Engine Replacement for Mazda 2 2006 after Purchasing a Few Months Ago

Ljambreadjam on 30/11/2023 - 01:44
Last edited 30/11/2023 - 09:42 by 1 other user

A few months ago we purchased a second hand Mazda 2 2006 through a mechanic, who was selling it on behalf of a friend.

Mileage was around 220,000kms and there was no visible damage or mechanical issues. The mechanic told us that he had checked the car thoroughly and didn't find any problems. He also told us to ignore the engine light and minor noises coming from the engine as it was an old car, and to come back for a check up every 2,000kms.

Since he was a mechanic who we knew previously (he wasn't our regular mechanic, although we had used him a few times) and we didn't know much about cars, we trusted his word and bought the car.

A few days ago my partner was driving the car when the engine started making funny sounds. Out of caution he drove to the mechanic, but by the time he arrived the sounds got a lot worse. The mechanic checked the car and told us the engine had overheated, and it would cost almost as much as the car to replace the engine. He said that had we had gotten the car serviced earlier, he would have spotted the problem and fixed the issue. However at the time we had only driven around 2,100kms, and had not noticed anything unusual up to that point.

In hindsight we should have done more research and due diligence before purchasing the car, and it was our fault for not doing that. However I'm wondering if the mechanic was partially responsible because he had missed something in the initial checks, and sold us a car with potential or known defects.

Just wanted insights from someone with more knowledge about cars whether the car could go from being in good condition (as per the mechanic's opinion) to needing an engine replacement in a few months without any warning signs?

Automotive Car Mazda

Comments

    • altomic on 02/12/2023 - 12:35

      Not even a good enough mechanic to wipe the engine light.

  • doctordv8 on 30/11/2023 - 17:19
    +1

    5 minutes from running well to destroyed…on average. A small coolant leak/fault can be an overheat and non repairable very quickly.

    Pre-purchase inspections and regular servicing by qualified mechanics or by very trustworthy & knowledgeable people is advised.

    Family, friends, known and unknown trades people are all capable of scamming, as much as making honest mistakes(often just not knowledged in Preventative Maintenance).

    2nd opinions prior to purchase is also advised.

    You may have a claim….seek legal advise before you make any statements.

    • altomic on 30/11/2023 - 21:07

      You may have a claim….seek legal advise before you make any statements.

      around 220,000kms and 17 years old

      what does the consumer affairs victoria say ?

      What is a used car statutory warranty?
      A licensed motor car trader must provide a statutory warranty if the car:

      is less than 10 years old, and
      has travelled less than 160,000 kilometres.

      • doctordv8 on 03/12/2023 - 02:00

        Claim…possibly based on possible bad advise and or poor quality Workmanship/Reports re:

        "A few months ago we purchased a second hand Mazda 2 2006 through a mechanic, who was selling it on behalf of a friend.
        Mileage was around 220,000kms and there was no visible damage or mechanical issues. The mechanic told us that he had checked the car thoroughly and didn't find any problems. He also told us to ignore the engine light and minor noises coming from the engine as it was an old car, and to come back for a check up every 2,000kms."

        We Honest and dishonest' mechanics are very experienced in 'seeing telltales sign'…so maybe this mechanic was not the buyers friend, but the sellers. + RWC, Inspection Reports, advise etc and a Fain so soon. Was there signs on the Pre-sale Inspection???

        We do not know all the exact facts. Vehicle age and Ks are not an issue.

        That is why I suggest there maybe a Claim.

      • coffeeinmyveins on 04/12/2023 - 14:40

        What is a used car statutory warranty?
        A licensed motor car trader must provide a statutory warranty […]

        Doesn't apply. Private sale. The mechanic wasn't selling it through the business as a licenced motor trader.

  • Oofy Doofy on 30/11/2023 - 17:41

    Throw a wrecker motor into it, IF you want to fix it. You just never really know how many km's are on wrecker motors, even if they've marked them with a paint pen. At least you'll have it done relatively cheap and have a couple months of warranty.

  • pformag on 30/11/2023 - 17:47
    +5

    come back for a check up every 2,000kms.

    Comes back at 2100kms.

    Maybe you should have listened to him /s

    • fredk1000 on 30/11/2023 - 23:50

      What you said.

      That extra 100km made the difference, top up of oil/coolant could of save the engine for the next 2000km, did the mechanic say it was free to come back every 2000km for check up?

  • AustriaBargain on 30/11/2023 - 18:43
    +1

    Don't buy cars that old unless you already own it and want to run it in.

  • lainey13 on 30/11/2023 - 19:27
    +8

    Who knew the engine light was just for shitz and giggles?

  • Protractor on 30/11/2023 - 20:22
    +4

    Someone sell OP a Craptiva

    • Poor Ass on 30/11/2023 - 23:25
      +2

      or a Cruze

  • pufffdragon on 30/11/2023 - 20:51
    +1

    The engine light coming on was your first red flag.

