Friend Bought a Used Car from Dealer - After 16 Months Engine Has Blown

lowndes8 on 06/12/2024 - 17:02
Last edited 06/12/2024 - 17:20 by 2 other users

I know the answer to the question but thought I would see if maybe someone has had some luck.

Have a friend at work who is not great with money or cars

Anyway, he bought a used 2006 Toyota Prado. Had 300,000 something kms on it. He didn't ask any of us at work for advice who are into cars he just bought it. Didn't get any kind of inspection check on it

Bought the car in August 2023 and bought from the car yard one of those 3 extended warranties (yes I know they are useless).

In between August 2023 and Dec 2004 he did the following. EGR either replaced or cleaned (covered under warranty). New injectors (he paid for them himself didn't go through warranty) also did a full service.

Anyway, around a month ago was having issues, all kinds of smoke coming from it, losing engine oil etc. It all came to a head last week where it lost a heap of oil and spat it all over the engine, car lost power. It's been taken to a mechanic who has said it's got a blown piston which is a common failure on these cars

We have looked at the warranty and they will only cover $2000 damage. Going to cost him at least 5x that to fix and has no money to fix it

I know he bought it back in Aug 2023 but is there anything else he can do to try and get it repaired/replaced?

Automotive Car SUV Toyota

Comments

  • jv on 06/12/2024 - 17:05
    +43

    Ffter 16 Months Engine Has Blow

    16 months is quite good without any engine oil…

      • spaceflight on 07/12/2024 - 10:37
        +11

        Thats END OF LIFE stuff for a car.

        No it's not.

        300,000km is still new for a car that will do a million km
        https://www.toyota.co.za/connect/article/1-million-km-land-c…

        • LFO on 07/12/2024 - 12:53
          +3

          300,000km is still new for a car that will do a million km

          Says Toyota, the car maker … they would exaggerate, wouldn't they?

          • MrThing on 07/12/2024 - 14:21
            +8

            @LFO: 300k km on a toyota diesel engine is fuk all if you take care of it properly

            OPs friend clearly went to a: a shit mechanic, b: did a shit job himself or c: didnt take very good care of the car

            as it the car yard will give OPs friend any warranty with the work he or someone did to the engine after it was purchased

            • LFO on 09/12/2024 - 12:21

              @MrThing:

              300k km on a toyota diesel engine

              Not too sure of that one … but how about the rest of the vehicle?

              • MrThing on 09/12/2024 - 12:26

                @LFO: Where talking about the engine in this thread

          • spaceflight on 07/12/2024 - 14:30

            @LFO: They definitely aren't.

            Here's a Carolla from NZ that's done double Toyota's 'exaggerated' story

            https://www.drive.com.au/news/toyota-corolla-cracks-two-mill…

            • LFO on 09/12/2024 - 12:18
              +2

              @spaceflight:

              Here's a Carolla from NZ

              There's always going to be "a car" somewhere that has done "millions" of kilometers.

              The issue here is if ALL cars of that model/brand will do the same.
              Otherwise it is just a nice fluke. Valid and very much real but a fluke.

        • Cluster on 07/12/2024 - 15:36
          -3

          300k km is close to end of life for most vehicles, unless they've mostly achieved that on highways. No matter what the brand is.

          Manufacturers love to roll out the million kilometres examples of their cars, but it's pure survivorship bias. 99.999% of vehicles are scrapped long before they get near that.

          • spaceflight on 07/12/2024 - 23:42
            -1

            @Cluster:

            99.999% of vehicles are scrapped long before they get near that.

            Probably because they get in an accident, or not looked after do nobody wants to keep the car.

            You claimed 99.999% are not all scrapped because the engine has failed. Most of them probably had perfectly good engines still.

        • Dogsrule on 08/12/2024 - 13:45
          +1

          Near the end of the article you posted:

          "the motor is not the original. “The car originally had a 2H motor and then my brother decided he wanted to put a turbo on it, but you can’t put a turbo on the 2H. There was a guy selling a 1HZ motor and that was ideal, so it was converted to a turbo with a 1HZ motor.”

          So its just grandpas axe that is getting progressively replaced over time.

          • GoldenDragon888 on 10/12/2024 - 08:43

            @Dogsrule: Ship of Theseus.

            • Dogsrule on 10/12/2024 - 09:00

              @GoldenDragon888: Exactly. Not to mention that the Landcruiser in that article has absolutely no relation to the one in this thread - different chassis, different engine, different gearbox. The only thing they share is the name.

      • BinaryPirate on 07/12/2024 - 15:09
        +5

        It's end of life for most small block 4 cylinders but that diesel should have had at least another 200,000kms in it had it been looked after properly.

      • ihfree on 07/12/2024 - 18:35
        +1

        Is this a relevant reply to JV?

  • mskeggs on 06/12/2024 - 17:05
    +65

    I'm not clear on the question.
    Are you suggesting the car seller over a year ago might have some responsibility for this? How?

  • spackbace on 06/12/2024 - 17:06
    +39

    but is there anything else he can do to try and get it repaired/replaced?

    used 2006 Toyota Prado. Had 300,000

    Nope

  • brendanm on 06/12/2024 - 17:06
    +22

    Lmao

    May as well hit up the original selling dealer under ACL at this rate 😂

  • RichardL on 06/12/2024 - 17:07
    +7

    In between August 2003 and Dec 2004

    Time travel?

    • vengeance88 on 06/12/2024 - 21:52
      +4

      It's been edited to "2023 to 2004". Definitely a time traveller! Benjamin Button behind the wheel.

  • Jake D on 06/12/2024 - 17:11
    +5

    Strip any aftermarket parts. Sell the car on gumtree. Sell the aftermarket parts separately.

  • ihfree on 06/12/2024 - 17:11
    +23

    Engine Has Blow

    Party?

  • Gdsamp on 06/12/2024 - 17:13

    NGMI

  • jv on 06/12/2024 - 17:17
    +8

    Just shout him a beer and have a laugh about it…

  • andrewsant on 06/12/2024 - 17:17
    +3

    What did the caryard say when the 3 year extended warranty is brought up? Why only $2000 is covered?

    • jv on 06/12/2024 - 17:22
      +8

      Why only $2000 is covered?

      T&Cs ?

      "We have looked at the warranty and they will only cover $2000 damage. "

  • EightImmortals on 06/12/2024 - 17:20
    +41

    lols wut, he bought a 17 year old car with 300,000 K on the clock and the engine gave up a year and half later? I think we should send in the marines.

    • Bruceflix on 06/12/2024 - 19:55
      +8

      At the very least the Bikies

      • Aleigh123 on 07/12/2024 - 09:29
        +1

        What's the deal with people mentioning bikies? I feel like I'm missing the joke.

        • jackspratt on 07/12/2024 - 12:12
          +2

          It's a standard response from those without any original *thoughts.

          (* or is that thorts?)

        • yellowfever on 07/12/2024 - 13:30
          +2

          It has been over used on this forum as a witty response to solve a 1st world problem with underground gangs i.e. bikies
          Still being used by some members that still think they are funny but actually it has worn off a couple years ago

  • pegaxs on 06/12/2024 - 17:21
    +18

    After 16 months?? for a near 20yo vehicle with over 300,000km on it… On a worthless "aftermarket warranty"…

    Think you have answered your own question there, champ.

    • solidussnake on 06/12/2024 - 20:07
      +3

      Hey its not worthless it'll cover $2k 😅 and they probably spent $1k on the "warranty coverage"

      • Seraphin7 on 07/12/2024 - 13:38

        So … $1k profit !!!

  • garetz on 06/12/2024 - 17:34
    +29

    What he can do is take the $2000 and buy a new 2nd hand car.

