Car ForumBought vehicle yesterday - maintenance light on
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Car ForumBought vehicle yesterday - maintenance light onPosted:

TheFakeMrSneaky
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Hello, long story short. Test drove car, "Power train" light came on (wrench symbol) stopped test drive. Sale guy took car to shop said light wasn't there they hooked it up couldn't find anything. Said most likely general maintenance - oil change etc maybe a sensor got thrown off. Anyways. Bought car soon as we drove off (after closing hours) lights on. Manual says power train and bring to shop asap basically. Gonna bring it back today.

We are covered since we bought all the fancy fancy stuff but basically I'm wondering if this is maybe something shady? Could the price have been knocked down if we found a big issue prior to buying but now we paid OG price and they will just repair for free?

This is a big dealership.... Not no shady used car lot. So idk.
#2. Posted:
Sedg
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TheFakeMrSneaky wrote Hello, long story short. Test drove car, "Power train" light came on (wrench symbol) stopped test drive. Sale guy took car to shop said light wasn't there they hooked it up couldn't find anything. Said most likely general maintenance - oil change etc maybe a sensor got thrown off. Anyways. Bought car soon as we drove off (after closing hours) lights on. Manual says power train and bring to shop asap basically. Gonna bring it back today.

We are covered since we bought all the fancy fancy stuff but basically I'm wondering if this is maybe something shady? Could the price have been knocked down if we found a big issue prior to buying but now we paid OG price and they will just repair for free?

This is a big dealership.... Not no shady used car lot. So idk.


Sounds shady for sure dude, if they're respectable company they should fix whatever problems come up after the sale under a new sale warranty, providing they even have one in place, if not then you may be able to get a refund or at least a partial for selling a dodgy motor. Ask the questions and read the small print
#3. Posted:
TheFakeMrSneaky
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Sedg wrote
TheFakeMrSneaky wrote Hello, long story short. Test drove car, "Power train" light came on (wrench symbol) stopped test drive. Sale guy took car to shop said light wasn't there they hooked it up couldn't find anything. Said most likely general maintenance - oil change etc maybe a sensor got thrown off. Anyways. Bought car soon as we drove off (after closing hours) lights on. Manual says power train and bring to shop asap basically. Gonna bring it back today.

We are covered since we bought all the fancy fancy stuff but basically I'm wondering if this is maybe something shady? Could the price have been knocked down if we found a big issue prior to buying but now we paid OG price and they will just repair for free?

This is a big dealership.... Not no shady used car lot. So idk.


Sounds shady for sure dude, if they're respectable company they should fix whatever problems come up after the sale under a new sale warranty, providing they even have one in place, if not then you may be able to get a refund or at least a partial for selling a dodgy motor. Ask the questions and read the small print



Last resort here but it does have a 7 day money back. It is from Ford. Big ford dealership in a nearby town. They will hold true to anything so I'm 99% sure nothing will be an issue. I think it's more of if their is a big issue I don't think the code would be on and off as it pleases. So they would have had to clear the code sold us the car and then we repair it thru them. It's all covered but yeah. I hope they pay their own $100 deductable tho, which I'm sure they will.

But if it is something super minor like a sensor just triggering then this is waaaay fine by me lol. I hope they at least offer to replace the sensor. Because then it truly was a mistake and they weren't trying to cover anything up.

So once again. I'm no lawyer but if they covered up a big issue to sell at asking price that seems not very legal but what do I know..
#4. Posted:
MobiusCheats
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Most reputable shops wouldn't intentionally sell you something broken, if the vehicles operating as it should then they are correct in assuming it's probably just a sensor bugging out etc.

No matter what you're covered and I have no doubt they'll make it right, these things do happen from time to time and doesn't seem like anything malicious is going on to me.

I have experience in this industry.
#5. Posted:
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Was it a new vehicle? If not you're most likely screwed when it comes to lemon law, used cars typically are sold "as is."

I'd seriously consider speaking to a lemon law-focused lawyer if the dealer is unwilling to rectify this. Even being able to consult a lawyer might help grease the wheels in getting this fixed.

