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Thread: Hearse Problems - Why can't I trust anyone? Is it me?

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    Featured Member MistressX's Avatar
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    Default Hearse Problems - Why can't I trust anyone? Is it me?

    So this new hearse I'm buying is that of a friend of mine who is in the hearse club. I lived with him and his wife for a few months last summer, but it just wasnt working out for me. I really hated it there. Its not that they're bad people, but some people make good friends but dont work out as room mates... Anyway, I've ridden in this car and its had its share of issues but I know what most of them are (I think?) and I know the repairs that have been done on it. At first he told me yeah I'll give it to you for $3000 because youre my friend bla bla... I said cool. He said he was going to have it smogged last week because that was the issue they were having before. It wouldnt pass smog because of a few different things. Anyway he had made some repairs but apparently it had failed again right before he decided to sell it. He said, "But the guy said I smogged too early and didnt give the system enough time to reset after the repairs were done and it should be fine". Now he's saying "oh well I dont have time to smog it before february and if you dont buy it at the end of this month I'll just have to sell it to my friend in oregon, sorry". He knows I actually really want and need this car so I can drive it to see my boyfriend more, who lives in vegas and that I need to see him more if I'm going to save our relationship..

    Ok, does that sound fishy to anyone else? Like it makes me think hes trying to get me to buy it without a smog because he knows it wont pass. Which is illegal in california, by the way. I mean.. I want this car and I am willing to make repairs, but the idea that he is knowingly ripping me off and he is supposed to be my friend is really weighing on me. Mostly because I have had issues with many members of the hearse club with backstabbing and shit talking and I just don't think I could handle losing another friend (Maybe hearse people just suck?). I really dont have many left at this point, and it just makes you start to wonder if I am a bad person or something, or if there is some reason stuff like this keeps happening to me. But I just cant think of any reason people would treat me badly (his wife doesnt know I know she stole my $50 Wolford's pantyhose that were delivered to their house after I moved). The whole thing just makes me want to become a complete hermit and just play with my fuckin cars all alone and have no friends. Because they are nothing but trouble!

    Tell me I'm not crazy? Doesn't this sound like he knows something is wrong? How can you not have time to take a car to a smog shop that takes less than an hour to do? How can you not have time to drive the car another 60 miles for the system to reset when I know he has weekends off?





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    Default Re: Hearse Problems - Why can't I trust anyone? Is it me?

    Well fuck him. And yes he could be lying. Most dudes assume women know absolutely nothing about cars so they try to pull the wool over your eyes. Just get your own independent mechanic to see what repairs need to be done and the cost for said repair before you agree to buy anything.
    “Cook for him like a housewife, fuck him good like a nympho….pay the rent and the car note, he invests in me like crypto”

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    Veteran Member Dominic.2's Avatar
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    Default Re: Hearse Problems - Why can't I trust anyone? Is it me?

    My gut would say he's probably hiding something. He's pushing you and trying to close the sale, my guess, because 1.) he thinks your a woman and likely doesn't know anything about cars and 2.) because he thinks you're really interested/in love with the car, so (hopefully for his benefit) you'll act irrationally and buy it anyway.

    It's worth getting it evaluated by a mechanic not only for the emissions system problems but also so you can get a baseline about the condition of the car in general. Sometimes when an owner has a car that won't pass smog it also mean he or she might have not maintained the car well. So it's good to get a baseline. I get a sense that you like to own and collect these hearses long term. So it makes the expenditure of mechanic's inspection even more worthwhile to you (versus someone who 'turns & burns' a car every 4-5 years).

    When you have all of that, you'll be in a position to decide if you still want it, and if so, what your counter-offer should be. If you don't care to do all of that (understandable), I would just walk. You don't want this headache.



    ETA: I re-read your title. No, it's not just you. I would have trouble trusting him, too. His "story" and his "excuses" certainly don't help me to want to trust him. It's not you.

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    Default Re: Hearse Problems - Why can't I trust anyone? Is it me?

