used van with a reconditioned engine. A sign to stay away?

forgotmyname

Amazin wrote: »

because I'm a newly qualified driver who doesn't know much about vechicles and I need help!

well, when he was showing me the van he did mention the engine doesn't have a belt. later when I texted him to find out the reason, he texted back saying "timing belt snapped" bit confused tbh, maybe he's using the words interchangebly.

well, even if he did I'm sure he won't tell me, he did show me the MOT documents and seemed fine to me and also showed me his address. I took a photo of his VO5 document with his plate number and address. So at what milage would you expect them to snap instead? I hope its just bad luck. I accept the fact that any used vechicle can be bit of gambling but I will certainly findout the details tomorrow.

If you dont know about vehicles is it not worth getting someone that does, Even if it costs? Might save you a lot of money.

Showed you his address? Did you goto his home address to view the van?
How long have they owned it?

marlot

Amazin wrote: »

...6 years old, 70,000 milage, Ford Transit T280. ...£3700 .

That's a lot of money to lose if you buy a duff one.

It would be worth spending a little more and getting the van examined by someone who knows what to look for before handing over the rest of the cash.

xHannahx

enfield_freddy wrote: »

my 1987 transit 2.0 l petrol has a timing belt , its the old Cortina/capri engine


the transit has been made since about 1965 , and has probably had 50 different engines fitted throughout its history

The one the op is asking about is 6 years old, I'd be quite happy to admit yours is likely to be far more reliable than any modern diesel.

Joe_Horner

enfield_freddy wrote: »

to the poster , that says they could not get insurance with a replacement engine , answer in one word (if its the same type of engine) COBBLERS!

Don't see why it'd be cobblers if you let them know (possibly by asking them if it counted as a modification?).

"is it the same spec engine, Sir?"

"yes, just a couple of years newer"

"can you prove that?"

"no"

"we'll need to get an engineer's report to be sure you haven't fitted a 350bhp V8"

xHannahx

Joe_Horner wrote: »

Don't see why it'd be cobblers if you let them know (possibly by asking them if it counted as a modification?).

"is it the same spec engine, Sir?"

"yes, just a couple of years newer"

"can you prove that?"

"no"

"we'll need to get an engineer's report to be sure you haven't fitted a 350bhp V8"

This is pretty much the conversation hubby had. He was told he had to declare it the insurers by the person who sold it to him, so he did creating a lot of insurers saying they couldn't provide a quote without an engineers report confirming it was the correct engine and also it had been fitted correctly.

agrinnall

A number of posts have mentioned a replacement engine, but the OP says "...he reconditioned the engine..." suggesting that it's the original engine that has had work done on it. It would help to clarify which it is.

enfield_freddy

xHannahx wrote: »

This is pretty much the conversation hubby had. He was told he had to declare it the insurers by the person who sold it to him, so he did creating a lot of insurers saying they couldn't provide a quote without an engineers report confirming it was the correct engine and also it had been fitted correctly.

so when your mini/BMW/merc/etc etc engine blows up under warranty , and the dealer replace it with a new factory recon engine , the car is then uninsurable


sounds right

Joe_Horner

enfield_freddy wrote: »

so when your mini/BMW/merc/etc etc engine blows up under warranty , and the dealer replace it with a new factory recon engine , the car is then uninsurable


sounds right

No, that's an entirely different scenario. A dealer change under warranty will have dealer paperwork to confirm its spec (which will be the same as original) and where it came from. Most indie garages don't give that much detail on their invoices.

Simple engine numbers may not be enough to (easily) identify what it is unless you have the manufacturer's records, so insurers may want to check they haven't dropped in something bigger / higher tuned under the pretence of a recon.

Plenty of times in the distant past where I've found scrappy engines for friends that "just happened" to be a bigger version cos that's what was available. Back then no-one really cared, nowadays they do.

londonTiger

i wouldnt buy a car from someone who misses a critical service as a timing belt change. think of what else they ignored

King_Nothing

londonTiger wrote: »

i wouldnt buy a car from someone who misses a critical service as a timing belt change. think of what else they ignored

If it's a ford and has a timing belt and not a chain. At 70k miles, it won't be due a change until anywhere from 100k - 125k miles.