What Did You Do To Your 3rd Gen Today?

[theesotericone]

and that (get this) the lien sale must be redone, complete with public notice, bidding, and all that jazz. She said I should try to get my money back and she was really sorry.

Did DMV give you the info you need to start another lien sale? They should be able to disclose registered owner, legal owner, and interested parties from any records they have.

Give the dealer time to figure this out but I'd be looking into placing a lien on the vehicle yourself for the time/money you have already invested if things don't go smoothly with DMV and the dealer.

Either way man, I'm really sorry you have to go through this crap. If you want just start a thread when your ready. I'm betting some folks on here have some solid civil law backgrounds.

 

[4Runner4Leon]

Did DMV give you the info you need to start another lien sale? They should be able to disclose registered owner, legal owner, and interested parties from any records they have.

Give the dealer time to figure this out but I'd be looking into placing a lien on the vehicle yourself for the time/money you have already invested if things don't go smoothly with DMV and the dealer.

Either way man, I'm really sorry you have to go through this crap. If you want just start a thread when your ready. I'm betting some folks on here have some solid civil law backgrounds.

Thanks buddy, the support definitely helps! I really do hope the whole thing resolves itself, but the engineer in me has to worry .

What you said is exactly my plan - wait a week and see if there is any progress. If not, start collecting some facts - who has the title, whose name is it in, what exactly was wrong with the lien sale (sounds like nothing, other than the form not being filed within a required 30 days), do they really have to do another lien sale to correct a paperwork error.

And I guess in the worst case scenario, start considering my legal options, including ones you mentioned. And you're right, posting here can't hurt, you never know if a fellow 4Runner aficionado may be a lawyer or have a lawyer friend (my sister is a lawyer but she said she hates contract law, so that's the end of that .)

BTW, on a tangent, we were going to go to Bishop this weekend to play in the snow (my wife has some kind of a magnetic draw to snow, and I made the mistake of showing her your thread about your recent snow adventures), but decided to postpone, so the drink I owe you will have to wait .

 

[LittleCaesar]

So when you bought the 4runner the dealer didn't give you a title with the sale? That is fraud.

You need to figure out who last holds the title, and I would imagine CA like SC can do that through property taxes. From there, follow the trail.

If the title is in the air, or MIA, then the state has procedure in which to form a new title, but the period contested is unique to each state.

Give the guy 48 hours, then tell your sis she needs to help you out to find someone who is lucid in state contract law and procedure.

 

[4Runner4Leon]

So when you bought the 4runner the dealer didn't give you a title with the sale? That is fraud.

You need to figure out who last holds the title, and I would imagine CA like SC can do that through property taxes. From there, follow the trail.

If the title is in the air, or MIA, then the state has procedure in which to form a new title, but the period contested is unique to each state.

Give the guy 48 hours, then tell your sis she needs to help you out to find someone who is lucid in state contract law and procedure.

I've never received the title in the past when buying from a (used or new) car dealer. I only got them from private parties. The dealers always took care of the paperwork, which is why I didn't question it in this case.

Again, as I understand the dealer, there is some screwup in the paperwork and "it will all work out". So I'll give him a week and check back. But yes, I'll obviously be more demanding in understanding where things are, rather than just "it'll be resolved in a month".

Part of me thinks "DMV can't possibly demand that the truck be resold at another lien sale just because some piece of paperwork got screwed up", but another part of me says "this is DMV".

It's just weird that I find myself paralyzed while I wait, with all these planned/unfinished projects suddenly on hold (if I believe DMV's worst case scenario, who wants to put any more $$ into this?).

My biggest fear at this point is that the dealer comes back and says "oh yeah, sorry, there was a mistake in the sale, please bring it back and I'll give you your money back". That's when it's going to get very ugly.

 

[4Runner4Leon]

Your predicament has inspired me to add a new question to my used vehicle pre purchase questionnaire. I have never honestly thought about asking if a vehicle had a lien on it. I sure hope you get you money back, what a mess.

