Ethical Question

So let's pretend your truck has intermittent instances when it plain won't start. Turn the key and nothing, no sound at all. Maybe once a month or every 100 or so starts. No rhyme or reason in terms of engine temp/distance travelled but if you wait a bit (insert random time) it will start up as normal.

You take the truck to the dealer and they check all the usual suspects; battery, starter etc and they hook it up and nothing. The service guy shrugs says it was probably a freak thing or maybe a bad ECU. So you continue living your life and it continues to happen rarely.

You don't like the uncertainty of turning the key and not knowing. It's like living a bad game show. You take it to an independent mechanic and they basically say maybe the ECU is bad but they don't know.

Do you sell this and not disclose the issue.....asking for a friend

 

You already know the answer to this.

 

Sounds like the contacts in the starter.

$20 fix, minus the pain in the ass of starter removal.

 

Maybe I'm "old school", but, YES - disclose the issue in detail (just as you posted) and disclose that the dealer has been unable to diagnose the problem, it's intermittent and let the buyer decide.

 

What year and miles?
Just curious

 

2015. Under 50k. TRD Sport DBL LB 4X4

 

Sell it to a dealer.

 

Is it an automatic? If so move shift lever to neutral and try again.

 

I’d just keep rolling the dice every day

 

this is my friends thinking. Still poses an ethical question but it’s one step removed so perhaps a less severe level of hell would await in the afterlife.


it’s an automatic and yes the starter is good and was cleaned.

 

Gotta admit, if the dealer was sending it to auction (aka shitbox heaven) I might be tempted to think differently.

At 50k, most dealers will keep it, detail it and flip it to an unsuspecting sucker. And that doesn't sit as well with me for some irrational reason.

I'd fix it or private sale with full disclosure.

 

Intermittents can be a pain but if you catch it acting up and have a test light handy it shouldn't be hard to diagnose.
The starting circuit is relatively simple, ignition switch, neutral safety switch, starter relay, wiring, and starter is all there is, no modules involved.

 

The answer is “Can you live with the choice you make?”
Some times, the choices we make can affect others.

It’s in your hands my man.

I am with @Rock Lobster
That truck isn’t likely to end up at a place where problems can be expected, such as at an auction.
It will end up on a lot with a price tag in the mid-$20k or more. No Bueno for the new owner.

 

Key switch assembly?

 

If you decide to sell, disclose the intermittent start issue and sell at a fair price with this in mind. Some people would like to take on a minor issue like this and feel like they got a good deal once the problem is solved.

 

1st choice, just find the issue and fix it. It's a good truck. Fixing one issue will be better than buying another truck with new ones.

2nd choice, sell it to a scumbag dealer offering high prices right now. Say as much as they would say.

3rd choice, absolutely disclose it to a private buyer. Of course. No debate.

That said, the first choice would be the only way to go, in my humble opinion.

 

2015 is the last production year. What’s the date of mfg on? Could it be they used subpar wiring harness parts in the last trucks manufactured?

how many keys on your keychain?

 

Believe there were 3 but only 2 exist now

not sure how it’s “simple fix” since a dealer and independent mechanics only diagnosis is faulty ECU after checking everything else.

 

Did the truck NOT start when it was at the dealer or Independent shop?

If the truck was fine and started all the time when the dealer had it, they couldn’t fix it.
Diagnostics take time, time is money.
That’s the unfortunate truth.

I needs to be “broke” before you can fix it.

 

Not sure how they came to that conclusion since there's no electronic modules involved in engaging the starter, only 2 switches, 2 relays, and wiring.
Sounds like they are just guessing at it if they can't duplicate the problem.