    • jattsta on 07/12/2024 - 08:14

      single handedly the best answer here.

    • iknowtj on 07/12/2024 - 20:56
      +1

      They won't pay him out, they pay the mechanic doing repair.

  • El cheepo on 06/12/2024 - 17:35
    +11

    You didn’t need to include this information:

    not great with money or cars

    Because this already says that :😂

    he bought a used 2006 Toyota Prado. Had 300,000 something kms on it.

    Terrible investment for someone who evidently doesn’t know anything about cars.
    (Evidently - because they managed to blow the motor before picking up on those major red flags before it went splat)

    We have looked at the warranty

    Majority of used car warranties aren’t worth the paper they are printed on. Nothing but empty promises….
    In saying that, if by some miracle you manage to get 2k out of it, I would take that as a big win.

    • BinaryPirate on 07/12/2024 - 15:21
      +2

      He made two mistakes. One was buying that car from a dealer believing the warranty would protect him. The other was not taking it to a mechanic when it started blowing smoke.

      Beyond that, there's nothing inherently wrong with a diesel just because it has 300,000k's on its clock.

      • El cheepo on 07/12/2024 - 17:46
        +2

        Beyond that, there's nothing inherently wrong with a diesel just because it has 300,000k's on its clock.

        l do agree, but it’s a recipe for disaster if someone who knows nothing about cars and only ever jumps in and turns the key to buys one.

        You don’t need to know how to pull an engine apart, but some basic common sense is required if you’re signing up for a 18 yo car.

        • BinaryPirate on 08/12/2024 - 10:16
          +1

          I don't disagree. OP's friend sounds like the sort of person for whom buying a vehicle of any type or age is a recipe for disaster.

        • bio on 08/12/2024 - 13:14

          That's already one of their mistakes @BinaryPirate mentioned: "not taking it to a mechanic"

  • MS Paint on 06/12/2024 - 17:38
    +5

    🎻

  • cashless on 06/12/2024 - 17:41
    +21

    Please come back & tell us which inappropriate sh1tbox he buys next. I’m enjoying this story

    • brendanm on 06/12/2024 - 18:48
      +7

      Bmw 318i

      • jackary on 06/12/2024 - 20:05
        +11

        HEY NOW, I owned a 318i

        You’re right, it was terrible.

    • DashCam AKA Rolts on 06/12/2024 - 18:48
      +4

      Ex-taxi EA Falcon on LPG.

      • MS Paint on 06/12/2024 - 19:16
        +10

        To be fair they were good for at least 800k kms

      • smartazz104 on 07/12/2024 - 18:07
        +8

        Knowing OP's "friend", he'll somehow find the last running Camira.

    • spackbace on 06/12/2024 - 19:33
      +27

      Captiva

      • solidussnake on 06/12/2024 - 20:08
        +12

        This is the single mother way !

      • Shoocat on 07/12/2024 - 08:36
        +6

        You forgot the 'r' in the name…

    • ConsumerAffairs on 07/12/2024 - 11:10
      +3

      Daewoo Lanos

    • magic8ballgag on 09/12/2024 - 10:37

      What makes the car they purchased 'inappropriate'?

      • Phoenixzeus on 09/12/2024 - 16:08
        +1

        It has a huge dick and balls drawn on the side

  • freefall101 on 06/12/2024 - 17:49
    +5

    The extended warranty would be the bit to go after, if they didn't explain to him the limitations of it he might have a shot at raising a consumer affairs complaint. Depends how much he paid for it though (here's hoping not a lot).

    I'd take the $2k, sell the rest for parts and buy something with less likely to go wrong, like a scooter or a bicycle.

