Bought car, head gasket is gone

dcfc91 · 01-08-2017 07:17PM #1

Someone I know bought a car yesterday, cheap but it's not cheap to them if you know what I mean. It looked good upon inspection, there was no creamy substance or any signs of the oil and water being mixed at all and the car ran grand. Half way home the car began to overheat, pulled it in, let it cool down, still no sign of oil and water mixing. Left it there until a mechanic could look at it today. Sadly there is scum today and the mechanic says the gasket is give. Of course me man has his phone off and there will be no recourse there anyway.

Mechanic says he can do the gasket but no guarantees that the engine won't be cracked. Worth doing the gasket or best to walk away? Car was worth less than €1000 by the way.

Wexfordboy89 · 01-08-2017 07:21PM

dcfc91 wrote: »

Someone I know bought a car yesterday, cheap but it's not cheap to them if you know what I mean. It looked good upon inspection, there was no creamy substance or any signs of the oil and water being mixed at all and the car ran grand. Half way home the car began to overheat, pulled it in, let it cool down, still no sign of oil and water mixing. Left it there until a mechanic could look at it today. Sadly there is scum today and the mechanic says the gasket is give. Of course me man has his phone off and there will be no recourse there anyway.

Mechanic says he can do the gasket but no guarantees that the engine won't be cracked. Worth doing the gasket or best to walk away? Car was worth less than €1000 by the way.

Dont know much about cars tbh but id say if it was bought for less than 1000 euro maybe walk away.gaskets usually cost quite a bit to get fixed.maybe sell what you can for parts use money towards new car.just my option srry not much of a help

Atlantic Dawn · 01-08-2017 07:24PM

What's the car? Without knowing the history of the engine there could be other issues down the line, could be cheaper to just cut your loses. At a guess I would say seller buys up junkers and sells them to people without the cars ever going in his name.

mikeybrennan · 01-08-2017 07:28PM

Did it have a valid NCT either?

Isambard · 01-08-2017 07:44PM

what difference does that make?

Wexfordboy89 · 01-08-2017 07:47PM

Isambard wrote: »

what difference does that make?

If you mean the nct i guess the poster means that if it didnt have a valid nct then chances are something big was up with it.

uck51js9zml2yt · 01-08-2017 07:54PM

Had the gasket go on my first car many years ago. Got the head skimmed and a new gasket but ended up having to get a reconditioned engine in the end. Should have done that first!

Toyotafanboi · 01-08-2017 08:14PM

There are options but it depends on the car. For example if it's a Fiat Punto and head gaskets are cheap to repair, it could still be economically viable or if it's some kind of mind 00's or older Toyota petrol where you know if you fix the head gasket the car will soldier on for another few years, I'd consider it.

If it's already a lamb of a car like a diesel Passat with no NCT where even if you fix the head gasket you know you could still have a multitude of problems, I'd be inclined to walk away.

What car and engine is it OP? What mileage and is it NCT'd? Do you have a link to the ad?

dcfc91 · 02-08-2017 12:13AM

No link to the ad as the seller has taken it down and turned off the phone. He knew what he was doing. Car has a valid NCT cert until next year, four great tyres, a very clean car on the face of it. It's a Fiesta, 1.25, milage is fairly low, not too much over 100000 I think.

Atlantic Dawn · 02-08-2017 12:15AM

dcfc91 wrote: »

No link to the ad as the seller has taken it down and turned off the phone. He knew what he was doing. Car has a valid NCT cert until next year, four great tyres, a very clean car on the face of it. It's a Fiesta, 1.25, milage is fairly low, not too much over 100000 I think.

Was he selling more than 1 car, was the car in his name?

begbysback · 02-08-2017 12:17AM

If it was bought for less than a grand then maybe offset the loss by selling the parts

dcfc91 · 02-08-2017 12:18AM

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Was he selling more than 1 car, was the car in his name?

I've googled the phone number, it doesn't appear to be on any other ads. Though I will keep trying. I didn't actually see the log book myself so don't know if whatever name he gave was on it. At a guess due to how polished he was I'd say this was far from the first time he has done something like this.

Wexfordboy89 · 02-08-2017 12:21AM

dcfc91 wrote: »

I've googled the phone number, it doesn't appear to be on any other ads. Though I will keep trying. I didn't actually see the log book myself so don't know if whatever name he gave was on it. At a guess due to how polished he was I'd say this was far from the first time he has done something like this.

Try look him up on Facebook if you know his name and the área his from

dcfc91 · 02-08-2017 12:21AM

begbysback wrote: »

If it was bought for less than a grand then maybe offset the loss by selling the parts

Hard to get anything for it with no engine I would imagine.

dcfc91 · 02-08-2017 12:24AM

Wexfordboy89 wrote: »

Try look him up on Facebook if you know his name and the área his from

Already done, can't find him, very generic name and I'd say he's flying low on the radar if he's doing this kind of thing.