  • Poor Ass on 30/11/2023 - 23:26
    +1

    Everyone is wondering how much you paid???

  • ECE on 30/11/2023 - 23:29

    That mechanic is stupid and so are you. Engine light warning is there for a reason. Ignoring it is like disregarding a warning sign and is just waiting for an accident to happen.

    • Aureus on 02/12/2023 - 16:11
      +1

      The mechanic isn't stupid, just unethical.

    • coffeeinmyveins on 04/12/2023 - 14:42
      +1

      Lol the mechanic is definitely not the stupid one in this scenario. They are the hustler. They knew the car was F'd and lied to OP.

  • [Deactivated] on 30/11/2023 - 23:48
    +1

    You would be amazed how many people are email when I'm interested in buying a car, and I mentioned getting a safety check and I never hear from them.

    Honestly just the threat, literally weeds out 99% of the scams.

    I've been through so many problems like this in the past, you just have to get a mechanical check done.

  • ddilrat on 30/11/2023 - 23:49

    The engine light was the warning sign

  • webtonmoy on 01/12/2023 - 01:39
    +1

    How did you get the RWC with the check engine light on!! I think you require RWC to transfer the vehicle to your name.

  • ninnypoop on 01/12/2023 - 07:58

    It must have been cheap if you bought it with the engine light on!?

  • aurotaro on 01/12/2023 - 08:12
    -3

    Reason #104 we've gone with an EV. To get out out of the Mechanics Scammer loop twice a year.

  • samba on 01/12/2023 - 08:28
    +4

    "He also told us to ignore the engine light and minor noises coming from the engine"

    Hahahaha. I bet he did!

    Get an independent mechanical check on a vehicle like this before purchase next time.

  • Nebargains on 01/12/2023 - 09:07

    Interesting how many people are saying the 220,000kms should be a reason not to buy it, these same people probably wonder why so many people are driving around with new cars.

    I have a 2007 Mazda 3, nearly 280,000kms, serviced when required, still going strong and see absolutely no reason to get rid of it.

    Anyway, don't used cars normally have some statutory warranty?

    • MrFunSocks on 01/12/2023 - 11:03
      +1

      For an ICE 220k km is a lot, especially when it's 17 years old. If you get 350k km from an ICE you're doing extremely well, so realistically it at 220k km it's 2/3 through its lifespan.

      • miicah on 01/12/2023 - 12:17
        +2

        A lot? Corolla/Camry/Falcon engines that go north of 500k?

        200k + is only considered "a lot" because that's when you start getting to the age of the car that bushes, suspension, engine mounts need replacing. Most well serviced engines (that were well made at the start of their life) can go forever.

        • MrFunSocks on 01/12/2023 - 15:51
          +2

          Cars that go over 500k km on their original engine are the 1%, not the norm.

    • altomic on 02/12/2023 - 12:39
      +1

      used cars in vic -
      A licensed motor car trader must provide a statutory warranty if the car:

      is less than 10 years old, and
      has travelled less than 160,000 kilometres

  • IpGem on 01/12/2023 - 09:19

    The mechanic told us that he had checked the car thoroughly and didn't find any problems

    Lololol

    He also told us to ignore the engine light and minor noises coming from the engine as it was an old car

    Lolololololol

  • RolandWaites on 01/12/2023 - 09:21

    If you're spending thousands on a product it's best to not ignore the big bright light warning it's got a serious problem.

  • FallaM on 01/12/2023 - 10:15

    Pain in the arses like this are why I just buy new cars and don't care about the financial implication

  • Cluster on 01/12/2023 - 10:43

    220k km is not that old. I have had 4 cylinder cars with that many k's on the clock without severe engine problems.

    Ignoring a warning light was a very strange piece of advice. The mechanic's computer will let them know what the problem is. Did they tell you? The light may be a slight problem, or something severe about to happen. And ignoring odd noises coming from the engine? What kind of advice is that?

  • baaatender on 01/12/2023 - 10:45

    Consider it a cheap lesson learnt. It wasn't as expensive as this next one!

    https://www.reddit.com/r/infiniti/comments/17n33xc/infiniti_…

    • altomic on 02/12/2023 - 12:44

      That guy is a bell end. Imagine driving a car 25,000km with out an oil change and then saying "the car didnt tell me to get an oil change so i didnt".

      As stupid as "I went swimming and no one told me I'd get wet"

      • baaatender on 02/12/2023 - 12:46

        He went for 45k km without an oil change. But his wife kept it really clean though!

  • 91rs on 01/12/2023 - 10:59

    In true OZB style not enough info on what's gone wrong or what was wrong before.

