Car Salesman's Worst Nightmare

[timcantwell]

As most of you know I have a few cars. I decided to replace my 2003 F350 with a new 2011 F450 to get me to the rally in style and comfort. The old truck only has 43,000 miles and always ran perfect with no problems, ever. I listed the truck for sale and it basically sold over night to a nice guy who lives about 100 from me. We set a time to meet halfway to make it easy on him, so we met in the driving rain. As he took the keys I told him he was getting a great truck that never failed me. We said goodby, congratulations and headed our opposite ways. About 15 minutes into the trip my cell phone rang. It was the new owner letting me know that the truck basically shut down, and would not start and he was sitting on the side of the highway unable to re-start the truck. I promptly did a U-turn and went to see what I could do to help. I was helpless. We called a tow truck and had it taken to the nearest Ford Dealer. Four days later, and about $700 poorer, the truck is not fixed and in his posession. The alternator decidided that after giving me 43,000 trouble-free miles it was time to initiate the new owner. Some people aske why I have 30+ cars. It's because I hate selling cars!!!!

 

[dbackg]

Selling cars: Employ the Steve Miller method: Take the money and run. hahaha. lol.

Bummer story Tim, thanks for sharing. It could have happened to any of us.

You sir, are good and honorable man, and with this said, it is called the boomerang effect of social right & wrong.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boomerang_effect

Somehow, someway, the story will end happily.

 

[tpraceman]

But Tim on the brighter side, when we get together we can cruise with our 2011 dually's
What color did you get?

On my 02 & 04 diesel the pick up sensor (looks like a TPS) on the crank would puke.
My drivers kept one in the glove box (After many a dealer replaced everything else).

 

[gtinmyblood]

I recently had this happen too with a car I sold. Never had an issue till the guy drove it home. He made it half way. I hate to sell my cars. any of them.

 

[AZSTAD]

Sorry to hear that Tim. But, keep me on your list for when you're ready to give up the 2011 Range Rover Sport! And maybe a few others from the 30+ bunch too! =)

 

[Empty Pockets]

On my 02 & 04 diesel the pick up sensor (looks like a TPS) on the crank would puke.
My drivers kept one in the glove box (After many a dealer replaced everything else).

In our case it was the "ballast resistor" on wifey's '78 "Town & Country". One would puke every time we turned around - USUALLY right in the middle of an intersection. We too kept spares in the glove box. The dealer never did find the cause. (That car was THEEEEEE biggest pain in the butt we ever owned. 'Spent $5K on it for various repairs in the 4 years we owned it ['bought it new..."ordered it" in fact]. 'NEVER again...)

 

[BlackICE]

When EP sells a car, he always tells the truth.

He says, it works like new every time I drive it! :lol

 

[Empty Pockets]

When EP sells a car, he always tell the truth.

He said it works like new every time I drive it! :lol

'Traded it in with FULL disclosure. 'Even talked to the buyer BEFORE he bought it.

 

[dbackg]

When EP sells a car, he always tells the truth.

He says, it works like new every time I drive it! :lol

hahahahaa. LMAO!

 

[NorthwoodGT]

But Tim on the brighter side, when we get together we can cruise with our 2011 dually's
What color did you get?

On my 02 & 04 diesel the pick up sensor (looks like a TPS) on the crank would puke.
My drivers kept one in the glove box (After many a dealer replaced everything else).

yeah but Tommy, you had JOHNSTAR ! not everyone has that!

 

[cobrajeff]

Had s similar thing happen to me a few years back - and the "victim" was my brother! My Dad bought a 1985 ASC McLaren Capri roadster new. I got it from him a couple years later. In 2002, I bought a '57 T'Bird (it had always been one of my dream cars), and didn't have room for four collector cars in my three car garage (didn't have my 4-post lift back then). I told my brothers that I was going to sell Dad's McLaren, and they had first shot at it. My youngest brother said we shouldn't let it go out of the family, so he bought it. He flew in to Detroit from California on Woodward Dream Cruise weekend. We had a great time together at the Dream Cruise. On Monday morning, he headed back to CA driving the McLaren. He called about an hour later, and said he was broken down with a blown transmission. The car only had about 30,000 miles on it, and had always run like a dream.

I hooked my enclosed triler up, and drove out to pick him (and the McLaren) up. He had to take a couple extra vacation days while I scrambled to get the tranny rebuilt. We had another close call when the car was done. Since the guy who repaired the tranny lived on a dirt road, about an hour away from me, I took the trailer back out to pick the car up. I didn't want to get the car dirty, and wanted to trailer the car back to my house. Fortunately, my brother decided to drive it, and we discovered that there was STILL a problem with the tranny - it wouldn't shift into overdrive. So, at 1:00 in the morning, it was back to the tranny guy's house, and another "vacation day" for my brother. After about three days of this (and about $800 out of my pocket) we finally had him back on the road headed West for California.

Jeff

 

[911teo]

I was the victim of a similar story....

I flew from Charlotte NC to Baton Rouge to buy this 1988 Porsche Carrera. The seller drove from Houston and the plan was for me to drive the car back to Charlotte.

The car had other plans and it just died outside Biloxi MS.

It was a nightmare.... the tow truck arrived and checked the hood.... then became puzzled when he found no engine.... He called a friend who then started swearing at the bleeding foreign cars....

Eventually I found someone who could help me, but the alternator would not be there for another 2 days.... I must say it was an adventure!

 

[tpraceman]

Now that is funny took me a minute to figure it out but yes JOHNSTAR has saved me and many of Ford fan, over a very long time I might add with no monthly fees.

yeah but Tommy, you had JOHNSTAR ! not everyone has that!

 

[NorthwoodGT]

Now that is funny took me a minute to figure it out but yes JOHNSTAR has saved me and many of Ford fan, over a very long time I might add with no monthly fees.

Tommy, you should know by now that you just havn't got the bill yet :banana!!!

 

[Cobrar]

In our case it was the "ballast resistor" on wifey's '78 "Town & Country". One would puke every time we turned around - USUALLY right in the middle of an intersection. We too kept spares in the glove box. The dealer never did find the cause. (That car was THEEEEEE biggest pain in the butt we ever owned. 'Spent $5K on it for various repairs in the 4 years we owned it ['bought it new..."ordered it" in fact]. 'NEVER again...)

Did you actually drive this car, or did the sensor fail while parked?? :biggrin

And what kind of sensors did they have back in '78???

 

[timcantwell]

But Tim on the brighter side, when we get together we can cruise with our 2011 dually's
What color did you get?

I got pearl/metallic white with the light sand metallic bottom two-tone.

 

[BlackICE]

Did you actually drive this car, or did the sensor fail while parked?? :biggrin

And what kind of sensors did they have back in '78???

In our case it was the "ballast resistor" on wifey's '78 "Town & Country". One would puke every time we turned around - USUALLY right in the middle of an intersection. We too kept spares in the glove box. The dealer never did find the cause. (That car was THEEEEEE biggest pain in the butt we ever owned. 'Spent $5K on it for various repairs in the 4 years we owned it ['bought it new..."ordered it" in fact]. 'NEVER again...)

Ballast resistors are for limiting the current to the ignition coils in the old points style system. The primary need for them is when the ignition was turned on, but the engine was not running. In that case the coils are getting too much current and will overheat and die. Once the engine is running the ballast isn't needed since the duty cycle of the coils is limited by the dwell time and RPM.

This is why EP had more failures than most, since he is much more likely to turn the key on, but not have the engine running! :ROFL