I'm in CA so the check engine light is signaling a failed catalytic converter (700-1k parts, only needed for passing smog check) which I'm not gonna repair, been looking for another car anyways but my smog/registration is due in a few weeks so I need to act soon

the guy at the lube shop gave me 2 alternatives to doing the actual repair

1. trade in the car right after resetting the check engine light so the dealer doesn't realize somethings wrong (since only selling by private party requires smog check within 90 days)

2. have him reset it himself and run the car for a day to test it at a point where it will technically pass the smog, which gives me another 90 days to sell it myself
cost $150 (prob under the table)


at this pt I'm willing to take the hit in value to trade it in to avoid having to smog, register, then sell it myself while having to explain the check engine light(I'm not gonna screw a private buyer over), but does this sound feasible to just turn off the check engine light right before I go trade it in?



[This message has been edited by EliteZags (edited 1/26/2011 9:51p).]

quote:

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does this sound feasible to just turn off the check engine light right before I go trade it in?

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I did this back in April.

If I were you, I would just pony up and fix the part, and find the shop that will do the work for as close to the $700 as you can find. I know you say you won't screw over a private buyer, and explain to them what the light is on for, but for someone who has no idea who you are, how can they truly trust you. If it were me, I would either ask for a large reduction in price, or you get it fixed prior to purchase with written documentation of the work.

As for trade in, the dealer is going to be looking for whatever reason to shaft you on trade value, and check engine lights are exactly what they are looking for. It wouldn't cost a dealership but a few hours and $100 to fix the part themselves, but they will slash your trade in value more than the cost of getting the item fixed yourself in the first place.

I tried to sell my old truck to Carmax. It was a 2006 F-250 Lariat Crew Cab diesel 4x4 with all the fixings on the interior (leather, satellite radio, etc) plus a lift, rims, tires, and Ranch Hand front end replacement. With the diesel, you have a water seperator, on that truck located just underneath the driver area. It will flash a signal on the message center saying water in fuel. To fix this takes a 3/8"(if I remember right) allen wrench and a bucket to collect the drainage, and about about 15 minutes in the driveway. Well, needless to say, when the Carmax guy was inspecting and driving my truck, the light came on. He said it was a major problem and offered me $12,500. I fixed it myself in my driveway, as I had done plenty of times, and sold it for $18,000 private buyer, and had to do it quick so I didn't get as much as I wanted. Probably could have held out longer and gotten $20k. Carmax would have done what I did, then listed it for $20k+ for sure.

Long story short, I think you should just go ahead and pay to get the check engine light off the right way. It will cost you more in the long run. There is not much in this world that can scare off a used car buyer faster than a service engine light. They can deal with cosmetic issues, dents and dings, but if before they even own the car it is telling them it has a problem, it is a major cause for concern.

Draining the water separator vs replacing the cat converter exponentially more expensive.

i did this last month. Pulled into the gas station lot right across the street, turned off the CEL with my Diablosport, pulled into the dealer lot.

1ags,

I understand that draining the water seperator verses catalytic convertor is a significant difference in price, and that kind of helps prove my point. I was beat down on a trade for something as stupid as draining the water seperator. A service engine light would be just as bad or worse when it comes to the dealer making an offer for your trade. And potentially enough to send a private buyer the other way.

right.. which is why I asked the original question of is it possible to just switch it off before trading it in so they won't know, and apparently its been done

this car is worth maybe 4.5k max there's no way I'm about to put a grand of work into it when I'm about to get rid of it anyways, it has 126k miles so I need to unload it before other shat starts falling out

[This message has been edited by EliteZags (edited 1/26/2011 9:53p).]

If its only a $4K car anyways, I wouldnt worry about it. Do like some of the others said, get the light turned off long enough to sell/trade and be done with it.