Mechanic warns against a used car that’s too good to be true, ‘it’s still broken’
Ever seen a used car listed that had so many new parts installed it seemed a little too good to be true? A mechanic took to TikTok to warn drivers against buying cars just like these. He suspects a previous owner installed all these parts while trying to troubleshoot a problem. The fact that they’re selling means they never figured out the true cause.
What is “swapnostics?”
Sometimes, if a used car has a tone of minor, new parts installed, it’s because someone was attempting to solve a mysterious issue. Long story short, if a mechanic doesn’t have the time or expertise to troubleshoot a problem, they may just install a bunch of new parts and hope that solves the issue. Many mechanics call this technique “swapnostics”–a play on proper diagnostics.
Our TikTok mechanic–who goes by Mr. Wizard–called it firing the “parts cannon” at a problem. He added, “There’s something wrong with this car that they very likely threw everything they had at it…tried this, tried that, and it didn’t work…it’s still broken. And they said, ‘You know what? Screw it. Let’s just dump this thing. I’m done with this.'”
Mr. Wizard urged you to ask yourself, “What problem were they chasing?”
The specific parts that were replaced can give away the original problem. For example, a used car with new wheel bearings, freshly balanced tires, brake parts, and suspension components may have rolled into the shop for a mysterious front-end noise. If it’s for sale, the actual problem might be a more expensive CVT joint or even a transmission problem.
Here’s another example: If you see an old vehicle advertised with a new battery and new alternator, it may have a charging issue or be losing power overnight. If these parts didn’t fix the problem, that may be because a frayed wiring harness is shorting out and draining the battery. This problem could take even an experienced mechanic hours to sort out.
When to walk away from a used car
Long story short, be critical of a deal that seems too good to be true. It’s always wise to have your own mechanic inspect a used car before you invest your hard-earned cash in it. Check out Mr. Wizard’s eight situations in which you should never buy the vehicle, in the video embedded below:
