I went to check a toyota camry 2011 from a private party. The mileage is 125k, automatic. The car drives good. But the seller was warning me never to leave the key in the car, as he found that if he leaves the key on, then within 30 minutes it drains the battery and i need to jump start that.
The other issue i saw was some scratches in windshield, which he mentioned should be an easy fix and insurance will do it for free, which i am not sure, which i am doubtful. It looks like small stones hit and he says it happens often in highway.
He also mentioned there was a leak in the power steering fluid and he got it fixed with his mechanic.
I called a local mechanic to do an inspection and he said they do only the visual inspection, along with the scanner reading the code. When i told him about the battery drain problem he said that is a separate inspection and it could be costing more and finally he adviced if the seller tells that the battery drains if key is left 30 minutes, it is better not to buy the car as we might not know what other problems could be there.
What is the advice from the group? should i get that checked and is it possible to identify these issues if a mechnaic checks it or should i look for another vehicle altogether?
Electrical problems can be extremely difficult to trace, costing $$$$ to find and fix. In this case it seems like a faulty ignition switch is likely but it could be much worse than that - a flat battery in 30 minutes is a pretty heavy drain. Also the windshield would probably need to be replaced for it to be right. I'd look for something else.
I agree. Electrical problems are a huge red flag. Find another vehicle.
Agree with everyone else here; this car is not worth it.
