HELP! 2004 CE doesnt start.

[aivi]

Just bought it, and it couldnt even get out of the sellers driveway. It started the first time I test drove it, but I didnt bother test driving it the second time. The engine started at first, but it couldnt shift gears. Then the odometer, radio, clock, fuel gauge, cd didnt work.The roof lights were acting funny and stopped, then the engine stopped. The brake lights work, and one of the tail lights worked. But the reverse light doesnt work. The car is still at the sellers house.

[ghost_ryder35]

Originally Posted by aivi

Just bought it, and it couldnt even get out of the sellers driveway. It started the first time I test drove it, but I didnt bother test driving it the second time. The engine started at first, but it couldnt shift gears. Then the odometer, radio, clock, fuel gauge, cd didnt work.The roof lights were acting funny and stopped, then the engine stopped. The brake lights work, and one of the tail lights worked. But the reverse light doesnt work. The car is still at the sellers house.

First of all thats pretty funny, secondly sounds like some fuses blew on you with all that stuff stopping. Take a quick look, otherwise I would make that guy pay to have the dealer fix it. I mean its still in his driveway so theres not much he can say about it.

[aivi]

The guy didnt want to pay for it. He said my dad must of done something. But really what could my dad have done by putting in the key, turning it, and trying to shift gears. They guy said the car reversed a little, but you cant tell. My dads not a rough guy and hes pretty gentle with his cars. We kept telling the seller the car didnt even get out of his driveway, but the seller kept insisting that the radio, cd worked when he went to get his cd out. Could the seller have done something? He was replacing the tires and taking out his boombox system from the trunk because I didnt want them.

[crypticlineage]

The seller is giving you a lot of bullcrap, dont let him get you. Tell him, you're going to sue him and will also talk to newspaper people if he doens't get it repaired for free.

I bought a 2000 corolla ve in december 05, and had the car pass emission test before I paid the dealer. Within 2 miles of driving off his lot, I had check engine light come on. Turned out it was engine burning oil and catalytic converter completely shot. Since then I have gone through tens of gallons of 10W30 oil, two engine replacements (one was covered by warranty), a new catalytic converter, a new oxygen sensor and some serious heartache, disappointment and severe stress.

I only ended up not fighting it back because I was new to this country and didnt know a thing about cars when I first bought it. I have since learnt a lot and won't get fooled anymore by any dealer.

You haven't done anything to that car, make him pay for it, and if he doesn't, go find a lawyer and have him write a letter of further legal action (may cost you $200) to the dealer. Also, file a complaint with Better business bureau and also send a written complaint to Governer's office in your state.

You could also stand at the entrance of the dealership holding a sign that says: This dealer sold me a LEMON. I am sure he'll budge with one of those things.

[aivi]

Actually this is a private seller. I wanted a mechanic to test it first, but the seller said nothing was wrong and he insisted on going to the bank to get the money since the bank was going to close and he couldnt wait for the next 2 days because he didnt have a ride back home. I guess I should have treated this like a business deal instead of being nice. So anyway, the seller signed a paper saying that he would refund me the money if the mechanic found a serious problem with the car within the next 2 days. But the thing is, the car never left the sellers driveway so I would think this signifies a serious problem. The guy said the car ran the first time we test drove it and it must have been my dads fault. Honestly, I was led on by greed. The guy lowered the price $200 when we said we werent interested at first because there was damage to the front bumper that the seller said happened the day we arrived to first see the car. This should have been a sign to tell me the guy was a liar.

Anyway, since the car couldnt get out of his driveway, I wanted my money back until a mechanic checked it. He started getting angry and saying thats not how things go. But he did sign a paper stating he would give a refund. I guess he would find a loophole and say a mechanic didnt check it yet and my dad broke it. His mom did agree to give me some of the money back, but made me write a letter stating I would give the remaining money once her mechanic finds that the car is fine. Was this a bad move? Now I dont want the car. I should have kept to my first agreement and have written that the seller promised that nothing was wrong with the car.

[toyomoho]

If the car ran OK at one time suspect the key may be the boom box removal as this sounds like a wiring issue. Have the guy point out to you where the wiring for the box was hooked up and see if there is a issue. Check ALL the fuses and see what you find. If blown you may have a short some where, if not look for loose wires.

