# Selling my car

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/selling-my-car/18027>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [August 11, 2008, 8:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/selling-my-car/18027 "2008-08-11T20:44:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Wheatie17](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/41988e/32.png) [@Wheatie17](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Wheatie17)\
**Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 8:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/selling-my-car/18027/1 "2008-08-11T20:44:07Z")

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I am getting ready to sell my 1996 Honda Civic. I have not driven the car in over a year and put in a new battery this weekend to get it running. Before I stopped driving the car, there was some engine problems and may even need a new engine. Kelley Blue Book is about $3,200… What should I list the Honda, with the possbile need for a new engine? What should I tell potential buyers? I really don’t know the extent of any problems…

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**Author:** ![Docnick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Docnick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Docnick)\
**Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 8:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/selling-my-car/18027/2 "2008-08-11T20:49:58Z")

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This a a moral question. It is very difficult to sell any car with engine problems. You could list it in the paper as a “mechanic’s special”, that’s a car that needs some work. And that would fetch about 1/2 the $3200 Kelly value.

Since you don’t really know if it needs a new engine, I would spend $100 and get a mechanic’s evaluation. if the fix is cheap, do it and you can advertise it in good consciousness for $3200. If it does need an engine go the mechanic’s special way.

This forum does not specialize in how to hoodwink potential buyers.

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**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\
**Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 9:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/selling-my-car/18027/3 "2008-08-11T21:07:16Z")

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> This forum does not specialize in how to hoodwink potential buyers.

In fact we ALWAYS recommend to new buyers to have the car inspected before they buy the vehicle.

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**Author:** ![irlandes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b5e925/32.png) [@irlandes](https://community.cartalk.com/u/irlandes)\
**Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 9:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/selling-my-car/18027/4 "2008-08-11T21:50:21Z")

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The only thing I would add is to look over Cartalk; there is a place where people can recommend mechanics who have done a good job for them. Look for your area, and see is there is a mechanic who gets more good reports than any other one, as far as honesty and competence. Don’t just take it to any shop at random.

I will repeat (sorry regulars who have read it before) my son’s tale. His wife’s old Ford one day refused to start. They towed it to a mechanic who told them the motor was shot and a used one would cost around $1500. I checked Cartalk mechanic files and there was a mechanic in Dansville who had many more pluses than anyone else. He had her car towed there, and they discovered the a/c pulley was locked and kept the starter from turning over. Since the car use was temporary, the mechanic removed that separate belt, and they drove it off.

So, with a better mechanic, you may find the problem is minor. Or, will know for sure if the engine is shot.