I recently purchased a 1988 YJ with only 93K on it from a local dealer. I looked it over for rust, frame cracks, engine noises among other things. I test drove it 2 times and it seemed to run quite well. I did my research.... or so I thought!
8 days after purchasing the vehicle for $4300 and driving only 4 days and 250 miles, I'm driving down the flat highway doing 65 and quickly losing speed. I shift into 4th and try to pick up some speed only to find that 4th will not get me past 50 mph either! There is an odd sizzle type noise coming from under the jeep and a white-ish possibly blue tinted smoke pouring out of the tailpipe. All guages are normal at this point and she isn't overheated. I took the backroads home and had her towed the next morning after discussing with a few auto saavy people that it sounds like a head gasket problem (I had told them white smoke, didn't really see the blue tint to it).
My mechanic tells me its not the head gasket and that there is some blow-by as well. There is oil in cylinder #2 and the compression test showed that cylinder #2 "was not doing its job, at all" Those are his words. He then suggested I take it to an engine place and would probably need major engine work based on his inspection. At this point I don't know what it is, I only know its gonna be expensive for an 8 day old car!
The problem now is that the dealer is hassling me because I bought it as-is, no warranty...bad move. The dealer also tried to tell me today that he thought it was a carb problem and it was running great?!? He obviously hadn't taken it for more than 1/4 mile. It smokes after about 3 minutes of running, and sputters and again won't get past 50 mph.
He also was going to charge me to do another compression test etc. I insisted he call the other mechanic and get the results, as I'd already dropped $120 on it.
I am trying to be cordial to the dealership at this point knowing they don't have a legal obligation to assist me in any way with it, but c'mon now! 8 days!... Its been the worst customer service I've EVER experienced .
any words of wisdom on the engine problem or how to deal with the dealer?
8 days after purchasing the vehicle for $4300 and driving only 4 days and 250 miles, I'm driving down the flat highway doing 65 and quickly losing speed. I shift into 4th and try to pick up some speed only to find that 4th will not get me past 50 mph either! There is an odd sizzle type noise coming from under the jeep and a white-ish possibly blue tinted smoke pouring out of the tailpipe. All guages are normal at this point and she isn't overheated. I took the backroads home and had her towed the next morning after discussing with a few auto saavy people that it sounds like a head gasket problem (I had told them white smoke, didn't really see the blue tint to it).
My mechanic tells me its not the head gasket and that there is some blow-by as well. There is oil in cylinder #2 and the compression test showed that cylinder #2 "was not doing its job, at all" Those are his words. He then suggested I take it to an engine place and would probably need major engine work based on his inspection. At this point I don't know what it is, I only know its gonna be expensive for an 8 day old car!
The problem now is that the dealer is hassling me because I bought it as-is, no warranty...bad move. The dealer also tried to tell me today that he thought it was a carb problem and it was running great?!? He obviously hadn't taken it for more than 1/4 mile. It smokes after about 3 minutes of running, and sputters and again won't get past 50 mph.
He also was going to charge me to do another compression test etc. I insisted he call the other mechanic and get the results, as I'd already dropped $120 on it.
I am trying to be cordial to the dealership at this point knowing they don't have a legal obligation to assist me in any way with it, but c'mon now! 8 days!... Its been the worst customer service I've EVER experienced .
any words of wisdom on the engine problem or how to deal with the dealer?