Agreed, but in some of my research I found examples of dealers selling vehicles with unknown/hidden liens, i.e. even they didn't know about the liens. Another great reason to avoid used car dealers, and stick with simple private parties, who have a clean title in hand, that they sign as you hand over the cash.

 

[96 ToyRunner]

Yesterday ( march 14) I walked out on a cold morning to crank up the 4Runner and nothing it was dead so I pulled out my 6 year old battery and took it to interstate battery and got it tested and it was dead no good at all so bought a new one and installed it and now the 4Runner is happy so it was a good day ...changed at 321,692 miles

 

[vanzilla]

New tint all around. Installed new head unit, subwoofer, backup camera, and ARB wiring loom for fridge.

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[HappyHooligan]

New tint all around. Installed new head unit, subwoofer, backup camera, and ARB wiring loom for fridge.

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what head unit did you go with? How difficult was the backup camera?

 

[Wedgy]

Agreed, but in some of my research I found examples of dealers selling vehicles with unknown/hidden liens, i.e. even they didn't know about the liens. Another great reason to avoid used car dealers, and stick with simple private parties, who have a clean title in hand, that they sign as you hand over the cash.

I recently bought mine in a lien sale from a towing yard for $1,500. A 1998 with 163k, has bumps and bruises, the owner got a DUI then popped again with no license. Automatic 30 day impound and he has no license for 2 years so he told the tow yard they can have it. Anyway, they mail out certified letters to any party who may have a vested interest, total BS for the most part. I will post a picture of this list but like I said it BS. Nobody is coming here to CA for the East coast or Texas for this POS '98 4runner. Your dealer will still have this list and all you need to do is send the letters again or hire a company to do it. It's not expensive, just tedious and the dealer can re-do it.
It's totally worth it.
Mine was dirty as hell, the PO was an alcoholic who spilled chocolate shakes everywhere including down the front AC vents(inside), 20 year old pack of Camel non filters stuffed behind the dash(new and unopened), gambling tickets from the horse track, and plenty of other gems......
But....he did maintain the truck; Jiffy lube sticker was 900 miles below the next oil change, new dealer calipers and rotors, new alternator, new battery, etc. Well worth the price, but I have had to deal with the DMV directly, that totally blows.

"Seems like a race to the bottom" totally nailed it !

 

[4Runner4Leon]

I recently bought mine in a lien sale from a towing yard for $1,500. A 1998 with 163k, has bumps and bruises, the owner got a DUI the popped again with no license. Automatic 30 day impound and he has no license for 2 years so he told the tow yard they can have it. Anyway, they mail out certified letters to any party who may have a vested interest, total BS for the most part. I will post a picture of this list but like I said it BS. Nobody is coming here to CA for the East coast or Texas for this POS '98 4runner. Your dealer will still have this list and all you need to do is send the letters again or hire a company to do it. It's not expensive, just tedious and the dealer can re-do it.
It's totally worth it.
Mine was dirty as hell, the PO was an alcoholic who spilled chocolate shakes everywhere including down the front AC vents(inside), 20 year old pack of Camel non filters stuffed behind the dash(new and unopened), gambling tickets from the horse track, and plenty of other gems......
But....he did maintain the truck; Jiffy lube sticker was 900 miles below the next oil change, new dealer calipers and rotors, new alternator, new battery, etc. Well worth the price, but I have had to deal with the DMV directly, that totally blows.

"Seems like a race to the bottom" totally nailed it !

Thanks, this is interesting and helpful, even though I'm still trying to keep my head buried in the sand and hope that the dealer straightens it all out and I won't have to learn all about the world of lien sales (I'm afraid of what lurks there ).

I guess failing that approach, I will have to start learning about the exact issue and reason for the lien sale (again, it's apparently somehow related to his divorce from his wife who was the registered owner under their corporation (oy), but I don't have the details). And then figure out what one would do with the truck in this case - have another lien sale like DMV said, or just send out some paperwork like you're saying, etc. Like I said, I don't want to go there, but if and when I have to, I will make it my next obsession and will definitely start a thread here to try to get ideas/help.

