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Warranty Woes ??? Tips for buying a Salvaged Vehicle First things to check when
buying a used car
Warranty WoesDo you have a vehicle with a long warranty period? Or one of the dreaded after-market extended warranties? Some manufacturers offer as much as 10 years or 100,000 mile warranties. Some offer 3 year, 36,000 mile bumper to bumper warranties and 5 year, 50,000 or 60,000 miles Powertrain or drivetrain warranties. Aftermarket warranties vary widely in the terms of coverage, so read it carefully, not just the shiny brochure that says the world is perfect and you will never have another car problem again! Have you read your warranty? What does all this mean to you, the consumer?
Let’s say you have a 5 year, 60,000 mile warranty and after 4 years and 48,000 miles your engine fails. A bearings “spins” or rod breaks….now what? You tow your vehicle to the shop and the next day the service writer calls and says they can fix the car, but the bill will be $4500.00. You say…”the car is under warranty…you guys have to pay for it.” Then comes the kicker…”Mr. Consumer, we have no documentation that the oil was changed according to the service schedule…therefore it’s not a warranty issue.” The conversation continues about how you changed the oil every 3,000 miles using quick lubes, your neighbor, coupons from the local tire store etc…do you have the receipts? If not, you lose!!
Does this mean you have to go to the dealer for
all your maintenance? Absolutely not!!! There have been numerous court
cases where the vehicle owner could prove his maintenance through receipts,
dated box tops from oil filters, service histories from the quick lube etc.
Bottom line… 1. Do the required maintenance…read
your owner’s manual and follow the proper service schedule…remember almost every
vehicle requires you follow the severe
service schedule!
2. If you do your own maintenance, keep every
receipt and make sure the date is legible. Write the mileage on the receipt and
/ or take dated digital pictures of the receipt and your odometer. If you use a
quick lube or other facility, make sure the receipt is itemized as to what was
done. Receipts should ALWAYS have the odometer reading and VIN number legible.
If the shop does not have the odometer and VIN on your repair order, make them
put that information on it! 3. If you need these for proof, make copies to take to the shop…don’t give them your originals!! Stuff does get lost, and if your originals are gone, the party is over!
4. If you have an extended warranty of any kind, you MUST document the condition of the vehicle at the time the warranty goes into effect. Oil analysis testing is a perfect method for documenting internal wear of your engine or transmission. A favorite ploy of warranty companies is to say, “it’s a pre-existing condition”. Ask to see the warranty company’s inspection report if they deny your claim. Ask to speak directly to the inspector…get his credentials and certifications. Is he or she really qualified to make the call? Some companies deny your claim without even inspecting the vehicle! They hope that you’ll roll over and accept their decision without a fight. Don’t.
5. Hire your own expert if you are turned down for a warranty claim and you have followed the required maintenance. A neutral third party can make a world of difference, especially if the sides disagree and the claim is taken to court. A company like Automotive MDS not only has 60 years of combined mechanical experience, but ASE master technicians that are court qualified!
Happy motoring! Hurricane Cars!! ATTENTION ATTENTION ATTENTION We have all seen the devastation caused by hurricanes in the
gulf coast. Remember the pictures of cars and trucks where you could just see
the roof above the water? When a vehicle goes to an unethical rebuilder, they clean the vehicle, change the oil and make what repairs are necessary to make it run. The title is "washed" so the salvage designation is no longer present on the paperwork. Title washing is not a difficult process. The vehicle is then offered for sale. What happens if you buy one of these cars? Sooner or later you
WILL HAVE A PROBLEM! Problems found in flood cars include electronics failures,
differential and transmission failures and engine failures. Sometimes they don’t
surface for months afterward. So how do you protect yourself? First and
foremost, HAVE THE VEHICLE EXAMINED BY AN UNINTERESTED THIRD PARTY THAT HOLDS A
MASTER AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATION! Here is an example: let’s say you are looking at a 2002 Honda Accord with 56,000 miles on the odometer. Your technician says, " There are signs of water damage". You run a title search at the department of motor vehicles and find the original title listed as Florida. The next title for the vehicle shows Texas, and shortly after the Texas title is issued, another title is issued in Ohio, now the vehicle is for sale in Colorado with a Colorado title. The Colorado title does not show a salvage or "S" title. Why? The vehicle may have never been to Texas or Ohio!! The title was sent by mail to the department of motor vehicles for a new title where the salvage designation was dropped. Was it dropped on purpose or accidentally? Each state has it’s own title format and title clerks may not always know what to look for on another state’s title. The title is "washed" clean!! Your own inspection is your best defense against buying a
flood vehicle! Use a certified technician that is
working for you!! Don’t trust the salesman or
dealer to inspect the vehicle for you! Their technicians are working for them!!! If your inspection leaves any unanswered
questions, find another
car!! WHAT
IS A “CERTIFIED” USED CAR? Certified used cars are typically 1 to 3 model year old vehicles, and have less than 15,000 miles per year, on the odometer. The individual dealer and/or manufacturer often determine “Certified”. THERE ARE NO INDUSTRY STANDARDS FOR CERTIFICATION!!! Where
do “certified” used cars come from? Many, if not most, used
cars on lots came through an auction at some point in time. We’ve all heard
the story about the low mileage car being traded in by a little old lady type,
and that‘s why the low mileage. How many little old ladies are out there
trading cars in every 6 months or every year??? Auction cars come from a variety
of sources, rental car fleets, large volume fleets and lease return vehicles.