    What were the codes? Not all codes mean something catastrophic is going to happen contrary to many of the panicked "experts" here say.
    Older engines do make noises, not all are bad, plenty rattle more than they did when new. Some of those noises can be bad and are a real problem the trick is knowing which ones are the expensive noises.
    If engine oil was normal colour, coolant was still where it's meant to be there aren't too many other things to quickly or easily check that relate to overheating, maybe a cooling system gas detector kit but those cost money which is against what people here believe in (spending any on things like this https://wbtools.com.au/tee-kay-head-check-combustion-leak-de… )

    Did you pay the mechanic for the inspection or was it a freebie? If it's a freebie then its not binding in any way as it has as much value as comments here.

    If its gone the way of the forbidden chocolate milkshake then that's unfortunate but also 17 years / 220k kms.

    The 2k checkups is suss, if you had very low use and did 2k in a year then maybe as an annual checkup, but if you said it was going to be a daily etc then that's more suss.

    I've had this happen on a couple order cars, one was only a couple months after buying it, but I knew the full history and owner and it was just bad luck something failed on an old car.

    As someone else mentioned if you're gonna keep it then have an engine swap done by someone else, they can be purchased <$1k and for these little guys its a day job, maybe 2 for flushing coolant system (you've still not said what failed where and the extent of the damage) + fluids etc.

    Not associated in anyway, just one of the first search results. They do offer a 3 month warranty which includes the install costs if it goes bad though.
    https://www.wholesalecarparts.com.au/MAZDA-2-DJ-DL-1.5-V-P5-…

  • MrFunSocks on 01/12/2023 - 11:01

    The check engine light was on and you listened to him when he told you to just ignore it? lol. Sorry but this ones on you, that has scam written all over it.

  • Odin on 01/12/2023 - 11:43
    +4

    It overheated.

    To be honest. That's kind of on you. You or your partner should've stopped driving immediately when the car overheats.

    Never drive an overheating car. That's how you destroy an engine.

    Figuring out why it was overheating before may or may not have been easy.

    Difficult to tell from your post.

    • Cluster on 01/12/2023 - 14:01

      I know someone whose car suddenly developed a misfire and idle problem. He kept driving it because 'I had to get to work'. Well, the next day the car wouldn't run at all: the catalytic converter was severely damaged due to all the unburned fuel being pumped through it. Replacement required.

      Pay attention to your car and stop driving it when someone is wrong.

  • jeeg on 01/12/2023 - 12:48

    I m sorry this has happened to the Op.

    Kinda remind me of this episode in Big Bang Theory when Penny was driving with the engine light on and Sheldon became hysterical.

    https://youtu.be/kCVjONIQZp0?si=HXs6S5ngLUpOr7vc

  • George Washington on 01/12/2023 - 13:26
    -1

    Tell the mechanic can you sell it on behalf of my me who is a mate of you.

    I think you got scammed.

    The mechanic would need a dealer license to sell the car.

    Go to court get your money back

    • Poor Ass on 02/12/2023 - 10:25

      This is actually incorrect

      All you need is a roadworthy and transfer papers to sell the car if you don't have a motor dealer licence

      So all those statutory warranties are out the door as well

      You should know better you trade slaves

      • George Washington on 07/12/2023 - 11:35

        That is correct however you cant put the car on a commercial premises with the intent to sell as a private car without a motor dealer license.

        This is misleading

        • Poor Ass on 07/12/2023 - 11:38

          ya don't have enough info to go off hey

          but I know you can sell without roadworthy if the car is unregistered

          • George Washington on 07/12/2023 - 11:42

            @Poor Ass: OP post is old. But from what everyone else has said here, it looks like he got mis guided / scammed etc.

  • serpserpserp on 01/12/2023 - 13:35

    lol OP. I once bought a car off a mechanic/used car business that swore to me on his mothers life (made a big deal out of it) that the car hadn't been in an accident even though looking at the body work I thought it had (looked like a medium rear ended bingle). I still bought the car because it was very cheap and mechanically I could tell it was fine and structurally on the chassis was good.

    Years later I found out it had been written off in another state and they bought it and fixed it and registered in another state. I never had a mechanical issue with it for the 10 years I owned it, but the point is mechanics will absolutely lie and literally walk over their own mother to make an extra thousand or two on a used car.

    • 91rs on 01/12/2023 - 14:23

      "but the point is mechanics will absolutely lie and literally walk over their own mother to make an extra thousand or two on a used car"

      So will the average seller on carsales\gumtree\fb etc, I've gone and seen heaps of vehicles, been told to my face a dozen times "nup never been in an accident" etc but had found overspray all over the place, poor panel gaps, damaged reo and support brackets, unpainted support brackets, doors that were just ever so slightly the wrong colour etc from just randoms trying to flip cars, it's a very weird hatred in this thread everyone has just for mechanics, I mean if Gerry Harvey was a mechanic I'd understand but he's not.

