Was I taken for a ride? [LONG]

[flyguy]

Good stuff. Lets say it is a salvage job.. can he go after the previous owner if he did not know?

nick

 

[dogfriend]

Originally posted by flyguy
Good stuff. Lets say it is a salvage job.. can he go after the previous owner if he did not know?

nick

If you owned a truck and drove it for 70k, most people would know something was not right. However the problem is you would have to PROVE that the guy knew which might be difficult. Also, I don't know what the law is where he lives (I'm not a lawyer, just old enough to have heard about other similar shady deals).

If I were him, I would try to find a lawyer that would give me a free consultation and then go from there. It isn't clear to me if he bought from a private party (I think so) or from a dealership. If he bought from a dealership, I would raise a big stink including talking to the media on the chance that they would buy it back to 'salvage' their reputation.

 

[Scormunch]

Yes, unfortunately it was a private party sale... I'm going to fish around when I have time this weekend, and talk to my dad's lawyer to see my options. The other owner just left for a buisness trip to CA (right...), says his wife

Oh yeah, I live in Massachusetts...

 

[SaleenEXP]

Originally posted by Scormunch
Yes, unfortunately it was a private party sale... I'm going to fish around when I have time this weekend, and talk to my dad's lawyer to see my options. The other owner just left for a buisness trip to CA (right...), says his wife

Oh yeah, I live in Massachusetts...

Where do you live in Massachusetts? We used to have a house on the beach in Hyannis. Too damn cold there, forget about going in the water.

 

[dogfriend]

one other thought

I see that Mass has had a emissions and safety test since 1999
Dead Link Removed

We have this in CA, and part of the data is the mileage on the vehicle at the time of the test and (of course) the VIN. Since this data is taken by the DMV, (RMV in Mass) you may be able to get access to the mileage taken in 1999 and 2001 when the emission test was run. This info could help to prove (or disprove) that the guy knew about rebuilding the car. If the mileage isn't consistent with the record they have for the VIN used for your Explorer, it would show that someone had tampered with the odometer (or switched VIN numbers).

 

[section525]

Thats a good idea. Try to get the smog history and see if it was tested as a V6 or V8. Could a V8 even pass the V6 smog standards??

 

[Tars]

Originally posted by jobunn
It really sounds like a salvage title. I've friends with horror stories from salvage title cars. Did you buy the car from a Garage or a dealer? Either way it should have been disclosed to you that it was a salvage title. Go back to who you bought it from and ask right away.

I have to put my 2 cents in here, my 92 has a salvage title and it is the best truckk I have ever owned. I knew the people I bought it from and I knew the guy that hit it and totaled it. What I'm saying is just because it is a salvage title does NOT mean it is a bad vehicle, they can be fixed to factory specs, and any good shop will do just that.
About the possibility of it being wrecked and no salvage title, it is possible. As I understand it, you only get a salvage title if the insurance company declare it a loss. If it was in a wreck and the owner fixed it with out filing a claim it wouldn't have a salvage title.

It does to me sound like a different cab on a V-8 chassis. Check the nuts that hold the body panels on, if they have been removed the paint will not be on the nuts. Also checkk the undercarrage and in between the doors and fenders for overspray/matching colors.
I would also check the VIN numbers found elsewhere on the truck. There is another website where you can check VINs other than CarFax, it is called Experian Auto Check. I found it while playing around on the NADA website The site address is http://www.autocheck.com/autocheck/1_autocheck/jsp/home.jsp?_414=00394445495359393574

WhenI looked up the retail value of my Intepid I found this site listed on NADAs website along with Carfax, I ran the VIN on both just to see the hits and the Experian had more hits for whatever its worth. But if you are worried about the history find one of the other stamped Vins and run it on both sites, it may be worth it.

Well sorry for my lengthy post, but I hope it helps

 

[dogfriend]

Originally posted by section525
Thats a good idea. Try to get the smog history and see if it was tested as a V6 or V8. Could a V8 even pass the V6 smog standards??

In CA, it wouldn't pass the visual test. If you do an engine swap, you have to go to a referee station to get it cleared, then they put a special sticker on the door frame to indicate that it is ok. Dead Link Removed

Also, in CA, they have a web page where you enter VIN to get smog check history Dead Link Removed

Again, I don't know about Mass, but I'm pretty sure that they would have VIN and mileage as a minimum.