    • spackbace on 06/12/2024 - 17:57

      if they didn't explain to him the limitations of it

      No need to unless questioned

      Not to mention, he's also gotten value out of it already (hence, has 'used' the warranty):

      EGR either replaced or cleaned (covered under warranty)

      • freefall101 on 06/12/2024 - 18:08
        +3

        I was thinking in the sense that if they said "this warranty will cover you for any repairs for 3 years" or something that promised more than what the warranty delivers. You're right though, in general they don't have to explain anything if it's on the piece of paper in front of OP. It's a long shot, but it's his only one.

        Not to mention, he's also gotten value out of it already (hence, has 'used' the warranty):

        Warranties don't tend to have a limited number of uses, they're usually time limited.

        I'm guessing OP's mate just signed and agreed to whatever, they don't sound a particularly bright spark. Really the value in this is the important life lesson.

    • CommuterPolluter on 07/12/2024 - 09:17

      Do they actually pay it out in cash if you’re not doing repairs?

      • iknowtj on 07/12/2024 - 20:56

        No.

  • altomic on 06/12/2024 - 18:01
    +10

    Needs a poll
    A) mate is out of luck, or
    B) refer to A.

    Best he could do is find a wrecker with a smashed 2006 prado for a donor motor and do a swap.

    • JimmyF on 06/12/2024 - 18:58

      C) all the above.

    • MrThing on 07/12/2024 - 14:22

      doesnt even need to be a prado…..a hilux of a similar model year will also be fine. they use the same motors

  • Drakesy on 06/12/2024 - 18:06

    BuT Ma AuSTrALiAn COnSUmA LaW!

    OP, apart from the fact that i spat my coffee out you have zero chance unless you took out one of them bumper to bumper warranties with more exemptions than inclusions.

    Even then on a car of this standard i highly doubt this would've happened.

  • Nutrino on 06/12/2024 - 18:11
    +2

    how much did he pay for it?

    • ramb9 on 07/12/2024 - 21:50

      Probably 2k

  • Trying2SaveABuck on 06/12/2024 - 18:40
    +1

    he bought a used 2006 Toyota Prado. Had 300,000 something kms on it. He didn't ask any of us at work for advice who are into cars he just bought it. Didn't get any kind of inspection check on it

    Going to cost him at least 5x that to fix and has no money to fix it

    So he has no money….im shocked…..SHOCKED…well not that shocked

    write it off as an expensive lesson and this is kind of why people buy new cars they come with a manufacture warranty - if you have no idea what you are doing and dont even do basic service and mechanical checks you get what you deserve

    • holdenmg on 07/12/2024 - 07:26

      I would have been shocked, but far worse OP's friend were…

      schlocked

      cheap or inferior goods or material; trash:
      "mass-produced schlock" ·

    • Ade99 on 07/12/2024 - 07:57

      caveat emptor

    • AlanHB on 10/12/2024 - 19:09

      You don't need a manufacturer's warranty to buy a good used car, but yes, pretty silly to buy one without it getting checked out by an independent mechanic prior to purchase.

  • JimmyF on 06/12/2024 - 18:57
    +2

    who has said it's got a blown piston which is a common failure on these cars
    We have looked at the warranty and they will only cover $2000 damage.
    I know he bought it back in Aug 2023 but is there anything else he can do to try and get it repaired/replaced?

    So a common issue, they had a good 16 month run out of it. Nothing to do with the dealer now other than what they can claim under the 'warranty' which is $2k as you state. Which is crap but as you said yourself

    one of those 3 extended warranties (yes I know they are useless).

    So not sure what you are expecting from a 2nd hand card with 300k on it, its far from a spring chicken. They break down.

    • Nugs on 06/12/2024 - 20:15
      +1

      But Toyota's last forever?
      .

      • JIMB0 on 06/12/2024 - 22:54
        +5

        There's certain model years and engines to avoid. You also need to maintain them.

      • npnp on 07/12/2024 - 01:12
        +3

        I was going to ask the same. Despite being a Toyota fan, I must agree there are some models/years to avoid. Even then maintaining cars is a must. These old prados require regular intervals if the km is high. This guy hasn't serviced in 16 months and didn't have a clue about what's happening until engine shat so he certainly deserves the consequence for his stupidity itself.

