Trading gladiator in on new jeep. Should I disclose lifter tick issue

[JTinVA]

Trading my Jeep gladiator in on a new wrangler and it currently needs new rocker arms I’m assuming as it ticks when accelerating. Should I be up front or just let the dealership do its evaluation? Does anyone know how much they will take of the trade in value

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[ShadowsPapa]

Trading my Jeep gladiator in on a new wrangler and it currently needs new rocker arms I’m assuming as it ticks when accelerating. Should I be up front or just let the dealership do its evaluation? Does anyone know how much they will take of the trade in value

It may not need anything. You don't really know at this point. You may be assuming a normal tick is bad (and you haven't given much info to go by).

No one can even guess such a thing as what they'd take off - and frankly, since you do not KNOW that it needs rockers - they should tell by driving it. If I KNEW for a fact what it needed, I'd be honest, but not knowing, I don't want to prejudice anyone and just let them decide.
I always disclose things I KNOW to be a fact, but if I don't know or "it might be", I let it ride.

 

[ChrisNLA]

Trading my Jeep gladiator in on a new wrangler and it currently needs new rocker arms I’m assuming as it ticks when accelerating. Should I be up front or just let the dealership do its evaluation? Does anyone know how much they will take of the trade in value

You're hard of hearing and haven't noticed anything.

That's all the dealer needs to know.

If I am selling anything to a private buyer, I am very honest - often even revealing faults that the buyer may not have noticed, even if superficial / doesn't matter.

Car dealers? No. Especially not the way I've been treated by some of them.



After the deal is done what are they gonna do - drive to your house and eat you?

 

[NC_Overland]

Absolutely not. It’s the dealership’s responsibility. If they do a lazy trade appraisal that’s on them. This is coming from someone who’s appraised countless vehicles for years.

 

[Labswine]

Unless it's really audible, what they don't know don't hurt you...

 

[agoldxj]

From experience working at a dealer, the sales people just want to make a deal. So if it looks good they give you their best offer, then when it goes through the shop and is completely rusted out underneath or leaking everywhere they get upset since they are in too deep. Either that or if the damage/repairs are too much off to auction it goes. This was at a smaller dealer, I can only imagine how much worse it is at some of the larger volume dealerships. That all said just drive it in see what they’ll give you and walk away happy.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Absolutely not. It’s the dealership’s responsibility. If they do a lazy trade appraisal that’s on them. This is coming from someone who’s appraised countless vehicles for years.

If it's truly a problem, a pro will note it. I have a feeling most give a superficial look and don't know a head from a pan when they evaluate. I keep going back to the same place, same guy, so there's a difference, too. I want to be treated fairly next time. My father would put sawdust in the diff and trade it lol.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Unless it's really audible, what they don't know don't hurt you...

He can't even say it's really an issue, so why make something of what might or might not be. They screw up enough, they'll maybe hire better people to eval things.

 

[NC_Overland]

If it's truly a problem, a pro will note it. I have a feeling most give a superficial look and don't know a head from a pan when they evaluate. I keep going back to the same place, same guy, so there's a difference, too. I want to be treated fairly next time. My father would put sawdust in the diff and trade it lol.

I agree. If they skip steps or aren’t properly trained, that’s on them. And this is assuming there’s even a problem. So many people mistake noisy fuel injectors

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I agree. If they skip steps or aren’t properly trained, that’s on them. And this is assuming there’s even a problem. So many people mistake noisy fuel injectors

I figured we were on the same page, or at least in the same book............

 

[JonMN]

I have always traded my vehicles rather than set them outright. In some cases they do not even look at them first, and in two cases I drove them around the block. So I would not even mention it.

 

[DirkG]

Depending on the year and mileage, it may just go to auction and they'll do an assessment at that time. I traded in my 2020 (in 2023) with only 33K miles and it went to auction immediately. The dealer never touched it.

Mums the word.

 

[4-Low]

Did Jeep disclose to you that the new 0W20 oil spec was purely to save themselves money by reducing EPA fines, and that said oil spec would wipe out your valvetrain shortly out of warranty? No? Then F 'em. Trade it in and act like nothing happened.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Depending on the year and mileage, it may just go to auction and they'll do an assessment at that time. I traded in my 2020 (in 2023) with only 33K miles and it went to auction immediately. The dealer never touched it.

Mums the word.

Both of mine sold locally - certified pre-owned. They had the complete service history and know our vehicles. One WK2 we traded in a few years ago was sold the following week. We pulled in in the new one and watched as a couple loaded their stuff into the one we used to own and drove away. Dealer said it was an easy sale - clean and in perfect shape.
My last two JTs went as CPO Jeeps. One was sold a couple of weeks later and ended up in central Des Moines, just a few miles away.

 

[Figmo]

Car dealers? No. Especially not the way I've been treated by some of them.

Sounds to me more like you were treated badly by previous owners. Doing exactly what you advocate doing: aware of a problem but trade it in and remain silent knowing that whoever inherits your problem will just blame the dealer for selling them a lemon.

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