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This happens more often than you may think: Selling a used car too cheap, all because you were told that the cost of repairs exceeded the car’s value.
That was the lesson in a recent Car Care Nut YouTube episode where the host discusses how an owner sold his Toyota Prius at a loss due to a mechanic’s mistake in a diagnosis, which afterward the new owner paid only $100-200 to have correctly diagnosed and fixed to turn his good deal into a fine running used Prius with just under 162,000 miles on it.
When Repair Fears Cause Owners to Undervalue Their Vehicles
The host of the Car Care Nut video plays out an unfortunate scenario of what happens when a mechanic gives an alarming repair estimate.
Without a second opinion or a full understanding of the issue, he shows that many owners panic and decide to cut their losses by selling the car as-is, often for far less than it’s worth.
This is not uncommon. Typically, when a warning light or sudden failure occurs, the owner assumes the worst when the problem could be something as simple as an unconnected vacuum line on the engine.
I just bought a Subaru Outback for $2700. I got it for a steal. The previous owner gave up. It ran rough and had a coolant leak. I was diagnosing the engine, inspecting it for a leak. In my search, I found a vacuum line off. It went to the intake. I plugged it in, and the engine runs a lot better. I did have to buy 4 plugs for it. Now, it runs great. The coolant leak was a loose clamp on the upper radiator hose. Another free fix, except for coolant. Less than $100 fixed it! -@RobbertSheriff6118
Why It Happens
There are several reasons why owners find themselves in this situation. From the video, we can infer that the biggest reasons why it happened with the previous owner who sold his Prius cheaply were due to:
- A lack of Mechanical Knowledge: Many car owners rely completely on the word of their mechanic. Without enough automotive knowledge, they have no way to challenge or validate the diagnosis.
- Trusting a Single Diagnosis: A single shop’s opinion, especially if it suggests major repairs like a blown engine or failed transmission, can lead a panicked owner to act quickly.
- Emotional Decision-Making: Cars can be stressful. When a vehicle breaks down, the pressure to resolve the situation quickly can lead to rushed, emotional decisions.
- Repair vs. Replacement Cost Misjudgment: Owners often assume repairs must cost more than the car’s resale value without doing a proper valuation of the vehicle in its current or repaired condition.
What Was the Prius’ Repair Problem?
The problem with the Prius is the sometimes-seen dreaded Christmas tree light-show when all of the warning lights on the dash indicate the ECU is detecting one or more systems with a problem.
The owner of this car just bought this car, bought it for a decent price because the previous owner had a very horrendous diagnosis and they basically said, “I’m not putting this kind of money into this car. Let’s move on.” ‒Car Care Nut Host
Using a scan tool, the host of the video identified a code that roughly narrowed the problem within the ABS System (Anti-lock Braking System), which is a crucial safety feature designed to help maintain steering control during hard or emergency braking situations.
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Choosing not to fire the parts canon as a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) recommends with an expensive parts replacement, the host decides to figure out exactly which component in the ABS had gone bad.
Using a little deductive reasoning and some common sense while armed with a simple multimeter, the host found one bad relay out of two in the system, that he then easily and inexpensively replaced.
This is not a good relay. Would you believe if I told you that’s all this ABS system needs? A little relay?! It takes longer to look up a TSB, look up that expensive part, and sit down with your customer telling them how their car is going to cost them thousands of dollars. It takes you longer to do that, than to pull this relay and test it, and fix the car and go tell your customer, ‘We fixed it.’ This relay is usually around 100 bucks.” ‒Car Care Nut Host
For your convenience, here is the Car Care Nut video embedded below if you desire more details on how to do the diagnosis yourself, should you be faced with a similar situation.
Please note, only the first 16 minutes of the video are needed.
Owner Sold The Car At a Loss for a Mechanic’s Mistake in Diagnosis!
How to Avoid This Type of Pitfall
To prevent avoid your used car for too little due to possible (but not proven) repair costs, owners should take the following precautions:
- Get a Second (or Third) Opinion: If the repair quote is high, seek another shop’s assessment. Independent mechanics, mobile diagnostics services, or even dealership service centers may offer a different view.
- Ask for Proof or Codes: If your car’s issue is based on a trouble code or scan tool result, ask for a copy of the report and do your own research or consult a forum for your vehicle’s make and model.
- Use Repair Estimator Tools: Websites like RepairPal or Kelley Blue Book can give a rough cost estimate for common repairs based on your car and ZIP code.
- Weigh Repair Cost Against Vehicle Value: Use valuation tools like Edmunds or NADA Guides to determine what the car is worth both with and without the repair. Sometimes, a $1,200 repair on a $4,000 car still makes sense.
And finally…
While not every car is worth fixing, selling a vehicle based on an inaccurate or incomplete diagnosis can lead to unnecessary financial loss. Follow the adage “Trust, but Verify.” As the #1 pitfall recommendation stated above recommends, always seek a 2nd or 3rd opinion whenever given an expensive or engine-killing misdiagnosis or mis-repair.
Now it’s your turn to speak your mind: Have you ever found an inexpensive fix for a problem the dealership mechanic said needed a much more expensive repair? Tell us about it in the comments section below.
Timothy Boyer is an automotive reporter based in Cincinnati who currently researches and restores older vehicles, often incorporating engine modifications for improved performance. He also covers modern cars—including EVs—with a focus on DIY mechanics, tool use and selection, and other topics related to automotive repair. Follow Tim on Twitter (@TimBoyerWrites) and Facebook for daily updates and insights on new and used cars and trucks.
Image Source: Deposit Photos
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Source: torquenews.com
