|
|
Used car pre-purchase question: Axle repair at 45k for honda accord
|
|
|
| |
|
|
vagar
New User
Dec 31, 2012, 11:17 PM
Post #1 of 8
(7167 views)
|
|
Used car pre-purchase question: Axle repair at 45k for honda accord
|
Sign In
|
|
I am considering a 2009 Accord LX, with about 87k miles. Carfax shows following two unusual repairs around 40-45k miles. Any suggestions on what might have happened. Could this be a problem car that I should stay away from. I do plan to take this car to a honda dealership for full inspection before purchase.
Pls reply asap, as I meet the seller on wednesday (EST).
The agreed price is ~$10.5k. Any suggestions on whether its a good or bad price.
06/04/2010 40,717 Phillipsburg Easton Honda Phillipsburg, NJ
Front axle(s) replaced/repaired
Recommended maintenance performed
Drivability/performance checked
08/17/2010 45,474 Phillipsburg Easton Honda Phillipsburg, NJ
Drivability/performance checked
Left axle replaced
Steering/suspension checked
(This post was edited by vagar on Dec 31, 2012, 11:44 PM)
|
|
| |
|
|
nickwarner
Veteran
/ Moderator
Jan 1, 2013, 8:03 AM
Post #2 of 8
(7073 views)
|
|
Re: Used car pre-purchase question: Axle repair at 45k for honda accord
|
Sign In
|
|
A couple of the front axleshfts got replaced under warranty. Means absolutely nothing and I don't have a clue why that crap would even show up on a Carfax. Personally I don't think Carfax is worth much anyhow. I've seen previous wrecks that never showed up on any report. Your money would be a lot better spent taking that car to a shop and paying them an hour of labor to inspect it for you before you pay for it. If the seller objects to that being done, walk away from the sale.
|
|
| |
|
|
vagar
New User
Jan 1, 2013, 8:13 AM
Post #3 of 8
(7066 views)
|
|
Re: Used car pre-purchase question: Axle repair at 45k for honda accord
|
Sign In
|
|
Thanks Nick. Do you have a suggestion on getting it tested at a dealership vs other repair shops. My concern is if they dealerships give a very non-definitive answer to cover their reputation, as in, "axle looks good now, but can't tell why it got replaced or what happens 3 months later". Do they even cover the axle/cv joints in these pre-purchase checks. I will mention this carfax entry to them, ofcourse, so they can focus on it more.
|
|
| |
|
|
Sidom
Veteran
/ Moderator
Jan 1, 2013, 12:20 PM
Post #4 of 8
(7038 views)
|
|
Re: Used car pre-purchase question: Axle repair at 45k for honda accord
|
Sign In
|
|
Replacing axles isn't serious problem, as long as it wasn't due to the vehicle being in a wreck...
There isn't very much info to go off of.....If I had to guess I would say that the van had a bad inner cv joint causing a vibration and maybe they "missed" the bad axle. Bad inner joints can be hard to pinpoint some times and since the 2 axles are so close in time, that would be my guess. They were fighting a vibration problem and got the wrong axle. that's not an uncommon problem at that mileage
A bad inner cv joint will have a noticable vibration on acceleration but ride smooth the rest of the time...
An independent inspection would be a good thing.....get it in the air and see how everything looks....You would be surprised what shows up when you stand there and look up.....Of cousre this type of inspection will only tell you want is bad today......It's not going to tell you what is going to break tomorrow...
(This post was edited by Sidom on Jan 1, 2013, 12:24 PM)
|
|
| |
|
|
vagar
New User
Jan 1, 2013, 1:02 PM
Post #5 of 8
(7020 views)
|
|
Re: Used car pre-purchase question: Axle repair at 45k for honda accord
|
Sign In
|
|
Can a good mechanic tell with reasonable surety if a car has been thru an accident that caused these axles to be replaced.
|
|
| |
|
|
Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jan 1, 2013, 1:07 PM
Post #6 of 8
(7016 views)
|
|
Re: Used car pre-purchase question: Axle repair at 45k for honda accord
|
Sign In
|
|
Look, you're trying to make a mountain out of a molehill here. Your Carfax didn't show any collision history or lemon buyback so at that point, throw it away. Just because a dealer changed an axle or two nearly 3 years ago, it doesn't mean a thing to the current condition of the car. Just pay an Independent mechanic to look at it and see what he finds.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
|
|
| |
|
|
Sidom
Veteran
/ Moderator
Jan 1, 2013, 1:57 PM
Post #7 of 8
(7005 views)
|
|
Re: Used car pre-purchase question: Axle repair at 45k for honda accord
|
Sign In
|
|
I can't see the vehicle but really doubt the van has been in a wreck, that was just one reason for changing an axle but really at that mileage the most common thing I've seen is bad joints....So that bridge has already been crossed...
Most tech could spot if a vehicle has been in a wreck. Whether it's body lines with wide gaps, overspray, or replaced frame parts....But with the reports you've got it's really doubtful.....
Just the history on the used cars I have looked at....It's always, always after they buy the car....They bring it in and you do an inspection on it....It's obvious stuff, big oil leaks, broken axles, mounts, blown struts, etc. Just stuff you can see with in minutes of getting it in the air.
It's easy to make a car "look pretty" from the top. Just wash & wax it, shampoo the interior, wash the engine and spray that shiny stuff on it that creates all kinds of electrial drivability problems down the road, put that shiny stuff on the tires and the car looks great. You open the hood and most cars have engine covers so you really can't see anything except this sparkling clean engine compartment...
Once it's in the air, then you can grab the tires and see if there is loose bearings or steering compenents, spot all the oil leaks & other problems....
Of all the ones that I inspected where there was way more mechanical problems with the vehicle than the buyer realized it had, they would have gladly paid $50 at that point to get out of that deal.....But since they already paid for the car, it was a done deal & now their problem.....
Just so you don't get the wrong idea...you are doing things right, you are doing your homework and so far nothing bad has really surfaced......Just get a quick look at it by shop (& I doubt they will find anything) check the bluebook value on the kelly blue book site and work a deal.....Honda's are good vehicles, they hold their resale, this is still a pretty good mileage point. You keep up the maintenance and you should get alot more miles out of this & I recommend them....
|
|
| |
|
|
nickwarner
Veteran
/ Moderator
Jan 1, 2013, 2:31 PM
Post #8 of 8
(6994 views)
|
|
Re: Used car pre-purchase question: Axle repair at 45k for honda accord
|
Sign In
|
|
Maybe the inspection will show a thing or two, probably minor things. If, for instance, a few oil leaks or brakes getting real near being changed show up, its not a bad thing. You'll know what it would take to make the car perfect and its a bargaining chip to get the price down. But its not a wreck, not a swimmer, not a lemon. Thats a good thing. Makes it straightforward for future issues.
|
|
| |
|
Auto Repair Home
SEARCH
WHO'S 
LOG 
Drive Shaft Repair
2006 Toyoto Camry XLE Driver Side Electric Window Trouble
Grounding Cable, 2017 Jeep Renegade Trailhawk
equipment
Howdy