    Quote Originally Posted by Dominic.2 View Post
    My gut would say he's probably hiding something. He's pushing you and trying to close the sale, my guess, because 1.) he thinks your a woman and likely doesn't know anything about cars and 2.) because he thinks you're really interested/in love with the car, so (hopefully for his benefit) you'll act irrationally and buy it anyway.

    It's worth getting it evaluated by a mechanic not only for the emissions system problems but also so you can get a baseline about the condition of the car in general. Sometimes when an owner has a car that won't pass smog it also mean he or she might have not maintained the car well. So it's good to get a baseline. I get a sense that you like to own and collect these hearses long term. So it makes the expenditure of mechanic's inspection even more worthwhile to you (versus someone who 'turns & burns' a car every 4-5 years).

    When you have all of that, you'll be in a position to decide if you still want it, and if so, what your counter-offer should be. If you don't care to do all of that (understandable), I would just walk. You don't want this headache.



    ETA: I re-read your title. No, it's not just you. I would have trouble trusting him, too. His "story" and his "excuses" certainly don't help me to want to trust him. It's not you.
    Yep, this^.
    My prev exp: my car that I've had for yrs, had the little red light go on & stay on..now it's not gonna pass emissions, so I took it to Merlin..
    The guy gave me a quote, then I said I couldn't do it cause I didn't have that, so he kindly took it down.
    He did say however, that he couldn't absolutely guarantee it wd pass he explained sometimes other things can keep that red light on..after he fixed it, he said to be sure to drive it a while, (the red light was now off) & suggested to take it to a further away emissions test place which I did, & the car passed just fine. Just saying..
    Good luck, & if you don't get it, maybe it's not meant to be, & I'm sure another will come along.
    But yea, he sounds like a jerk


    MANY MEN WANTED TO LAY ME DOWN, BUT FEW WANTED TO LIFT ME UP

    -Eartha Kitt

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    Default Re: Hearse Problems - Why can't I trust anyone? Is it me?

    SO here is a quick tutorial on CEL [check engine light] problems and smogging problems

    Modern cars have a multitude of sensors and other stuff that make it run and make it run clean, IOW pass smog. The CEL turns on when something is amiss with the system of sensors. The computer will 'throw a code' or turn the light on, and you can get the code with a scanner or on some vehicles by jumping some pins together[literally with a paperclip] and count the CEL blinks. This code will tell you what the computer thinks is wrong, which may or may not be what is actually wrong. It might say 'cylinder 1 misfire' which probably means what it says, but the solution could be a spark plug, coil, injector, loose wire, or gaping giant hole in the engine. IT cannot tell the difference.

    So, as with most things, in the range between 'this guy is trying to fuck me' and 'everything is going to be fine' it is probably in the middle somewhere. The truth is that it is impossible to tell what a repair is going to cost from what the computer tells you. An experienced mechanic can guess what is going on from his/her experience. The computers do require a significant amount of time after a reset, or turning off a code, before they can be smogged. The car literally cannot be tested before this mileage or a set of operating conditions has been met. Starting from cold, driving on a side road, on the highway etc etc. without a code showing. It can be 50 miles or so before it is ready.

    So as to actual advice, if you want the car bring it to an independent mechanic and have him scan it and see what there is to see. If it is still 'not ready' it must be driven for a while more before retesting.

    A bad mechanic can make a good car worthless by not being able to figure out how to repair CEL problems. If it is not a 'big hole in the engine' problem, it can be worth taking the risk on purchasing. Some things like new cats can be pricey.

    if the car is pre 1996 it is OBD I and the system is simpler[like, it usually cannot tell if the CAT is even there] and somewhat easier to fix. Later OBDII cars are a bit fussier.

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    Default Re: Hearse Problems - Why can't I trust anyone? Is it me?