Wexfordboy89 · 02-08-2017 12:26AM

dcfc91 wrote: »

Already done, can't find him, very generic name and I'd say he's flying low on the radar if he's doing this kind of thing.

Are u able to do a reg check anywhere like i can on uk would that give u any info on him.are there any old tax or insurance discs in the car u might get something on him address etc

2forjoy · 02-08-2017 12:32AM

Put the phone number into facebook and search . might identify him

Duke O Smiley · 02-08-2017 12:33AM

Wexfordboy89 wrote: »

Are u able to do a reg check anywhere like i can on uk would that give u any info on him.are there any old tax or insurance discs in the car u might get something on him address etc

What exactly is finding him on social media or elsewhere going to achieve? Seller is under no obligation to offer any recourse and by the sounds of things I highly doubt he will.

Wexfordboy89 · 02-08-2017 12:34AM

2forjoy wrote: »

Put the phone number into facebook and search . might identify him

Good idea think u can find ppl on Facebook by their phone number

Atlantic Dawn · 02-08-2017 12:35AM

Kind of wreckless buying a car to start with being unsure if seller is owner as listed on logbook. Whether it's a low cost runabout or a €50k car it's not a good way to do business.

jacksie66 · 02-08-2017 12:36AM

This post has been deleted.

Wexfordboy89 · 02-08-2017 12:36AM

Duke O Smiley wrote: »

What exactly is finding him on social media or elsewhere going to achieve? Seller is under no obligation to offer any recourse and by the sounds of things I highly doubt he will.

Only trying to help OP Jaysus theres always one person who has a go for making a suggestion.fyi if hes on Facebook he could try send him a message idk only trying to help

begbysback · 02-08-2017 12:38AM

Duke O Smiley wrote: »

What exactly is finding him on social media or elsewhere going to achieve? Seller is under no obligation to offer any recourse and by the sounds of things I highly doubt he will.

I guess if he's found on social media, and asked politely for a full or partial refund, maybe he coughs up given that he no longer has anonymity - maybe he needs to keep a good name for other business matters - and maybe not, but then again it's worth a go

Esel · 02-08-2017 12:39AM

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Kind of wreckless buying a car to start with being unsure if seller is owner as listed on logbook. Whether it's a low cost runabout or a €50k car it's not a good way to do business.

It's reckless to buy a wreck alright.

Duke O Smiley · 02-08-2017 12:42AM

Wexfordboy89 wrote: »

Only trying to help OP Jaysus theres always one person who has a go for making a suggestion.fyi if hes on Facebook he could try send him a message idk only trying to help

Sorry that post should really be more clearly directed at all of the posts suggesting finding this chap through various social media outlets. My apologies.

OP, I would cut my losses. Unfortunately as I understand things you are unlikely to reach any kind of amicable agreement with this chap, if you can get in touch at all.

Wexfordboy89 · 02-08-2017 12:45AM

Duke O Smiley wrote: »

Sorry that post should really be more clearly directed at all of the posts suggesting finding this chap through various social media outlets. My apologies.

OP, I would cut my losses. Unfortunately as I understand things you are unlikely to reach any kind of amicable agreement with this chap, if you can get in touch at all.

No worries

if i was OP id be pretty annoyed aswell tbh n the guy having his phone off aint the best of signs tbh.sounds like he knew the car wouldnt last long and lying low for a bit

dcfc91 · 02-08-2017 12:48AM

2forjoy wrote: »

Put the phone number into facebook and search . might identify him

Good idea, just tried messenger, WhatsApp and Viber, no go sadly. Would love to catch him but clearly he uses this number for this specific purpose.

Jesus Wept · 02-08-2017 12:48AM

What colour is the car?

dcfc91 · 02-08-2017 12:49AM

Jesus Wept wrote: »

What colour is the car?

Blue???

Wexfordboy89 · 02-08-2017 12:50AM

dcfc91 wrote: »

Good idea, just tried messenger, WhatsApp and Viber, no go sadly. Would love to catch him but clearly he uses this number for this specific purpose.

I dunno then did he sound local/from área odd question i know just wondering would you be likely too see him around.real pain in the bum alrite

dcfc91 · 02-08-2017 12:55AM

Wexfordboy89 wrote: »

I dunno then did he sound local/from área odd question i know just wondering would you be likely too see him around.real pain in the bum alrite

He was 100% local to the area we bought the car from. We drove a bit to get there and it's in the suburb of a city so he would be hard to catch. People can criticise at the way the car was bought, fair enough, it genuinely couldn't have been any more above board looking, or even trying to get any recourse at all but would love to give him a bit if a fright seeing as he clearly does this regularly. Feel for my friend as all though it's a small amount of money in the grand scheme of things, it's money they saved from working hard and now they have nothing at all.

Bought car, head gasket is gone

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