I've been in the process of buying a used consigned 1999 RoadTrek 190 Popular (Dodge Ram Van chassis), and I have to say first that the dealer has been very responsive to problems as they come up (and paying for them as they do come up): replacing filter on genny so it works right, paying my mechanic to fix the check engine light (was a speed sensor issue), applying rust retardant to the areas my mechanic pointed out (Florida vehicle; rust expected and was just bumper and hitch issues), replacing leaking dump pipe, replacing leaking differential plug (15 years causes shrinkage, and the oil would slosh back and leak out), and a few other items. I offered to pay for some body work on the driver's door, where rust required more than a coating of retardant, mostly because he was fixing all these other things and not changing the price on me. (I want a good relationship with, what I consider to be, an honest dealer, and I believe in being fair too.)
We had agreed on a price, and a price on my trade-in (all handshake-only), and I took it out for a last test-drive today; finding that the cruise control didn't work (this was the first highway drive, and so my only chance to check the cruise control), and he said he's have that fixed. There was some squeaking from wheel areas on even the slightest turns when first beginning to drive it, and he said he thought his mechanic has oiled (insert name of something I can't recall here)...and he'd have his guy check that again.
After about 15 miles (not all highway) I wanted to give it a good turn test, and did so via a tight U-turn which caused all kinds of wheel-squeaking noise and we bottomed out too (Not sure I can blame this on anything but the ridiculously low nature of RoadTreks though). Either way, the squeaking shouldn't be.
About 1/4 mile down the road, the van starts to pull to the left, and the right front passenger tire area is smoking. We pull over right away, and the dealer says it's the caliper, and explains it to me, that perhaps rust has stopped the calipers from being able to move (fyi: new brakes on this rig). We wait for it to cool down, and bring it to his down-the-street mechanic, and leave the rig with him, and take another car back to the dealership.
I was all set to buy this rig, but now I just don't know. The smoke and stink has got me questioning the deal. So I'm asking for your help/ideas. And, FWIW, I think this is an honest guy just as unfamiliar with this consignment as I am, so I'm not asking you to evaluate his integrity, but rather, the integrity of the vehicle itself with what little information I can offer.
Please feel free to ask whatever you want to help me come to a decision. PS: My mechanic, whom I trust, thought the vehicle was fine to buy, and I paid for that evaluation (yes, he got it up on the lift and I got under it with him).
So, if he replaces the two front calipers (rear are disks), do you think that...
heck, I don't even know what to ask. I'm leaning towards walking away from this deal, but I'd hate to.
I just dunno. Oh, and no maintenance records from previous owner. And the previous owner covered the check engine light with black tape because the light bothered him (Oy vey).
You might say: Susan!? Why are you still with this deal at all? Well, the rig (always wanted one...perfect for me), and the price is not to be beat, AND the dealer is indeed addressing everything that comes up.
We had agreed on a price, and a price on my trade-in (all handshake-only), and I took it out for a last test-drive today; finding that the cruise control didn't work (this was the first highway drive, and so my only chance to check the cruise control), and he said he's have that fixed. There was some squeaking from wheel areas on even the slightest turns when first beginning to drive it, and he said he thought his mechanic has oiled (insert name of something I can't recall here)...and he'd have his guy check that again.
After about 15 miles (not all highway) I wanted to give it a good turn test, and did so via a tight U-turn which caused all kinds of wheel-squeaking noise and we bottomed out too (Not sure I can blame this on anything but the ridiculously low nature of RoadTreks though). Either way, the squeaking shouldn't be.
About 1/4 mile down the road, the van starts to pull to the left, and the right front passenger tire area is smoking. We pull over right away, and the dealer says it's the caliper, and explains it to me, that perhaps rust has stopped the calipers from being able to move (fyi: new brakes on this rig). We wait for it to cool down, and bring it to his down-the-street mechanic, and leave the rig with him, and take another car back to the dealership.
I was all set to buy this rig, but now I just don't know. The smoke and stink has got me questioning the deal. So I'm asking for your help/ideas. And, FWIW, I think this is an honest guy just as unfamiliar with this consignment as I am, so I'm not asking you to evaluate his integrity, but rather, the integrity of the vehicle itself with what little information I can offer.
Please feel free to ask whatever you want to help me come to a decision. PS: My mechanic, whom I trust, thought the vehicle was fine to buy, and I paid for that evaluation (yes, he got it up on the lift and I got under it with him).
So, if he replaces the two front calipers (rear are disks), do you think that...
heck, I don't even know what to ask. I'm leaning towards walking away from this deal, but I'd hate to.
I just dunno. Oh, and no maintenance records from previous owner. And the previous owner covered the check engine light with black tape because the light bothered him (Oy vey).
You might say: Susan!? Why are you still with this deal at all? Well, the rig (always wanted one...perfect for me), and the price is not to be beat, AND the dealer is indeed addressing everything that comes up.
John Wayne wrote:
If he's going to replace the calipers I'd want him to also replace the brake hoses and flush the entire brake system ( New fluid).
I guess I could ask for this too.
FWIW, the price is irresistible, but not if it keeps falling apart on me...I plan to use this 19ft rv as my only vehicle...I'm retired and don't need to do much driving; that is, until I go to say, Alaska from Florida in this.
So, you see the problem. And as the minutes tick by, I'm picking up the phone to cancel the deal, and putting it down to read closely here one more time, then swinging towards going for it; and then the cycle starts again.
The only decision I've made so far is to keep reading here, don't pick up the phone anymore, and to sleep on it all.
Keep it coming. Nayers and Yeaers. I'm listening.
So, you see the problem. And as the minutes tick by, I'm picking up the phone to cancel the deal, and putting it down to read closely here one more time, then swinging towards going for it; and then the cycle starts again.
The only decision I've made so far is to keep reading here, don't pick up the phone anymore, and to sleep on it all.
Keep it coming. Nayers and Yeaers. I'm listening.
MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
Stuck calipers are not an uncommon problem. The issue is whether or not water has contaminated the brake fluid, and water goes right to wheel cylinders and calipers. It also causes master cylinder and proportioning valve malfunctions and failures.
Open the hood, unscrew the cap on the BRAKE master cylinder reservoir, stick your finger in and rub it across the bottom. When you withdraw your finger the tip should not be gooey black.
So if gooey black does come out, does that mean that there has been no contamination? And so the cylinders are okay? And, the valves are okay? Or would that be too simple?
A smoking rotor disc and caliper may mean they have been ruined. Not repairable. Must be replaced. Has to do with losing temper composition in cast iron.
Well, he did say he'd replace them; not repair them.
Unless the rig was irresistibly attractively priced, myself I would move on down the line. Some rotors alone cost in excess of two hundred dollars never mind a caliper, pads, master cylinder, wheel cylinders. This thing could snowball into a Matterhorn grade avalanche...
Hmm....so the gooey black finger test will not diagnosis all these items? Again, the brakes are new, and he said he'd replace the calipers. But could my pads, master cylinder, wheel cylinder be shot? Or will the simple gooey black test answer to that?
good heavens...I wasn't even done editing before you answered....lol...love this place.
You may be right.
You may be right.