Salesmen often do not know the history of a particular vehicle, and even if they
do, they may or may not tell you! Would you rather be told that Grandma traded
the car in, or that it belonged to a major rental car company? What
has to be determined to certify a used car? Each manufacturer or
dealer sets their own certification requirements. Some manufacturers will
“certify” a vehicle to get special financing from their lenders. That
vehicle may or may not have even been examined by a technician.
Some “certified” used cars only meet minimal safety standards for brakes,
tires etc. The mechanical condition and maintenance of the vehicle may not have
been checked! “Certified” used cars may have collision damage that has been
repaired. Was the repair done with genuine replacement parts? Were the repairs
done with industry standard workmanship? “It
must be O.K…I have a warranty” Certified used cars usually have a warranty with them. Sometimes it’s the remainder of the manufacturer warranty. Sometimes it’s a combination of the manufacturer warranty and a warranty supplied by the dealer. What does the warranty cover? Are there exclusions for second or third owners? Is there a warranty claim history available? If the vehicle has had some collision repairs, are those covered by the warranty? Get a copy of the warranty (not the warranty company brochure), and READ IT THOROUGHLY!! It’s better to take the time to read it now, than to be disappointed later! “ It checked out O.K. on the Internet” Title searches / VIN
number checks done through Internet companies provide valuable information about
the vehicle you are considering; however the information may not be complete.
Minor collision damage is rarely reported to any public information
organizations. Many states, including Colorado, do not require reporting of any
accident except when a death occurs or government property is damaged. Cars sold
at salvage auctions will show a salvage title that was issued by the state,
only if
the damage requires a salvage title. Cars can be sold through salvage auctions
without a salvage title. Do not depend strictly on an Internet report before you
spend your money! We suggest you protect
yourself and have the vehicle examined by an independent source! We are rapidly approaching the time of year when weather can play a major role in the operation of your vehicle. We would like to suggest that you consider the following items BEFORE the bad weather arrives:
Tips
When Buying a
“Salvage
Vehicle” Prepared
by the Staff at Auto
MD’s If
you are considering
purchasing a vehicle
which has been
totaled by an
insurance company
and now has a
“salvage” title,
be sure to do the
following:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The potential buyer should take the following steps BEFORE a full inspection is scheduled. a.) Start the car with the engine cold. Be to be the first person to start the car that day. After startup, get out and walk around the vehicle checking for blue, black or white smoke from the tailpipe and engine compartment. Don’t confuse vapor with white smoke. Smoke is much denser than vapor and tends to linger in the air. b.) Listen carefully for any strange noises from the engine compartment and exhaust system. Make notes as to the pitch, duration and location of any noises. c.) Shut the car off after about 3 to 4 minutes, wait 5 minutes and then re-start the car. This tells you if the car has any cold re-start problems that could be signs of expensive repairs needed. d.) Take the car for a through test-drive. TURN THE RADIO AND HVAC SYSTEMS OFF!! Start with typical city driving, lots of starts and stops. Take the car to a freeway where you can drive at least 55 mph for some time. Take notes about anything that seems unusual or feels funny. Use your ears, eyes and nose. Keep in mind that road surfaces will cause some noises and can affect handling of a vehicle, especially an SUV. e.) Write down all your observations and give the list to your technician so he can address those concerns for you. f.) Arrange a complete inspection with your technician. Furnish a phone number (home/work/cellular) where we can contact you during the entire inspection in case something comes up. If the seller doesn’t want the car inspected by a qualified technician RUN, don’t walk away; Remember there are lots of used cars out there, and the seller may have something to hide!
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