Used Cars: USED CAR, o2 sensor, warrenty

Question
MY BOYFRIEND JUST PURCHSED A USED CAR LAST WED (03/28/2012) @ A USED CAR DEALERSHIP THEY STATED TO HIM THEY JUST GOT THE CAR HE WAS LOOKING AT LAST WEEK SO ITS PRETTY NEW ON THEIR LOT. WE TEST DROVE IT EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE IT WAS IN GREAT CONDITON. SO HE SIGNED THE PAPERS AND PURCHASED THE CAR. THE CAR CAME WITH WARRENTY SO IF ANYTHING FAILS OR IF HE HAS ANY ISSUES HE WOULD ONLY PAY $350 FOR WHATEVER THE PROBLEM WAS. LITTERALY THE NEXT MORNING (3-29-2012) HE WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, HE WENT AND HAD IT LOOKED @ MY A MECHANIC NEAR BY AND THEY TOLD HIM NUMOURS ISSUES OF WHY IT CAME ON, SO HERE WE ARE HAVING THE CAR LESS THEN 24HRS AND HE'S ALREADY HAVING TO PAY FOR HIS FIRST WARRENTY ISSUE. SHOULD THIS BE SOMEHTING THE DEALERSHIP SHOULD WAVE?? SHOULD HE STILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS WARRENTY BEING THAT HE JUST GOT THE CAR A DAY AGO!!!!! THIS TELLS ME THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT DO THE 5-10PT INSPECTION AND EMMISONS TEST ON THE CAR BEFORE PUTTING IT ON THE LOT OTHERWISE THEY WOULD HAVE KNOWN THERE WAS AN ISSUE RIGHT??

SINCERLY,
PISSED OFF!!

Answer
Hi Jessie,

Sorry to hear about your problems with this car. Here is what I think has happened and what I think you should do/expect them to do.

1. A 'check engine' light comes on whenever a car 'throws a code' ...that is whenever something calls the cars computer to report a problem and asks for help. These are usually simple issues like a bad O2 sensor or an engine misfire etc. Anyone with a scan tool can turn out these lights and clear those codes in 2 minutes ... which turns off the light but does NOT address the cause of the code at all. Used car dealers will often times put the car on the lot ...clear the codes #so you don't see the light# then try and sell the car before it does it again. If I were in Las Vegas and this were a poker game I would be 'all in' on this being what happened to you.

2. There is still a 10% chance that your boyfriend was simply the victim of bad timing but as I stated about this is much less likely than option #1

What you should do is take it back and tell them what you know and ask them to address the problem and not the symptom. They are not legally required to do this for you but if they are a reputable dealer or a franchise dealer then they normally will. Odds are that the fix for this problem will not trigger any warranty coverage because these repairs are usually less than 350.00.

If he tells you 'sorry ...you bought it as is and now you own it' then you have a couple of choices:

1. You can chalk it up to experience and move on

OR #my favorite#

2. You can calmly tell the dealer that you feel that he is screwing you over on this matter and let him know that you plan on making sure you let as many future potential customers of his know how you feel about your buying experience. Please note that online reputation management has turned into a MAJOR dealer hot button. almost 100% of buyers will check online before making a purchase and dealers spend $1,000.00's and  $1,000.00's of dollars on new 'reputation management' apps and services to keep their good name intact. Do not underestimate the power of the online pen here.

I had one person who had a similar experience post a warning on craigslist about the dealer for 2 weeks straight before the dealer emailed her and told her to come in so they could fix the problem. There are literally 100's of places to post reviews that you could post too #make sure you tell them it will be you and all of your friends doing it# but if time is limited then make sure you hit craigslist ... the 'deathstar' for going after a businesses reputation is a website called www.ripoffreport.com ...DO NOT POST HERE EXCEPT AFTER YOU ARE CONVINCED THAT NOTHING ELSE IS GOING TO WORK...WHY? because it can never be deleted or taken back no matter what anyone does or says...it's permanent.

My email address is roadloans@gmail.com if you have any followup questions and you need to know that I am here to answer all of your questions until you are completely satisfied with the answer and when you are sent a survey by allexperts you will be able to give the service I have performed here perfect 10's... if you aren't able to do that then keep asking additional questions until you can please.... Happy New Year

Roger