Private seller sold engine damaged car

[nick2002]

What is the name of your state? MO

Hello everyone. I hope you guys can help me out. I bought a used 2002 nissan altima from a private seller fro $6000. I took the car to an auto mechanic for inspection. The mechanic passed the car and I eventually ended up buying the car. I also signed the no liability agreement. Two weeks later the I started noticing burning smell while driving. I dident pay any attention to that and a week later the car does not start. After several attempts it started and I took it to a nissan dealer for an inspection. The dealer said that the previous owner drove the car for 500 miles without any engine oil and fuel leaked into the engine. The dealer also mentioned that the engine needs to be replaced and the repair estimate is $3000. What are my options now?

 

[BL]

What is the name of your state? MO

Hello everyone. I hope you guys can help me out. I bought a used 2002 nissan altima from a private seller fro $6000. I took the car to an auto mechanic for inspection. The mechanic passed the car and I eventually ended up buying the car. I also signed the no liability agreement. Two weeks later the I started noticing burning smell while driving. I dident pay any attention to that and a week later the car does not start. After several attempts it started and I took it to a nissan dealer for an inspection. The dealer said that the previous owner drove the car for 500 miles without any engine oil and fuel leaked into the engine. The dealer also mentioned that the engine needs to be replaced and the repair estimate is $3000. What are my options now?

Double post .

As was said , no way .

You bought it AS-IS .

 

[Zigner]

What are my options now?

You have several options:

1) Junk the car
2) Donate the car to charity
3) Pay the dealer for a new engine
4) Find someone who will install a new (or rebuilt) engine for less


I'm sure there are others...but none of them will include any legal right to recover anything from the seller.

 

[justalayman]

actually, under a few situations you would have a legit action against the seller.

You state the dealer told you that the other guy drove it for 500 miles without oil. How do they know? actually, I highly doubt any car is going to go 500 miles without oil. Most cars use hydraulica lifters and when oil pressure is lost, the collapse and the engine will not run. As well, due to the great amount of importance the oil is, there are many other things that would most likely happen, long before the 500 mile mark.

But anyway, if the dealership is correct, the only way they would have known this is the seller told them. So, what this does is prove the seller was aware of engine damage.

Now, if the seller took action to disguise the damage, he would be guilty of fraud and you should be entitled to a return of your money.

unless the above situation is true and you can prove the situation above, refer back to the other two posters answers.

 

[CraigFL]

I understand the fraud part but the problem I see is that the OP took it to a mechanic to inspect it and they passed it. First, they are going to need to prove there was a prior low oil pressure condition. Then, they are going to have to prove that the fraud was so well hidden that an experienced mechanic couldn't see it. They are also going to need to prove that the present problem was definitely related to a prior low oil pressure condition and not something the OP did. It's more likely that the engine ran out of oil, the previous owner drove it for a bit, damaged the engine somewhat but it still was drivable. Then, after two weeks of use, a problem occured that could be related to driving it with no oil pressure.

 

[justalayman]

You'll have to believe me on this but there are many ways to actively hide engine damage, for a short period of time.

If anything of the sort was employed, it becomes self evident that fraud was involved.

Of course, this does mean that certain proofs must be obvious, as I had stated prior.

 

[BL]

You really have to read the OP post carefully , well not really .

There is no dang way a car can be driven 500 miles with no oil .

He didn't say no or low oil pressure .

Plus he said he drove it for 2 weeks .

As I said someone's pulling someones leg . It don't add up .

 

[justalayman]

I agree. That is why my post did inlcude reference to that claim. I guess I am a sucker sometimes and give folks the benefit of the doubt, even when it is beyond plausible.

 

[pauper_72]

Wrong dealer Layman...He took it to another dealer (from what I gathered)

 

[pauper_72]

After several attempts it started and I took it to a nissan dealer for an inspection. The dealer said that the previous owner drove the car for 500 miles without any engine oil and fuel leaked into the engine. The dealer also mentioned that the engine needs to be replaced and the repair estimate is $3000. What are my options now?

Hmmm, here is another thought...the dealer that told you it needed a new engine may need to put his kid through college...