Condolences man, shit sucks.
#6. Posted:
002
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I'd take it back. Once you're out of that 7 day period,even with any extended warranties you are most likely paying out of pocket. Sounds like they hooked up a scanner but did no actual diagnosis and when they hooked up their scanner, they may have cleared the code so you felt better in buying the car. Even big name dealerships do shady stuff.
#7. Posted:
JOEYKMODS
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I work at a dealership and I'm in sales, all the fancy fancy stuff your talking about which is your extended warranty does not even go into the system for about a week so the dealer most likely if its something serious is going to take your car in the shop and put you in a loaner if they even have any and thing if you wanting to work them on the price the best time would have been when the car had the issue going on, but now since you already signed and paperwork done there is not going to be anytime to work on the price at best they will give you a loaner and fix the problem. Also what kind of car was it and is the dealer a big dealer or a small lot?
#8. Posted:
Apollo_98
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I agree with 002. They may just try to prolong the issue, and keep clearing the code until you're 7 day money back or whatever is expired, then by law you're stuck with it, if that's how the contract really works. If it was "just a sensor", they would have fixed it before selling it to you. I'd go back to them before your 7 days is up and tell them you want your money back. How does the light come on and they aren't able to diagnose anything? They should at least get a hint or have an idea of what it could be. Sounds super shady in my opinion man. I was in the industry for a while as well, both as a mechanic and salesman. Or if you have enough time left, tell them to fix it, if the problem comes back, you're returning the car. Also, if the light comes back on, you should hook a scan tool up yourself and look the code up online before bringing it to them, because shops WILL lie to you.. it's a business after all.
#9. Posted:
TheFakeMrSneaky
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Okay here's an update.

TLDR: Don't have explorer back yet. Still have loaner car.

The car is a 2017 Ford Explorer XLT.

The dealership is big. Idk what declares it as big to small but it is Rochester Ford in Rochester MN. I think it's the biggest in this area but I could be wrong.
I want to come out and say they are being very helpful and are trying to figure out the issue. As far as the 7 day money back. It is being reset once we get the car back. If you guys think theirs something I should do to validate that let me know. We bought it on the 15th.

Story. Test drove vehicle. Light was on I THINK from very beginning. I didn't pay too much attention to it as we were just test driving and I already knew I was gonna ask them to hook it up. The part I failed at there was I wanted to be there when they did hook it up. Anyways. Got back to the dealership. He told us to go to dinner since we mentioned doing that. He gave us keys to a jeep my wife wanted to try and said he will bring the Explorer to the Techs and have them hook it up.

Got back from dinner he stated he got in the explorer to bring it to the techs and the light was gone. He claimed he had them hook it up still but found no codes. He then said the techs said the WRENCH symbol means alot of things from oil change to a sensor being thrown off. My wife looked at me because that's what I said during dinner. So at this moment I'm like oh okay everything is good.

The night continues we buy the car. Got done at 8:40ish and they closed at 8. Noone was there for the most part. I only saw Finance guy, sales guy, and a janitor. We said our goodbyes got in the Explorer drove about 10 feet and the WRENCH light came on. Wife's like wtf and I'm like wtf. It said check manual but I told her to go home since it was so late. Manual states power train 4WD.

Fast forward to the next day. She calls them up and they ask her to bring it in. She does. She gets a loaner and goes home. They apparently DO see the WRENCH light and hook it up. ( I'm sure it's all in the paperwork but I'm not sure exactly what they got back as far as codes ) some hours go by and she gets a call saying the car is ready to be picked up. Their was a loose connection somewhere. Why was it unplugged? No idea. They claimed they took it for x2 test drives and the light was no more.

Anyways. I get off of work and we all head to the dealership. Get there my wife goes inside for the keys as I start taking everything out of loaner and get into explorer. I start explorer, and WRENCH light is there. I go inside he said the Master Mechanic was busy under a different car so they weren't able to scan it then but just told us to get back in the loaner, head home and they will fix the explorer and drive it to our town to swap the vehicles. I'm frustrated but it's fine because at the moment still had no risk. Basically.

So I think we're on the 17th of September now. My wife called them up and such. The light isn't turning on for them. They can't find any codes. Mystery diagnosis. She says we're thinking about taking advantage of the 7 day money back. They supposedly have a group meeting with sale guy finance guy and service manager. Call my wife back and say we can definitely do the 7 day money back but are also saying let them keep the car and solve the problems keep the loaner for now and we are going to try and replicate the issue. Once the problem is resolved they will start the 7 day money back over with a fresh 7 days. Idk. So anyways I call them after work and we let them know we will let them keep the car for now.

And now we are here. I called the tech department this morning and she was all nice and everything is cool. They are gonna try figuring out the issue and what not. Spent the day taking the loaner ( 2021 F150 which is sick since I drive a 1999 F150 lol) to get groceries and such, all good.

Now we wait. Idk they seem super cool. But I would not have bought this car if I would have been smarter and realized the light meant power train and transmission, rather then a symbol oil change reminder. I don't think they are trying to screw me over but Idk. I might go over Monday night after work and just offer to take my explorer home. I think if they were trying to cheat me out of the 7 days and I show up out of the blue the code should be there. Maybe the code only showed up for us because of a hiccup in the system idk. I'll call them after posting this to see if they have an update.

