lord_galathon
Well-known member
I figured maybe we can post some surprises we found in used cars that we had no idea were there, good, or bad. I'll start.
I recently (February) picked up a 2004 Impreza Outback and although overall I'm pretty happy with the car, I've had a few surprises.
For example, the radio in it was an aftermarket Sony HU, pretty decent model but no blutooth so I've replaced it with another Sony HU that has blutooth, I wanted to keep the same brand so that I wouldn't have to rewire the plug (they're standard by brand most of the time) and when I removed the old HU, I discovered that the subwoofer output and subwoofer signal (on) wire were live and attached with aftermarket wiring.
Back then it was too cold to follow them and play "find the subwoofer" but last week-end I took out my inspection camera and followed the aftermarket wires.
They went under the carpet around the bottom of the door sills, and under the rear seat. I pulled the rear seat (2 bolts) and discovered a bunch of baby toys trapped under there, the inevitable loose change and an old Sanyo cell phone. Also I've discovered that although the seat is immaculate (probably replaced or professionally cleaned) the baby had vomited and there was some dried milk/formula/cereal/whatever under there too.
More worriedly, I discovered the cut and uninsulated power and ground wires for the amplified sub, note the dried vomit around there. Yes, it's vomit, I can attest by smell.
In case you're thinking, no way, they must have pulled the fuse, nope:
So I did the minimum, cleaned up the area with specialty products (bleach, lysol, shop vac) and insulated the wires for now. I'll add a subwoofer when I find a suitable one:
Now I can get rid of the air sponge, I knew something was off in the cockpit smell but I didn't expect what I found.
Not shown on the photos is the LP wire from the radio, half my job is made, all I need is a cheap sub amp (like 50~100Watts) and a low profile sub and enclosure to fit under the passenger's seat. I like this one.
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_777B8PT/Sound-Ordnance-B-8PT.html
Anyone else have surprises in their used cars?
I recently (February) picked up a 2004 Impreza Outback and although overall I'm pretty happy with the car, I've had a few surprises.
For example, the radio in it was an aftermarket Sony HU, pretty decent model but no blutooth so I've replaced it with another Sony HU that has blutooth, I wanted to keep the same brand so that I wouldn't have to rewire the plug (they're standard by brand most of the time) and when I removed the old HU, I discovered that the subwoofer output and subwoofer signal (on) wire were live and attached with aftermarket wiring.
Back then it was too cold to follow them and play "find the subwoofer" but last week-end I took out my inspection camera and followed the aftermarket wires.
They went under the carpet around the bottom of the door sills, and under the rear seat. I pulled the rear seat (2 bolts) and discovered a bunch of baby toys trapped under there, the inevitable loose change and an old Sanyo cell phone. Also I've discovered that although the seat is immaculate (probably replaced or professionally cleaned) the baby had vomited and there was some dried milk/formula/cereal/whatever under there too.
More worriedly, I discovered the cut and uninsulated power and ground wires for the amplified sub, note the dried vomit around there. Yes, it's vomit, I can attest by smell.
In case you're thinking, no way, they must have pulled the fuse, nope:
So I did the minimum, cleaned up the area with specialty products (bleach, lysol, shop vac) and insulated the wires for now. I'll add a subwoofer when I find a suitable one:
Now I can get rid of the air sponge, I knew something was off in the cockpit smell but I didn't expect what I found.
Not shown on the photos is the LP wire from the radio, half my job is made, all I need is a cheap sub amp (like 50~100Watts) and a low profile sub and enclosure to fit under the passenger's seat. I like this one.
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_777B8PT/Sound-Ordnance-B-8PT.html
Anyone else have surprises in their used cars?
