Question for you guys re: prior sale of motor

[Elfer]

I need some advice from you guys. Here's the scoop: Back in January, I sold a 3.0L engine to a local guy. Unfortunately, the motor was already off the vehicle as a previous buyer renegged after having me pull the motor and trans from the car. The car engine had about 140K miles and never been rebuilt, had some leaks particularly in the nose bearing, but ran really strong and no smoke whatsoever. The sale went through and I told the buyer that I cannot possibly give him any sort of warranty since Im not a shop and I wouldnt know the disposition of the motor after it left my possession. Fast forward to today and 4 months later, he calls and said that he just finished having a local shop put the motor in his car and it smokes like hell! To make a long story short, he now wants his money back after all this time. I have a written receipt signed by both parties that this is an AS IS sale and no warranty is provided. What would/should my action be? I was upfront with him and even provided him with an mpeg file of the car running strong and no smoke with a date stamp. Again, your thoughts and comments are welcome and thanks in advance.

[john_colasante]

Politely tell him to "go to hell".

[unclebilly]

As is. He bought a used engine, not a new / freshly rebuilt engine. You buy used, you take your chances.

[kycarguy 935]

As is means as is. If there were any sort of issue it should have been conveyed to you right away not 4 months later. Most 911 engines will smoke after sitting for awhile anyway.

[aigel]

You are certainly on the safe side as far as the law goes. However, if you would't feel funny, you probably wouldn't ask the forum, right?

Did the shop check compression? Where does the smoke come from, according to the shop? It's not like valve guides wear out from an engine sitting on a crate. I would think the rings may have sat up and the oil comes in from the bottom end? It may even be something stupid like the oil being overfilled. Is it something that can be solved short of a rebuild?

If the situation isn't poisened already, I would try to help the buyer out as much as I can. I am not talking monetary compensation rather than offering other help. You can figure out what may be wrong with his engine (from what the shop tells you, not by working on it yourself). Also, you could offer to buy back the engine for a decent core price that you know you can get here on the classifieds.

Hope this helps, I hate it when deals go sour, even though you intended well.

George

[HardDrive]

I would say upfront, NO I am not giving your money back. That being said, I think you could perhaps help the guy sort out the problem. How long did the engine smoke? How much oil is in the car?

[Wayne 962]

It's normal for these engines to smoke, especially after sitting for four months or more. Tell him to drive it before assuming it's bad.

That said, in my Engine Rebuild Book, I specifically recommend that each and every used motor that is purchased be considered to be a core motor, unless the engine is in a car, and can be driven and tested.

-Wayne

[Elfer]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I really dont want to be an A-hole about it and I will try to help him out the best I can, short of monetary compensation. The complete engine with harness, CD box, and less exhaust was sold to him for $2,300. This is after he low-balled and nickle and dimed me to death. At $2,300, isn't that a core price anyway? Not that the motor was a core. I just figured that selling the SSI and muffler for separately should bring me close to the market price of these motors.

[cstreit]

If it wasn't smoking when it left, you already gave him a steal, dont let him steal more!

[wholberg]

Originally posted by HardDrive
I would say upfront, NO I am not giving your money back. That being said, I think you could perhaps help the guy sort out the problem. How long did the engine smoke? How much oil is in the car?

What he said.

[jabb]

2300 is a low price and I would consider this motor to need some work at that price... Tell him AS IS sorry for that price....

[aigel]

Wow. That's a good price! Knowing that, buying it back sounds like an option. Throw it in your car and drive it to where it clears up, then sell it again while it is still running in your car!

George

[JeremyD]

Buy it back for $2300 sell it on ebay for $3000. Both of you happy.

[Moses]

I sold my 3.0 with 90,000 miles for $5,400.

He got a sweet deal.

[island911]

Originally posted by Elfer
. . . motor was already off the vehicle . . 140K miles and never been rebuilt, had some leaks . . .4 months later, he (says) it smokes like hell!

. . .. receipt signed by both parties that this is an AS IS sale and no warranty is provided. . . sold to him for $2,300

And this buyer thinks he got taken!? My sense is he doesn't believe that he got taken. He just wants a perfect motor for as close to free as possible.

Wayne is right, he should expect smoke. . . though do you even tell him that? . . .the guy sounds impossible.

also- Being that the guy picked it up locally, he had every opportunity to simply crank the motor over by hand, and feel the compression "lump" six times. . . .just for a feel of anything strange (like a hole in a piston, split valve . ..)

[911teo]

I understand your predicament.
A month ago I had to sell my 3.2. It was a strong running engine, with 125k miles. It was still in the car and a lot of people were "interested"...

I eventually decided to sell it to my mechanic. He knew the engine, had been working on it for 2 yrs now and there wouldn't be surprises. Imagine if I had sold it to anyone and then after 1 month something goes wrong...

People here say that you sold it as is.. so you are off the hook.... but it does not work that way, does it? U do feel bad for the guy...

On the other hand the price you sold it at was really really low... I feel the other guy thought he stole a nice motor for real cheap.. and now he's complaining so that you can throw him some more cash.

I say that if this really bugs you offer to buy the engine back at the same price. You should not have troubles selling it again.

[RickM]

Originally posted by Elfer
This is after he low-balled and nickle and dimed me to death.

I think he's trying to get away with whatever he can here. Just be polite and firm, a deals a deal. If he didn't want to take a chance he should have spent twice or three time as much for a motor with a warranty.

[chgrec]

Personally, I would be very hesitant about the "buy it back and resell it" option....there is no telling what has been done to the engine since it left your hands and no telling how it would be treated during/after removal..especially by a ticked off buyer.....

as is means as is - This aint no Wal-mart

my 2 cents for what it is worth...

Chris

[911teo]

Chris has a point.. you do not know what happened in these 4 months.

Just refuse politely, you have done nothing wrong, especially at that price.

[ken_xman]

send him to this link, and let him read up on his car.