 

[meachh]

Your predicament has inspired me to add a new question to my used vehicle pre purchase questionnaire. I have never honestly thought about asking if a vehicle had a lien on it. I sure hope you get you money back, what a mess.

Might I ask what your other questions for a used car seller are? I'm in the market to get a 3rd gen and it'll be my first time buying a used truck, any help would be appreciated!

 

[albertschmitz]

Agreed, but in some of my research I found examples of dealers selling vehicles with unknown/hidden liens, i.e. even they didn't know about the liens. Another great reason to avoid used car dealers, and stick with simple private parties, who have a clean title in hand, that they sign as you hand over the cash.

Dealerships cannot sell a vehicle with a outstanding lean on it, they have to clear the title to resell any vehicle.

 

[ZionXIX]

Might I ask what your other questions for a used car seller are? I'm in the market to get a 3rd gen and it'll be my first time buying a used truck, any help would be appreciated!

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/82033-3rd-gen-4runner-buyers-guide.html

The Buyers guide knows all. My biggest things are service history, if they do all that them selves then i would want to see purchase receipts for things like oil and what not. Check the frame for rust, hit with a hammer and screw driver on every square inch you can reach. If they dont like that then it isnt worth your time to buy a truck with a dissolving frame. When was the last radiator/timing belt/LBJ changed? If the radiator plastic is brown then its old and needs replacing. Anyway the buyers guide thread has all that info.

 

[octanejunkie]

Tundra wheels and 265/70-17 E-rated Grabbers

Gonna need spacers up front

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[habanero]

Wrote the date on a new air filter and replaced the old.

Replaced the a/c condenser and dryer which was surprisingly easy.

 

[octanejunkie]

Wrote the date on a new air filter and replaced the old.

Replaced the a/c condenser and dryer which was surprisingly easy.

I'm assuming to need to do the condenser and dryer at some point too, eventually. Did you use new parts?

Also, for grins and giggles, how often do you replace your air filter?

 

[octanejunkie]

I did mine recently. I also replaced the bushings on the links underneath that attaches shifter to trans. After that shifter was tight like new.

PN on shifter to trans bushings?

 

[octanejunkie]

Isn't UBJ greasable or na?

Nope, there are no greasable ball joints on this truck, lol

 

[4Runner4Leon]

Dealerships cannot sell a vehicle with a outstanding lean on it, they have to clear the title to resell any vehicle.

Well, let's be clear. Anyone can sell anything to anyone if both parties agree. The only question is was the transaction legitimate and will it be honored by the DMV. In my case the answer so far appears to be no.

Not because there was/is a lien on the truck (there isn't, and I have several vehicle reports like Carfax stating that the title is clear and there are no liens), but because there was an error in filing some paperwork which makes a previous lien sale null and void. So while sale was legitimate, I can't register the vehicle, which makes it somewhat less than useful to me (great lawn ornament, I guess).

What I don't understand so far is what needs to happen to fix all this.

I decided not to wait till Monday by just sitting around, and will call DMV today and see if they can walk me through some more details and what steps may need to be taken, other than "take it back and demand your money back". Oh the joy.

 

[habanero]

I'm assuming to need to do the condenser and dryer at some point too, eventually. Did you use new parts?

Also, for grins and giggles, how often do you replace your air filter?

I used to have a True Flow filter so just cleaned and lightly oiled until it got too old and degraded. Since 7/16 I've had a paper filter...which I just changed(!). Checked every gas fill-up along with fluids, occasionally used the air gun on it. It depends on conditions, but it was in there about a year longer than I'd usually go. Forgot I wrote the date on it, this time I wrote it on top!

I r/r'd the condenser because the fins are degraded to the point that they're falling out. Yep, new parts, condenser, dryer because the system gets cracked open, 4 rubber isolator/mount bushings because old ones are 22 and have hardened a bit, new a/c o-rings.
I had a local shop suck out the refrigerant and they're going to put it back in today (costs the same). I'll also have them add oil as needed.
Small write-up in the build thread starting post 3467, but it was very easy.
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f200/habaneros-1996-4runner-build-up-thread-201751/index174.html