EDIT: Okay just got off the phone. Talked with the sales guy whos been there from the get go. Claimed he has drivin it 3 times today and no light has came on.

How illegal would it be to go there tomorrow when their closed and turn the explorer on?
#10. Posted:
JOEYKMODS
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TheFakeMrSneaky wrote Okay here's an update.

TLDR: Don't have explorer back yet. Still have loaner car.

The car is a 2017 Ford Explorer XLT.

The dealership is big. Idk what declares it as big to small but it is Rochester Ford in Rochester MN. I think it's the biggest in this area but I could be wrong.
I want to come out and say they are being very helpful and are trying to figure out the issue. As far as the 7 day money back. It is being reset once we get the car back. If you guys think theirs something I should do to validate that let me know. We bought it on the 15th.

Story. Test drove vehicle. Light was on I THINK from very beginning. I didn't pay too much attention to it as we were just test driving and I already knew I was gonna ask them to hook it up. The part I failed at there was I wanted to be there when they did hook it up. Anyways. Got back to the dealership. He told us to go to dinner since we mentioned doing that. He gave us keys to a jeep my wife wanted to try and said he will bring the Explorer to the Techs and have them hook it up.

Got back from dinner he stated he got in the explorer to bring it to the techs and the light was gone. He claimed he had them hook it up still but found no codes. He then said the techs said the WRENCH symbol means alot of things from oil change to a sensor being thrown off. My wife looked at me because that's what I said during dinner. So at this moment I'm like oh okay everything is good.

The night continues we buy the car. Got done at 8:40ish and they closed at 8. Noone was there for the most part. I only saw Finance guy, sales guy, and a janitor. We said our goodbyes got in the Explorer drove about 10 feet and the WRENCH light came on. Wife's like wtf and I'm like wtf. It said check manual but I told her to go home since it was so late. Manual states power train 4WD.

Fast forward to the next day. She calls them up and they ask her to bring it in. She does. She gets a loaner and goes home. They apparently DO see the WRENCH light and hook it up. ( I'm sure it's all in the paperwork but I'm not sure exactly what they got back as far as codes ) some hours go by and she gets a call saying the car is ready to be picked up. Their was a loose connection somewhere. Why was it unplugged? No idea. They claimed they took it for x2 test drives and the light was no more.

Anyways. I get off of work and we all head to the dealership. Get there my wife goes inside for the keys as I start taking everything out of loaner and get into explorer. I start explorer, and WRENCH light is there. I go inside he said the Master Mechanic was busy under a different car so they weren't able to scan it then but just told us to get back in the loaner, head home and they will fix the explorer and drive it to our town to swap the vehicles. I'm frustrated but it's fine because at the moment still had no risk. Basically.

So I think we're on the 17th of September now. My wife called them up and such. The light isn't turning on for them. They can't find any codes. Mystery diagnosis. She says we're thinking about taking advantage of the 7 day money back. They supposedly have a group meeting with sale guy finance guy and service manager. Call my wife back and say we can definitely do the 7 day money back but are also saying let them keep the car and solve the problems keep the loaner for now and we are going to try and replicate the issue. Once the problem is resolved they will start the 7 day money back over with a fresh 7 days. Idk. So anyways I call them after work and we let them know we will let them keep the car for now.

And now we are here. I called the tech department this morning and she was all nice and everything is cool. They are gonna try figuring out the issue and what not. Spent the day taking the loaner ( 2021 F150 which is sick since I drive a 1999 F150 lol) to get groceries and such, all good.

Now we wait. Idk they seem super cool. But I would not have bought this car if I would have been smarter and realized the light meant power train and transmission, rather then a symbol oil change reminder. I don't think they are trying to screw me over but Idk. I might go over Monday night after work and just offer to take my explorer home. I think if they were trying to cheat me out of the 7 days and I show up out of the blue the code should be there. Maybe the code only showed up for us because of a hiccup in the system idk. I'll call them after posting this to see if they have an update.

EDIT: Okay just got off the phone. Talked with the sales guy whos been there from the get go. Claimed he has drivin it 3 times today and no light has came on.

How illegal would it be to go there tomorrow when their closed and turn the explorer on?



it sucks for the sales guy unless he does your paperwork for the new car he gets no cred for the sale, also my dealer does a 7 day exchange policy most dealers do that instead of any kind of money back deal. hopefully you get a new vehicle from them and it goes right, most of the time the dealer already knew something was wrong with the vehicle
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