[pantdino]

Originally Posted by mav1178

Since I am taking the dissenting opinion here, I'll defend myself. You can view dealerships as you see fit.



Doing research on the NJ MVC site is .... well, worse than trying to navigate the California DMV site. Finally I've found a state worse than CA!

http://www.state.nj.us/mvc/Inspectio...erstanding.htm

The key part is this:

1) you bought a used vehicle
2) your car had a check engine light come on post-purchase
3) your car has mods

Here's what the grey area lies: does NJ require an inspection to transfer used car title? And does this inspection involve a smog test? And if so, does the inspection involve a visual test?

If you bought the car used, as-is, without any warranty implied other than manufacturer's warranty, you are on your own as far as any check engine light is concerned.

If you bought the car used with an expressed warranty provided by the dealer that you bought the car from (in addition to manufacturer's powertrain warranty), the dealer that sold you the car is on the hook for this.





So many = all? I have my fair share of good and bad experiences but I don't make assumptions going in.

I don't care to be PC but I do care to not pass judgment before I step in the door.




See my above response on whose responsibility it is.



Answer these questions:

1) Is smog check required as part of used car transfer in NJ? Does this involve a visual test as well as tailpipe? If so, non-approved mods may make the sale invalid as the dealer sold you a car that is not in compliance w/ smog laws.
2) If not, did you buy the car with mods "as-is"? If so, you are on your own if it does throw a CEL.
3) Is the dealer a Toyota/Scion dealership? If not, you will need to find a mod-friendly dealership and work with them on your issue.

If you want to fix on your own, 90% of the time an O2 elbow/extension will fix the problem. Or get a tune and the light will go away. Or just leave it and nothing happens.

-alex

"If you bought the car used, as-is, without any warranty implied other than manufacturer's warranty, you are on your own as far as any check engine light is concerned."


I doubt it. If NJ is like CA, it is ILLEGAL to tamper with, disable, or remove emissions equipment.


The "no testing for X number of years" is true in CA also, but it does NOT mean you can legally take off all your smog stuff and drive around for 4-5 years then you have to put it back on.


Also in CA, a private party can sell a car with all kinds of defects or problems and not be liable because he is assumed to not know anything about cars. Any DEALER is NOT excluded from that liability. He cannot claim ignorance if the exhaust system has been messed with.


Did you get like a super great price on this car, or you WANT the exhaust mods? If not you might want to take the car back to dealer. They sold you a car with illegal mods without telling you and the sale is void (or it would be in CA.)