I have a used car I may want to sell. I have had some work done on it. Some was due to minor fender benders, some was 100k maintenance, and some was the car just having problems.
I assume I should mention all the 100k maintenance that was done (new serpentine belt, battery, water pump, spark plugs, all fluids and filters replaced, etc) since that cost me about $600, and that was me doing it cheaply by buying my own parts and finding a reasonable cost mechanic.
The timing chain went bad and I had that replaced. But that wasn’t part of the maintenance. I’ve also had to put a new fuel injector and ignition coil in it. I’ve replaced the brake pads and rotors on the front axle, as well as the headlights.
So what does a person include in the ad? Do you just list the 100k maintenance, or do you list all the things that have gone wrong and how you’ve repaired them? I can see good and bad to that. For one thing the person will know they probably won’t face that problem in the future. The bad is that the person may think tons of other things will go wrong in the future.
“Up to date on all scheduled maintenance, including new water pump, battery, belt, sparkplugs. Also recently replaced front brakes, headlights, timing chain.”
People know that brakes, headlights and timing chains wear out, so it is good to mention you’ve already taken care of them.
I would not mention a single failed fuel injector, for the reason you state.
I purchased a honda accord and a goldwing. Both had interference motors and I negotiated the price down on both due to the timing belt schedule. When I sold the goldwing I doubled my money in large part due to the comprehensive maintenance I did and documented.
IMHO it depends on the age of the car. With say a $1000 car, having a bunch of recent (documented) repair work done can be a major selling point since presumably everything on the car is worn out and the more that’s been changed this decade the better. On a newer car, having a lot of recent repair work can make the thing look like a lemon. Maintenance and wear and tear stuff are definitely worth mentioning if you’re not paying by the word.
Did you have the timing chain replaced, or the timing belt. Chains are supposed to last the life of the vehicle and if one has been replaced, I’d be hearing loud danger klaxons vis-a-vis the engine. Perhaps it’s personal bias, but I had a car that threw its timing chain and in the time it took to coast to the shoulder, it was totalled on engine damage alone.
OTOH, belts are intended to be replaced and I’d be pleased if a timing belt was recently replaced on schedule.
I just took my Montero in for a 100,000 mile maintenance. I replaced timing belt, water pump, all belts and hoses, tuneup, brakes all around, trans service, o2 sensors, and coolant. I plan to mention that when I put her up for sale this year.
Timing chain. One of the guides broke, and the chain needed to be replaced. The mechanic said there was no internal damage to the engine from it, I have no idea why but that is what he told me.
I’m not a car person, and when an ad provides a lengthy list of service done on the car it worries me. You can say “Runs good. All needed maintenance done.” If someone has a specific question they can ask it later.