What to do if I bought a used carand the next day the check engine light went on?

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What to do if I bought a used carand the next day the check engine light went on?

The car had 140,000 miles on it but did not have the check engine light on. The next day I started the car and the check engine light came on. My mechanic read the code and looked at the car and determined that both of the catalytic converters were completely fried and could not have done so while in my possession. When I called the dealer they refused to do anything. if this was a preexisting problem that was undisclosed at the time of purchase, would the unfair and deceptive acts and practices law cover something like this?

Asked on December 20, 2011 under General Practice, Minnesota

Answers:

Paula McGill / Paula J. McGill, Attorney at Law

Answered 12 years ago | Contributor

If you are in Georgia, you bought the car as is, and there wasn't fraud in the transaction, you PROBABLY will not be successful in suing the seller.  

The problem is you should have brought a mechanic to the dealer or placed a provision in the contract that allowed you a week to take it to the mechanic for a diagnosis of the car before the sale was final.  At the same time, if the dealer made specific false claims, you might have a case (eg, a new catalytic converter was just installed).


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