    Thanks guys! As I mentioned this guy is a friend of mine in the hearse club. I also lived with him for a few months so he knows I'm not stupid on cars. I went to automotive school and do some of my own work on my coaches. I don't know as much as he does but he knows I'm not stupid. However I have no experience with newer cars especially emissions systems. The car has been driven 40 miles after the system was repaired.

    First, he had to replace the two check valves in the emissions system. The 94-96 Cadillac fleetwoods and commercial cars all had LT1 corvette engines in them. They're great but after 100k miles things start to fail. Because the emissions system is right above the fuel line, what happened with a lot of them is the check valves started to fail and would melt the plastic hoses and drip onto the fuel rail and cause an engine fire. My friend repaired this before that could happen. He also replaced the smog pump itself because the burned check valves were causing hot exhaust to flow back into the pump and messed it up. He then drove the car all the way from Los Angeles to San Jose without a problem. As he got back, the check engine light came back on.

    He had the system tested and it failed smog. What he didn't know was that the fuel pump was starting to fail, causing the system to run lean. When I was living at his house, the car wouldn't start. He checked everything including the optispark and computers. Then replaced the fuel pump because that ended up being the issue. Now since that whole thing, he was not able to get it to pass smog all that time. He never was able to register this car fully. In California an imported car (it's from a funeral home in Oregon) you must have a passed smog in order to get the title in your name and plates. So currently the car still has dealer plates and the title in the funeral homes name. But the car IS registered under his name, just not fully transferred. His wife is going with my to the DMV (she's on the reg too) to make sure they don't give me problems.

    After the DMV though I still have to go take it to be smogged. I have to drive it at least 50 miles back to my house. So the system should be reset by then, I hope. There is a smog station literally around the corner from my house and they do RV's so I know they have room for a hearse. I am willing to make repairs to the emissions system, that is not the issue here. But my issue is that I feel like he knows it won't pass. And is trying to get me to buy it anyway. Now there are other issues. Two rear bolts on the engine exhaust manifold on the passenger side are broken. Drawing on what little information I have from automotive school, theoretically the air coming into the exhaust from that leak will make the cats think (ok, the O2 sensors technically) that the system is running lean, just like when the fuel pump was failing. So it stands to reason that a lean system will also fail smog. This is not a terribly difficult issue to fix as you can get access to these bolts without pulling he engine by going through the wheel well and taking off the passenger front wheel and removing the mud flap. This doesn't sound like a terribly expensive thing to fix, and I am willing to put at least another $1000 to make this car very drivable.

    Similar year Cadillacs (non hearses) are twice the mileage (150k+) and twice the price. That's why I went for another hearse and not a regular Cadillac (screw lawnmower little dinky cars, ok?). Unfortunately because of this I have to find storage for the Lincoln until I have the money to put him into restoration (costing me a total of $20k+ I might add). That means I have to put him on the new insurance plus pay for storage especially if I am not able to drive the new caddy right away. My issue just stems from lack of trust. People just screw me over all the time. In my professional life I am a Dominatrix yet in my personal life people just walk all over me. Even my friends. I tell myself if this car fails smog I'm not going to continue to be this guys friend yet what one of you said about not being able to really predict exactly what will happen makes me think it's not totally his fault. Just the way he has been talking makes me believe that he is knowingly screwing me over. I guess time will tell!

    Oh and in answer to your question, this is a 1996. So it's OBD2. I know how to read codes, but I personally don't have a scanner. I can get access to one but I would rather just take it to someone. As it is, I know the computer can only point you in the right direction. As far as the emissions system goes, yes they are complicated but there are only so many things that can make it throw a certain code. Because the check valves, air pump, and fuel pump have all been repaired, that only leaves a couple of things left. I thank my lucky stars this is not an intermittent wiring issue because I'll be damned if I'm going to either myself or have a mechanic chase those gremlins..
    Last edited by MistressX; 01-17-2016 at 02:18 PM.





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    Default Re: Hearse Problems - Why can't I trust anyone? Is it me?

    It looks like I know who to PM when my car throws a code.....

