal action. You can do this in a NICE way and still get the same point across.
Keep me posted….let me know if I can help.
Reader: Thank you so much for getting back to me. Just to update you... The salesman got back to me today, after I'd left him a message letting him know that I was unhappy with my purchase. He said that the problem is fixed, and that it was a false reading indicating low "oil" pressure. (My mistake it was not the water pump.) He went on to say that they have replaced the oil pump, which he assures me will take care of the problem. Although he said the oil pump was fine, just a dirty filter could have caused the false reading. I sure hope this works. He also assured me that I can call if anything major happens in the future. He said that the oil pump is "not a major engine problem." So, I will be picking up my car tonight, hopefully with no new problems ahead. Thank you again.
Austin: I've got my fingers crossed. The story is getting worse, not better. You very RARELY have to replace the oil pump on any car, let alone one with supposedly low mileage. You might (just for added insurance) call another dealer, talk to their service department, and see what they say about replacing the oil pump--and if it should be replaced at this low of mileage. Might be better to do some homework now, just in case you need to state your case to this dealer again, you will have the opinion of another dealer.
Reader: Thank you again for your reply. I'm starting to get a bit more concerned after you indicated that the story has gotten worse. So, oil pump replacement is NOT something that should be happening this early in the game huh :( My sales person is being true to his duty, really trying to smooth this over as not a big deal kind of thing... "minor problem" not even an "engine problem." He is not very eager to let me out of this deal. I will take your advise, and call another dealer's service mechanic for a second opinion. I will be picking up my car tomorrow. The car does fortunately come with the 2 year service warranty. Past experience though tells me that those don't always cover the things that break. I'll keep my fingers crossed too, thank you!
Austin: I wish you luck, and hope that I am just being OVERLY cautious.
My advice to anyone purchasing a used car is to have your mechanic inspect it before you sign on the dotted line. Your mechanic should have a checklist of items to go over on the car, and this reassurance should cost you less than $100. We offer an informative checklist for vehicle maintenance at TrustMyMechanic.com. If you do get into a difficult position like this lady, our advice would be:
- At the first (not a few days later) sign of trouble after the sale--TAKE IT BACK! Read the contract and find out what the grace period for returning the vehicle is before you drive it off the lot.
- There are TONS of used cars out there, so don't get overly attached to a specific one. Look around, do your homework, and above all else take your time.
- If you do encounter trouble immediately after the sale, see if you can get out of the contract, and look for another car without an IMMEDIATE PROBLEM.
- Make sure you know what the mechanic says is wrong! In this example there is a HUGE difference between a water pump and an oil pump. Make sure you are clear with the diagnosis.
- Call around to another mechanic or dealership and talk to their service department to see if they tell you the same story over the phone as does the mechanic where you purchased the car.
- Document all conversations and problems thoroughly.
I hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Austin C Davis
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