Is my car a lemon?

[Aestabrook1]

Hello everyone, i recently bought a 99 eclipse rs from a used lot, when i test drove it, it didnt exibit any issues, and i drove it for a good hour, it has some after market mods including:
Drilled rotors
Full suspension
KYB shocks lowering springs
Braided steel brake lines
APEXI full cat back
Front and rear strut bars
Trunk mount battery
Racing radiator mount fans
AEM Cams
AEM adjustable cam gears
AEM intake
headers
an a 3" APEXI turbo muffler (the car is N/A)
SIDE NOTE the car hasnt been tuned
Now 4 days later the temp gauge is going above the H and theres anti-freeze coming out somewhere...i brought it to the dealer, he burped all the air pockets out of the cooling system then took the thermostat OUT and put everything back together and called it good...i wasnt very impressed that taking out the T-stat was his solution. on my way home i noticed when taking a sharp turn i heard some popping sounds in the wheels would that be cv joints??
im starting to lose faith that my car is reliable in anyway shape or form...would this qualify as a lemon? and does anyone know of anyway to fix these issues.

PS. i live in kentucky

 

[97gst_spyder]

Headgasket. Go get your money back now!

 

[phunny]

Used cars do not fall under the lemon law. Unless he gave you a warranty there is nothing you can do.

 

[Boostinsideways]

Could have just been a bad t-stat. But yeah, the cv axles are shot too. If there were any warranties expressed, written, or implied I would take the dealer for whatever he is worth.

But yeah, if you have nothing on paper, or not witness hearing the dealer say he would fix any problems. You've got no case. Lemon laws only apply to new cars to guarantee against manufacturing defects.

You can run full bolt-ons on a n/t without needing a "tune".

 

[95talongirl]

The car is 12 years old and modified on top of that... so no, it won't qualify under the "lemon" law. How recent is this purchase? You could try to take it back and see if they will help you out if its only been a few days... but most used and abused card are sold AS-IS with no warranty.

 

[See4Ways]

used cars do fall under lemon law. My dealership buys back cars every now and again

 

[97gst_spyder]

used cars do fall under lemon law. My dealership buys back cars every now and again

Maybe certified used cars. Not just any car. Shit everyone and their mom would be calling Lemon if that was the case.

 

[Aestabrook1]

Could have just been a bad t-stat. But yeah, the cv axles are shot too. If there were any warranties expressed, written, or implied I would take the dealer for whatever he is worth.

But yeah, if you have nothing on paper, or not witness hearing the dealer say he would fix any problems. You've got no case. Lemon laws only apply to new cars to guarantee against manufacturing defects.

You can run full bolt-ons on a n/t without needing a "tune".

It was sold as is, but he gave me a 3 month warranty through a 3rd party place called car protection plus. And in KY used vehicles do fall under the lemon law. I'm thinking of taking in back and telling him either he fixes the cv joints, and gets it to stay at the right temp with the t-stat IN, or take the car back

 

[95talongirl]

Yea, the law varies form state to state, but generally on a car this old; that also has additional modifications.. it would be harder to do.

The basis of the law, at least in MI, is that the car has to have been repaired for the SAME problem about 4 times before it is considered a lemon... and does not include older cars like this.

However, some dealers will work with you if it's been a very recent purchase.

edit:

If its got a warranty, then yea.. by all means take it back!

 

[See4Ways]

one of our customers bout a 2003 pathfinder (from a ford dealer) and it would always stall out. After a few weeks of trying to resolve the issue we credited her the money back and she bought another car. We then fixed the truck and resold it.

 

[lilrob2069]

used cars do fall under lemon law. My dealership buys back cars every now and again

This not true( i work at a dealership too.) we buy back the used cars to keep good faith in with the customers and then take the cars to auction or fix them and sell them for more.

It really depends on where you are at as to the lemon law process. but it is very hard to win a lemon law case on a used car. mainly because the dealer will say that the vehicle was checked out. Then the judge will ask if you had the vehicle checked out by a shop, without an estimate as to what needs to be done they will either throw it out or make you spend more money and get it diagnosed.

I would suggest going back to the place you got it and explain that there are problems with the vehicle if they don't have a service spot than you might be screwed and you can try and claim as a lemon or small business court. either way it's cheaper in most cases to just find and fix the problem. or try scaring them. show up with a written estimate that has all listed problems with vehicle and ask if the vehicle was inspected before it was sold, They are SUPPOSE to have them inspected for safety reasons before being put on the lot.

 

[Boostinsideways]

It would have to fall under the limits of the warranty provided. Take to car protection plus. But I would have to say a bad thermostat and old cv axles on a 13 year old car (99 model year means made in 98) isn't gonna constitute a lemon.

 

[Aestabrook1]

It would have to fall under the limits of the warranty provided. Take to car protection plus. But I would have to say a bad thermostat and old cv axles on a 13 year old car (99 model year means made in 98) isn't gonna constitute a lemon.

The t-stat isn't bad though, he said it wasn't bad, and I took it home and boiled it in some water and it opens and closes just fine...meaning the over heating issue is else where

 

[DWR-DSM]

Try this

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/articles-engine-fuel/200575-help-im-overheating-heres-how-fix.html

 

[phunny]

You're right Kentucky has one and a quick google search reveled this.

Kentucky Used Car Lemon Law, Kentucky Used Car Lemon Law Lawyers, Kentucky Used Car Lemon Law Attorneys by Brudge Law Office

 

[Aestabrook1]

Ok, its not a head gasket...no coolant in oil and vice versa, not the thermo stat...tested it and its opening fine, fans are both on, radiator cap seems to be fine, all hoses are secured, coolant lvls are dropping really fast...havent been able to get the system pressurized to test for a leak, and i havent had the water pump checked either....when im driving on the highway above 50mph the temperature goes down to normal.....theres an aftermarket radiator installed, im wondering if the radiator is big enough/good enough to keep the engine cool. that combined with a small leak and maybe a bad pump/belt would definately cause it to over heat...

Side note on the popping when i turn...the car is lowered quit a bit...could the popping be strain on the springs?