    You know enough on the subject to know that there is no certainty with a car with an ongoing issue.

    A used car can die the day you take it home, or run for 100k with no problems.

    Trust is just not a term I use with regard to used cars. You have enough knowledge to figure the probabilities on whether this is a good risk or not. When buying such a thing from a friend part of the math is what happens to your friendship if things go sideways.

    the language you are using is kind of like that you would use with a used car dealer, and that is not going to bode well for your friendship if things do not go perfectly.

    The questions I have for you are these:

    Is the car still a good deal if it needs, say, 500 bucks of additional work?

    Are you going to do better buying a different car that you do not know from someone you do not know?

    Is there a point at which you can step back and say, this is a used car, it is going to have its flaws, and not let it turn into a 'thing' with your friend?

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    Default Re: Hearse Problems - Why can't I trust anyone? Is it me?

    Yes.
    No.
    Yes.

    However, that I am willing or not to make repairs is not the issue. The issue is that I think he is knowingly ripping me off. The way he said it and set it up was like "well if you dont take the car without a smog I'm selling it to someone else". There is a big element of pressure going on here. He knows I want and need the car. Saying he 'doesnt have time to smog it' is a load of horse shit. I know his schedule, he has weekends off and there are plenty of smog places around his area that are open on saturdays.

    I guess we will just have to see. Yes there is no way I can absolutely without a doubt prove he knows. However as some back story, this is not uncommon to happen in the hearse club. For some reason they all seem to either trash talk, back stab or do me wrong in some way and I honest to god dont know what I did dto deserve that other than being super trusting most of the time and nice. I try to be nice to everyone and give everyone the benefit of the doubt (or at least I used to). I try to be really non confrontational and neutral but it gets me nothing but grief. I am starting to think the problem is that I just need new friends.

    I know the car has issues and is going to have more. Its a 20 year old car. Being ripped off on purpose is what I have a problem with. Its happened to me so many times now I guess I just assume.





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    Default Re: Hearse Problems - Why can't I trust anyone? Is it me?

    Quote Originally Posted by MistressX View Post


    I guess we will just have to see. Yes there is no way I can absolutely without a doubt prove he knows. However as some back story, this is not uncommon to happen in the hearse club. For some reason they all seem to either trash talk, back stab or do me wrong in some way and I honest to god dont know what I did dto deserve that other than being super trusting most of the time and nice.
    .............
    I know the car has issues and is going to have more. Its a 20 year old car. Being ripped off on purpose is what I have a problem with. Its happened to me so many times now I guess I just assume.
    I guess one of the things i was trying to get across is that I kind of doubt that this is personal. Every single used car transaction can be viewed as negative by one of the parties. Turning into they did this to ME is just going to drive you crazy.

    If you have concerns, go talk to the person face to face. no text no email, no phone calls no voicemail. Express what your concerns are and why.

    Look at their reactions and listen to what they are saying. Don't make it about you.

    Obviously I don't know these people, and maybe they are complete dickwads, in which case, not your friends.

    It sure sounds like you are more qualified to judge what is going on with the car than the seller is. Maybe that is part of the issue, a person unaware of all the potential pitfalls is going to see a potential buyers problems with the car as self interested.

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    Default Re: Hearse Problems - Why can't I trust anyone? Is it me?

    No. This guy knows more about cars than me. He rebuilds engines and does nearly everything himself except the transmissions. Moreso on older cars though. The reason I keep thinking this is because I have been done wrong by these people who are supposedly my friends so many times now. I really shouldnt call them my friends anymore. There are a couple who are ok but other than that, I really cant. I'm not saying he is doing it on purpose because he doesnt like me because I know that isnt true, hes one of the few I still like and thats another reason this is bothering me. What I'm saying is I think he is knowingly selling me a car without disclosing 100% of what he knows about it. This has happened to two other people I know from people in the club (my ex bf and my bff who I live with). Both of them were sold cars from people in the club who knowingly ripped them off. I dont know. I guess I 'm just distrusting and assume the worst. Like I said, I am still going to buy the car. And if she doesnt pass smog, I'll be mad. But since theres no way I can absolutely know 100% that he is doing it knowingly, theres not a whole lot I can do. I guess I cant be mad at him then. But I sure aint going to be happy





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    Default Re: Hearse Problems - Why can't I trust anyone? Is it me?

