Non-running plant: describe the fault without diagnosing it
- Reading time
- 3 minutes
- Last reviewed
On this page
Non-running plant can be described honestly without the seller diagnosing it. State what was observed, when it was last known to operate, which competent findings exist and what remains uncertain.
Avoid “just needs a battery”, “easy fix” or “probably a sensor” unless an appropriate assessment supports the claim. Those phrases can turn a modest observation into a promise about cost and repairability.
The first useful document is a fault disclosure, not a guessed repair bill.
Separate four kinds of information
Owner observation: what a named person actually saw or heard, with a date. Examples include a display warning, a failure to start or a reported loss of a function.
Historic operation: when the machine last performed a stated task, according to a retained record or identified witness. This is history, not proof of its present condition.
Specialist finding: a diagnosis or assessment from a competent repairer, with the report date and scope.
Unknown: anything that has not been established, including the repair required, its cost or the condition of unassessed systems.
A fault code belongs with the observation until someone competent interprets it for the exact machine. Do not search for a similar code and present the result as the diagnosis.
Rewrite the sale statement
An unsupported description might read:
Cheap excavator. Just needs a starter. Was working fine. Buyer can drive it onto a trailer.
A more precise illustrative disclosure would be:
Engine did not start during the recorded attempt on the stated date. The operator reported the displayed warning shown in photograph 4. No current diagnosis or repair quotation is available. Last recorded working use is identified in the attached job record. Collection must be planned as non-running unless a competent assessment establishes otherwise.
This example does not imply that every non-starting machine is safe to attempt to start. It shows how to describe evidence already held.
If an engineer later supplies a diagnosis, add it separately: who assessed the machine, when, what they concluded and any limitations. Do not remove the earlier history.
Build the supporting file
| Record | Why it belongs in the disclosure |
|---|---|
| Machine identity | Ensures the fault and reports concern the offered plant |
| Dated observations | Shows what is known about the current problem |
| Earlier work history | Provides context without claiming present readiness |
| Repair reports and quotes | Identifies confirmed work or proposed investigation |
| Missing components | Defines what a buyer will receive |
| Movement limitations | Helps competent contractors plan collection |
Use the identity reconciliation guide if the report and machine references differ. The ex-hire timeline helps connect earlier faults and repairs without suggesting that every old issue remains unresolved.
If the display is readable, retain its label and date using the hours worksheet. A low counter reading does not establish that the present fault is minor.
Agree the sale basis with appropriate advice
HSE's second-hand equipment guidance for Great Britain explains that “sold as seen” cannot remove relevant supplier responsibilities. It discusses specific sale situations, but a casual disclaimer is not a substitute for establishing the appropriate basis.
Give the auctioneer the known defects and seek competent technical or legal advice where required. Do not present equipment intended for repair or parts as ready for work, and do not assume that merely calling it “spares” resolves every issue.
The plant collection brief should reflect the actual running and movement status. Contractors need to plan transport around those facts; the buyer's willingness to collect does not make an improvised move appropriate.
Send UK Auction Group the disclosure and available reports before discussing the catalogue. An honest account of uncertainty helps define the offer and leaves buyers able to assess the evidence without being persuaded by an unverified easy-repair story.
Return to the construction and plant hub.
Sources
This guide gives general information. Equipment-specific, legal, tax and safety decisions may need a qualified adviser or competent specialist. The guides do not promise sale prices, fees or results.