Overview:
We recently purchased via private sale a second hand 8 seater Nissan Elgrand for use by our youth project. We heavily rely on transport to allow young people to access our services and activities, and us such sold our 6 seater van in order to purchase this 8 seater. The seller was from Auchterarder but met us in Crieff.
On collecting the van, we immediately had issues with starting it, however managed to get it back from Crieff to Aberfeldy. We weren't able to get it started again and so asked a local mechanic to have a look at it.
Mechanic's Assessment:
An initial inspection confirmed it was either a faulty/blown head gasket or crack in the engine. According to the mechanic "in my professional opinion this could not have been caused by the journey between Auchterarder and Aberfeldy. Thus, leading me to believe the fault must have pre-existed and has been sold in ill faith." He also said it appeared that work had been done to the vehicle to make it passable for sale.
After the removal and disassembly of the engine, it was discovered that there had been a previous attempt to replace the head gasket, and the water jackets had been blocked with an additive k-seal or equivalent. Recommended repairs include replacement engine, radiator and steering rack.
What Now?:
We are aiming to crowdfund £5000 towards the repair costs. We have tried to get in contact with the seller multiple times but have had no response. Social media chats have also been deleted. The police are not able to follow it up as it was a private sale.
We would be so grateful if you are able to donate to allow us to get the necessary repairs. Having a form of transport is vital to the continued running of the youth project, so by supporting this crowdfunder, you will be helping us continue to engage, support and empower local young people. Thank you.