        • miwahni on 07/12/2024 - 02:20
          +4

          OP mentions at least one service being done, which doesn't preclude others. What makes you think he didn't service it in 16 months? I'm not disputing the car's a risky purchase but I think you're being a bit harsh.

          • JimmyF on 07/12/2024 - 08:53

            @miwahni:

            What makes you think he didn't service it in 16 months?

            The car is 18 years old, I think they are talking about all the months before the OPs short ownership period.

          • ConsumerAffairs on 07/12/2024 - 11:45

            @miwahni: These Prado's have a maximum 6 month or 10,000km service interval, there's at least one, if not two services missed

      • JimmyF on 07/12/2024 - 08:52

        Its 18 years old…. Look around, that is pretty old for cars out on the road.

  • ihbh on 06/12/2024 - 19:06

    Was he able to pick up any chicks in the 16 months? If so, he got more than the monetary cost.

    • jv on 07/12/2024 - 00:38
      +1

      Was he able to pick up any chicks in the 16 months?

      He visited Nando's and Red Rooster weekly…

      • MS Paint on 07/12/2024 - 05:57
        +1

        Not visiting KFC is obviously what caused the engine to blow.

      • holdenmg on 07/12/2024 - 07:27
        +3

        and now the engine is clucked…
        lol.

  • yellowfever on 06/12/2024 - 20:58
    +1

    pretty sure the problem here is not the Prado

    Tell the friend to cash in that $2000 and catch public transport instead. One less car (idiot) on the road.

  • Fredfloresjr on 06/12/2024 - 21:01
    +2

    Next time don’t forget to buy Panadol too

  • ChickenAdobo on 07/12/2024 - 01:13
    +1

    The marketing brain virus got to him, an mechanical ice car at 300k km, even if it a Toyota wear and tear actually happens,

  • ty2050 on 07/12/2024 - 07:17
    +3

    Can confirm let me guess piston 3 mine went at 192xxx kms was a pain in to get Toyota to fix it under ACCC. But im pretty sure that's only because i was under 200000 and 10 years old. I know 4 other people personally with the same issue and there used to be a Facebook page called 1kd cracked pistons (now changed) they gave you documentation from the EU on why the pistons crack ect. To push for Toyota to cover it.

  • DiscoJango on 07/12/2024 - 07:20

    You (your friend) should take this as a life lesson.

    • holdenmg on 07/12/2024 - 07:30

      Oooh.

      "It isn't the drive, it's the journey."

      Crap like that…

    • serpserpserp on 07/12/2024 - 07:51

      What is the lesson? Never buy Toyota?

      • DiscoJango on 07/12/2024 - 11:31

        Do some basic checks before buying a vehicle. Unless op is the type of person who needs a warning label on a hairdryer saying not to put it in the bathtub

  • Windows98 on 07/12/2024 - 07:46
    +5

    See if Toyota will cover it under new car warranty

    • CocaKoala on 08/12/2024 - 10:53

      They might replace the car with a 2024 land cruiser under "goodwill". Nothing wrong in asking, right?

      /s

  • serpserpserp on 07/12/2024 - 07:50

    I assume he bought the car because it had a great price.

    Used cars with great prices usually means a condition is attached.

    We didn't even know how many KMs your friend has done in the car over the last 12 months or how much it has been hammered.

    Plus in the old days, the rule of thumb was that if you have done over 200k without an engine recondition or replacement done, it is very likely it'll need to be done in the short term. At 300k if none of that has been done then it is a time bomb.

    • brendanm on 07/12/2024 - 09:26
      +9

      Plus in the old days, the rule of thumb was that if you have done over 200k without an engine recondition or replacement done, it is very likely it'll need to be done in the short term. At 300k if none of that has been done then it is a time bomb.

      This is very far from the truth.

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