got ripped off, need help!

[Foudie]

Unfortunately the powers that be have bigger problems than the common car rippoff. Case in point, a few years back I bought a crew cab dually from a large used car dealer in Scottsdale, AZ that was advertised at 55k actual box A miles. It took over 5 months to get the title from them and when I finally did it was marked box C or True Miles Unknown. It turned out that this dealer was buying high mileage trucks, swapping out the odometer with low mileage odometers and marking them box c which in Arizona is a felony to knowingly tamper with an odometer even if you disclose it. So long story short I got involved in a class action lawsuit with close to 400 other people and got absolutely nowhere. The dealer is still in business to this day and the attorney general was no help at all. Oh and that beautiful slammed crew cab with 55k miles on it actually had closer to 255k miles. It is amazing how new a car can look with new upholstery.

[CRCRFT78]

I think you paid a fair price. Yeah it sucks that he burned you on the mileage but do you think going through all of that trouble and possibly still eating it is going to make a difference? Then your really going to hate the fact that you bought it. They go for $10,000 and under in Cali with that kind of mileage. If everything else about the car was good enough for you to pay that price, take it as a learning experience. Some a**holes just aren't worth the fight. If mileage is that big of a factor, I've got a 96 DGGM Impala SS for $18,500 with 45,000 miles on it.

[blackbeast]

thanks for the help, and to answer a few questions

ran a ******, last time it was reported, it was under the miles he quoted me

no the odometer wasn't tampered with, it simply overheated the resistors like every other 92 impy ss. i just replaced the resistors and viola odometer lights up again.

to those say i still got a good deal consider this, it really needs a new quarter, i think i'm going to have it fixed instead, has a few other dents dings that need repaired, and the tranny hesitates when going WOT into 4th.

[Steve68]

it's all fixable enjoy it, drive the hell out of it,

[BADVELLE]

thanks for the help, and to answer a few questions

ran a ******, last time it was reported, it was under the miles he quoted me

no the odometer wasn't tampered with, it simply overheated the resistors like every other 92 impy ss. i just replaced the resistors and viola odometer lights up again.

to those say i still got a good deal consider this, it really needs a new quarter, i think i'm going to have it fixed instead, has a few other dents dings that need repaired, and the tranny hesitates when going WOT into 4th.

I hope you made a mistake on the computer, but they only made the SS version 94-96! Either way, you are looking at more headaches than it is worth. Plus, I have lost $3000 on an internet deal (don't ask, long story), however this is just not worth the headaches your are going to experience dealing with a lawyer. The guy did tell you the odometer was broke, at least that is what he will say, remember, your word against his! Enjoy the car!

[Derek69SS]

...it simply overheated the resistors like every other 92 impy ss.

I hope you made a mistake on the computer, but they only made the SS version 94-96!

Typo I'm sure, '91-93 caprice dashes were not digital, 94-95 had digital speedo and odo, and the '96 impala SS had analog speedo, and tach, but digital odo.

Any chance he tried replacing the odometer with a used one from a higher mileage car to make it work? I believe the "memory" is in the odo itself, and not another part of the cluster. I'm not real familiar with the '96 cluster, but I know the insides of a '95 all too well.

[surlyjoe]

Which resistors blow out? I have a 94 fleetwood parts car with that problem. I wouldn't mind knowing the mileage seller said around 300k. (bought it for body parts not mechanical)

[blackbeast]

Which resistors blow out? I have a 94 fleetwood parts car with that problem. I wouldn't mind knowing the mileage seller said around 300k. (bought it for body parts not mechanical)

if you pull the cluster you'll see 3 big resistors that the solder will be pulling away from the board, and they will be slightly discolored if they are like the 96's

[surlyjoe]

Thanks. I am home in a week so I will check it out.

[toofun]

Ok,
Based on personal experience here is what I would do. Get in touch with an attorney and have him write up a demand letter. I will cost you about 500 but it will official and will get the point across that you are serious. If you try to send a letter yourself or threaten to go to court, he will blow you off. People will act differently when they are faced with a registered mailing containing a DEMAND LETTER from an attorney. This shows you are serious about pursueing it and will in fact be LEGAL. It also will show good faith in a court of law should you go that route since you have legally tried to find an easy resolution to this problem. I KNOW IT IS 500 DOLLARS BUT THIS IS THE PRICE YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY TO SHOW THAT YOU ARE SERIOUS. You could net back 1500 if you demand restitution of 2000. Any other threats or demands are nothing but that. You will be blowing smoke otherwise.

If you dont want to go this way then I would go one other way. I wont go into details but I believe in making someone pay monetarily one way or another. JUST MY .02 CENTS..