  • thesilverstarman on 01/12/2023 - 14:25

    If it was a private sale you have no recourse. None at all. Private sales come with no warranty and are all "buyer beware".
    Cars are mechanical devices. A check is valid only at the time of that check. Cars and parts break and things happen.
    If you had hired and paid the mechanic for a pre-purchase inspection, and he missed something then you could have gone back and taken action.
    It sucks, but there is nothing you can do.
    I would go back to him and ask if he is prepared to help you in any way. He may.

  • payless69 on 01/12/2023 - 14:36

    classic head gasket warning. Get a French car and meet up with him every 500km….

  • MND on 01/12/2023 - 14:59
    -1

    Have a read of the Lemon Law. Could be applicable in your situation. However this site does not say how long a warranty is. for a used car:

    https://www.racv.com.au/royalauto/transport/cars/what-are-le….

  • fl360 on 01/12/2023 - 15:24

    when you buy a car over 200,000 km, I would pay around $500 with the expectation of driving it for another year. Given the car was sold by a mechanic I would ask the mechanic to put in a time guarantee…..

  • AngusD on 01/12/2023 - 15:31

    Never ignore the engine light.

  • bathuu on 01/12/2023 - 15:33
    +1

    Mechanic is selling a car with CEL? I can't count him as a mechanic. So possibly "scammer"?

  • Jaduqimon on 01/12/2023 - 16:16

    Mechanic could have at least popped the CEL bulb out before selling it to you

  • itstuan on 01/12/2023 - 16:24
    +1

    I have a Mazda 6 that been driven 250,000kms without issue. The engine is smooth like a new car. We only service it once every 6 months. Your mechanic told you to bring it back to check every 2000kms is full of S***. He was obviously playing you from the start and the engine light was a big red flag. Bring that guy to justice so he thinks twice before scamming another innocent soul.

  • penting on 01/12/2023 - 16:47

    how it's passed the RWC with the check engine lights on??

  • Leal on 01/12/2023 - 17:14
    +4

    I made the same mistake of buying a $6,000 car from a mechanic. In my case, it was the "loan" car for his workshop. 160,000 km, diesel. When I test drove the car the aircon recirculation was on, I didn't bother to turn it off and it was a big mistake! On the drive home, I found by turning the aircon on that the exhaust was leaking in the engine bay and fumes were coming inside the car. A few days later, the EGR valve a intake manifold veins got stuck. $3,000 later, the car was fixed by another shop and I was out-of-pocket.

    The mechanic wrote the RWC, and clearly lied about the exhaust leaks.
    I tried talking to him, response: tough luck.
    I spoke with VCAT in QLD, they said: tough luck, it was a private sale since he didn't hold a dealer licence.
    When through the HQ of the chain he was a franchisee and never got a response.
    Complained to TMR about a mechanic issuing a RWC on a faulty vehicle, also never got a response.

    Moral of the story, never buy a car from a mechanic!

  • BertieBrown on 01/12/2023 - 17:55

    True or no, this really sucks.

    We bought a car not long ago and got our mechanic to have a look over it and they missed a whole list of bloody things.

    In future I will only go with the state auto association to get inspections done on a potential car.

  • Black Brown Blue on 01/12/2023 - 18:40

    How much did you buy car for?

    • Roobah on 01/12/2023 - 18:53

      5000

  • misfitt1911 on 01/12/2023 - 18:55

    You'd think that the buyer would at least spend a few minutes doing online research to compare prices before buying the car. And, buying a car knowing it has an engine warning light is crazy.

  • kindra on 02/12/2023 - 09:00
    +1

    If a mechanic is selling a car below market price it means theres problems with it in and they dont know how to fix it.

    Find a genuine reason why they're selling it.i.e purchased new car.

  • iknowtj on 02/12/2023 - 16:34

    Don't worry about the noises and the engine warning light?

    That's on you, I'm afraid.

    Engines don't make odd noises for fun.

  • SpotTheOzzie on 02/12/2023 - 19:17

    Literally reminds me of the Real Estate Agent who was trying to offload as a 'quick, cheap sale with a motivated seller for an old but good quality home'.

    Refused to agree to a contract until B&P was done.

    Ordered a Property and Pest report which showed 6 MAJOR defects, which included one that made the abode unlivable until it was rectified.

  • hikaru78 on 02/12/2023 - 21:25

    If its the Mazda 2 model I'm thinking of its the one without the temp gauge.

    You only get the temp warning when it's boiled. By then is generally too late

  • Duckie2hh on 02/12/2023 - 22:15

    TLDR

    He also told us to ignore the engine light and minor noises coming from the engine

    OP bought the car. The end.

  • [Deactivated] on 03/12/2023 - 02:52

    Everyone is being a dick to you here man, but yeah your Engine light should of gone off when he said service every 2000km

  • Protractor on 03/12/2023 - 10:09

    Outcome earned

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