Find a decent wiring diagram to narrow down the effected areas. My guess a a few wires got mixed up, loose, etc when the guy removed the sound system.

[w203]

Originally Posted by aivi

The guy didnt want to pay for it. He said my dad must of done something. But really what could my dad have done by putting in the key, turning it, and trying to shift gears. They guy said the car reversed a little, but you cant tell. My dads not a rough guy and hes pretty gentle with his cars. We kept telling the seller the car didnt even get out of his driveway, but the seller kept insisting that the radio, cd worked when he went to get his cd out. Could the seller have done something? He was replacing the tires and taking out his boombox system from the trunk because I didnt want them.

Problem there ^^

He could have blown the main fuse (or others) when taking out the subs and touching the postive to the chassis. Looks to be only electrical. Tell the seller its his fault for his doing, he should not have uninstall anything if he/she doesn't know what he/she was doing.

[aivi]

The fault according to the mechanic was the sellers when he took out the boom box system. The owner wants to give me my money back, but her son who is the seller wants to keep it. He said I signed something stating that I will pay all of the money once a mechanic oks the car, which I did. The owner wants to give it back but doesnt want to anger her son. At first the son wanted to keep the deposit saying he will use it to buy new tires. But this doesnt make sense. Please help.

[crypticlineage]

Threaten with some legal action and he'll back off.

[aivi]

His mom says shes going to call a lawyer to ask about the law. I called too and the lawyer says I have nothing to worry about because the son isnt on the title and he doesnt have the right. But the seller's lawyer could make things difficult. Anyway, Im willing to just let her have the $400 deposit to give to her son so things are over with. It was fine for the mom to refund my money, but the son wanted the deposit because he said he needs it to buy new tires for the car. At first, the son said he sold the fancy tires but his mom says he told her he gave them to his fiances friend. Now he wants me to pay for the new tires saying its my fault that he had to turn down other buyers. But the mom doesnt want my money and says shes fine with ending things but she kept insisting that shell call the lawyer to make sure whats right.

[crypticlineage]

I wouldn't pay that nutcase even a dime. If I had to, I would rather invest those $400 in hiring a lawyer and suing him. Everybody is afraid of legal consequences.

Rest is upto you. It's your hard earned (I assume) money.

I am sick in it's entirety of people screwing with honest people constantly. I tend to trust people easily but have realized that I need to stop that. For every honest person there is 10 crooks out there waiting to rip him/her off.

[aivi]

Theyre probably going to sue me first to get the rest of the money. I was supposed to go to her house today to get a final letter stating that our transaction was over, but the mom keeps stalling and now says I have to wait till Monday. She called her son to tell him I was bugging her and he called me telling me this. I think shes using her son to be the bad guy, so she can pretend to be the understanding one. I just hope shes good.

Ive got to stop trusting people too....

Thanks for the support. I really do appreciate it.

[w203]

If the son's name is not under the title I don't see why he was selling the car... You deal with whoever's name is under the title. If it was me, I would not only have her refund the money but a little more for my time wasted.

[aivi]

I am trying to deal with her, but she keeps asking her sons advice, or maybe shes pretending and saying that its her sons fault that she has to do all the lawyer stuff. First she said she would get the info today, then tomorrow, now I have to wait till Monday. Ive asked advice from lawyers and they say the same thing you say. The car and title are still at her house, I have my money, the owner agreed to a refund, so the son shouldnt interfere. But she, or her son, is not just keeping things simple and just put it in writing that we both agreed to withdraw. Everything right now is verbal, which I know they can always deny if we do ever go to court. He son is very manipulative. When I asked for my money back because the car would be staying at their house to be checked after it malfunctioned, he didnt want to give it back even though the contract we made did say if there was a serious mechanical problem, the money would be refunded. Im sure a car not starting was serious enough. and I didnt want to leave the car and the money at their house. The mom did give me most of my money, but the son stormed in the house and she had to yell at him to open the door. Then he closed the door in my face not wanting to let me in. I dont think hes trustworthy so I dont want to deal with him. Should I just wait? How much does a lawyer cost? I dont have a lot of money.

[daniel2002p]

man screw her son, he HAS nothing to do here , he is nowhere on the title and he has to back off, in court he wouldnt even be allowed to speak to this

D