    I know nothing about cars, but do know a lot about people. If they have screwed you over in the past, why do you think they won't do it again? Tell the seller to come back with smog clearance and you'll buy the car. Offer to pay slightly more for the car to cover the expense of getting the smog check. If he is certain that he took care of the issue, there is no reason why he would not just get the check done and over with.

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    Default Re: Hearse Problems - Why can't I trust anyone? Is it me?

    I see that you said you're going to buy it either way, but I think it's probably a better idea to ditch this guy and ditch the car. Cars that can't pass smog are worthless. You can't register them, you can't legally drive them, and you also face a huge challenge when trying to honestly sell them. "Friends" you can't trust are also worthless.

    He's playing games with you about the smog test because he knows if you don't buy it, he's going to be very hard-pressed to find another buyer. This is why he's pressuring you into buying it ASAP. Plus, $3k for a car that can't pass smog is a rip-off, IMO. Everything about this sounds sooooo fishy and bad.

    Sorry you have to go through all this hassle. But please do your future self a huge favor and don't buy this car.

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    Default Re: Hearse Problems - Why can't I trust anyone? Is it me?

    Have you looked to see if there are any similar hearses for sale, to see if your friend is giving you a fair price? I found this one site with some hearses listed.

    http://funeralcartrader.com/

    I think your best bet is to assume it won't pass and figure that into the cost of the vehicle. Whatever you decide, I hope things work out for you.

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    Default Re: Hearse Problems - Why can't I trust anyone? Is it me?

    The next best thing was 5K and in kentucky. "Southern car" he says, and wont provide more than two pics. I passed. My Lincoln just failed smog yesterday and need $650 in repairs.

    There is a program in cali that covers up to 500 dollars in smog related repairs if you are considered low income (at this point, I do qualify). I am contacting them next week to see what my options are. I already told ryan I am nervous about buying this car without a smog. If worse comes to worse, I know where to get it fixed cheap. I have not made 100% decision yet on this, but I have already given him a $500 deposit weeks ago. I guess if it came down to it I could just eat the 500





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    Default Re: Hearse Problems - Why can't I trust anyone? Is it me?

    Can y9ou register the car in NV temp. with your bf's address while you wait/ save up for the repairs?
    XoXo Gia
    Danielle Fishell (the Dish): "If the Super-Star thing doesn't work out, Gia makes a great stripper name"

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    Default Re: Hearse Problems - Why can't I trust anyone? Is it me?

    No, I have to prove I live in NV to register it there.

    Luckily, I have found someone to help me. Weirdly enough a guy who is from my home state of maine and ilves in los angeles now and has his own hearse in our club happens to be smog certified in maine. He educated me a LOT on the subject. The guy I am buying the car off of provided me with the failed smog paperwork. My smog friend took a look at it and said that she should pass just fine as soon as I drive her enough miles. Hopefully the check engine light doesnt come back on, but he said from the looks of the numbers on the smog printout, it shouldnt.

    Tuesday night I visited her and paid him 1500. I owe 1000 now and will be picking her up on the 22nd. I have to find storage for the lincoln now, its going to be $175 a month but its indoors so I'm ok with that. I'll keep this updated when I actually get her. This guy really made it sound like he knew something wasnt right and I was just very suspicious. I have a hard time trusting anyone because of so many times being ripped off..





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    Default Re: Hearse Problems - Why can't I trust anyone? Is it me?

    Quote Originally Posted by gia2608 View Post
    can y9ou register the car in nv temp. With your bf's address while you wait/ save up for the repairs?
    you will not be able to register the car in nevada with a failed or no smog.

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