 

[james t]

as far as not getting a salvage title unless you make insurance claim- not really true. this is my experience. had a highly modded 90 454SS back in 96. got rear ended (not my fault) hard enough to completely total out. other guy's insurance paid me for my truck, then offered to sell to me @ salvage price before the yards got a shot at it. i bought it back from insurance company to part out. NO SALVAGE TITLE. i wound up selling the entire truck to a guy i know who wanted all of the drivetrain. he could have fixed it/spliced it in with another 88-93, and sold it as an original 454SS. he didnt, but like i said, it was completely totaled and never got a salvage title. i have heard of other stories similar to mine, and same thing. seems around here if you total your vehicle, then buy it back at salvage rate, it DOESNT get a salvage title... just something to think about.

 

[Tars]

Scormunch, did you find out what was going on with your truck? I can check it on Auto check, I have a few Title checks left and would run it for you if you want. Let me know.

 

[dogfriend]

I am also curious about what you found out.

 

[Scormunch]

Well guys... I don't really know what to say, but apparently my X was in an accident like you guys suggested...

Bad news: Waaaay back when the truck had only 5k miles (1st owner, I'm the third) it was in a bad accident... rearended and got hit in the front right quarterpanel... for one reason or another, the 5.0 was dropped in, the panels were fixed from other explorers on the lot (apparently one that didn't have AWD). I verified this via VIN #'s on the bodypanels...

Worse news: My dad knew all along... I'm not sure whether to be :fire: or .. but it stinks either way. He said that everything was ok'd before he bought it. And yes, this time I've got paperwork from the dealer... he checked a whole host of things to make sure everything was ok... he checked for frame straightness, cylinder compression, exhaust, overall safety and the normal used-car stuff.

Well guys, I'm kinda at a loss of what to do. Well, I guess I can't really do anything if I wanted to, since its legally not my car... I'm just "renting" it from my dad. I guess I'm just pretty disappointed in how he lied.
The car generally drives fine... except for how the EGR tube (at least I think thats it) split in two last week. My camera is out of batteries, but its a silverish metal tube on the left side of the engine (in the back on passengers side). The small clicking noise has basically exploded into a loud, almost lawn-mowerish thwacking, and it doesnt go away on warmup anymore... it also sounds like a hissing noise on idle. Oh man... I dunno which way is up anymore... thanks for everyone's help in this, I guess I'll just keep pushing through somehow!

 

[jobunn]

Well, it may not be what you wanted but it is still a good vehicle in decent condition. Plus there is a ton of mods you can do and a ton of information on this site for any problems you have.

Good luck

 

[dogfriend]

Originally posted by Scormunch
Well guys... I don't really know what to say, but apparently my X was in an accident like you guys suggested.....

Worse news: My dad knew all along... I'm not sure whether to be :fire: or .. but it stinks either way. He said that everything was ok'd before he bought it. And yes, this time I've got paperwork from the dealer... he checked a whole host of things to make sure everything was ok... he checked for frame straightness, cylinder compression, exhaust, overall safety and the normal used-car stuff.

Well guys, I'm kinda at a loss of what to do. Well, I guess I can't really do anything if I wanted to, since its legally not my car... I'm just "renting" it from my dad. I guess I'm just pretty disappointed in how he lied.

I'm glad that it was checked for safety and all because that is the biggest problem with a rebuilt vehicle; if it isn't done right you could have some big problems..

I have some advice on how to make the best of bad situation: Since dad knew but didn't tell you, now each time you need to repair something (especially anything related to wreck) you have major guilt leverage to get financial help on repairs (assuming that he is susceptable to this)

Also, think of all the experience you will gain in repairing your X

 

[TPLYNCH]

Well, at least you know now.... Anyway, the EGR tube is notorious for going bad on the 5.0's. Been discussed here alot. Should be easy fix. Search and you my find thread w/instructions.

 

[Scormunch]

Hey everyone again... yeah I can see this being a big leverage point with the dad

Anyways, the dealer just dropped it off at my door (what service!!) from the EGR fix... and wow what a bill

The Bad: in addition to the EGR, they had to replace an 02 sensor and, low and behold, my catalytic converter...

The Good: the converter was no charge, because apparently the last mechanic (fired about a month ago) knew about the bad sensor and it was causing the converter to go bad. Still a big bill but now everything is squared away but the tires... someday everything will be good

The Best: The "cool" kid in school genuinely told me that he likes my new additions (front clears w/ billet grille)... not that I was doing it for him, but it feels good that I'm starting to catch up to his blazer.

 

[Dan Whitaker]

You definatly got luck on the catalitic converterss. i had to have mine replaced last November to the tune of $1500 :fire: