git:20260731.4b5329a to git:20260922.09bd4b1

31 added, 153 removed. Audit A to A.

---

name: ppi-scheduler

- description: Use to book a pre-purchase mechanical inspection (PPI) before finalizing a used-car purchase, especially when juggling 2-4 final candidates. Triggers include "book PPI", "mobile inspector NJ", "pre-purchase inspection", "Lemon Protector", "YourMechanic", "Pep Boys mobile inspection", "提车前检车", and Spanish phrase "agendar inspeccion pre-compra antes de comprar el auto usado".

+ description: Plan and arrange an independent pre-purchase inspection, compare written findings and confirm booking terms. Use for "book pre-purchase inspection", "schedule PPI", "预约验车", or "inspeccion antes de comprar".

---

- # PPI Scheduler

- > **Caveat**: this skill is one author's playbook + 5-scenario stress test. Verify state fees / CPO terms / EV credits / dealer practices against current sources before quoting numbers to a dealer or making financial decisions. Not tax, legal, or financial advice.

- > **last_verified**: 2026-05-18 (Phase 3C sub-skill split from orchestrator)

- Narrow helper: book a mobile PPI on one or more final candidates before

- signing. Defers the full inspector directory + form-field gotchas to

- `../orchestrator/references/ppi_booking.md`.

- ## When To Use

- - Buyer has 1-4 used-car final candidates and wants mechanical sign-off

- - Buyer asks for a mobile inspector recommendation by region

- - Need PARALLEL booking strategy across 2-4 dealers same day

- - Need brand-specific PPI scope (Subaru CVT, Toyota hybrid, etc.)

- - Post-PPI walk vs proceed decision

- ## When NOT To Use

- - New car off the truck under factory bumper-to-bumper - PPI is rarely

- cost-justified; skip

- - CARFAX history review only (no mechanical) - delegate to `carfax-pdf-review`

- - General CPO benefits eligibility - delegate to `cpo-eligibility`

- ## Mobile PPI Services by Region

- |---|---|---|---|

- For Subaru / Toyota / Honda hybrid powertrains: prefer brand-specialist shop

- over generic mobile when one is within 15 miles. Specialists catch CVT

- seepage, head gasket weep, inverter coolant level that generic miss.

- ## Parallel Booking Strategy (2-4 Candidates Same Day)

- Per orchestrator gotcha P1: when there are 2-4 final candidates and the buyer

- plans to commit within 24-48 hours, stagger PPIs on a SINGLE day to compress

- the decision window.

- | Slot | Time | Note in booking form |

- |---|---|---|

- | 1 | 9:00 AM | "BOOKING 1 of N - tentative, finalizing by 11 AM" |

- | 2 | 10:30 AM | "BOOKING 2 of N - tentative, finalizing by 11 AM" |

- | 3 | 12:00 PM | "BOOKING 3 of N - tentative, finalizing by 11 AM" |

- | 4 | 1:30 PM | "BOOKING 4 of N - tentative, finalizing by 11 AM" |

- Cancel the unused slots no later than 24 h before the scheduled time to avoid

- the service's no-show fee (typically half the inspection cost).

- Inspector dispatch needs (collect BEFORE filling the form):

- - Dealer phone number (NOT cell - dealers route mobile inspectors via the

- service desk)

- - VIN (17 chars)

- - Dealer street address + ZIP

- - Service-bay confirmation (call dealer day before: "your service bay is

- expecting a Lemon Protector inspector at <time> for VIN <last 6>")

- ## Online Booking Form Quirks

- Per orchestrator gotcha P2: every mobile-PPI booking form has the same 5

- gotchas. Snapshot the page before each step.

- | Quirk | Symptom | Fix |

- |---|---|---|

- | Year dropdown caps at current/-1 year | 2026 vehicle on a form that maxes at 2025 | Pick 2025, put true year in NOTES |

- | Date input ISO format | "12/30/2026" rejected | Use YYYY-MM-DD: "2026-12-30" |

- | State default = service HQ state | Form pre-fills NJ when buyer is in NY | Manually pick buyer's state |

- | Phone TYPE default "Cell" | Dealer phone routed wrong | Change to "Work" for dealer number |

- | Multi-page form stale state | Form resets fields between pages | Re-snapshot after each `fill_form`, before Submit |

- ## Standard PPI Scope (50-pt mechanical)

- The default checklist every mobile PPI runs:

- - Cold start + idle vibration (engine NOT warmed up - critical for head

- gasket / lifter detection)

- - Test drive: 55-65 mph highway + city stop-and-go + parking-lot tight turns

- - Brake feel + ABS function under firm stop

- - Suspension under load (uneven road, speed bumps at low speed)

- - Transmission shift quality (CVT smoothness for Subaru, 10-speed downshift

- for Ford, DCT clutch for VW/Audi)

- - Exhaust leak check (visual + sound)

- - Underbody inspection: frame condition, rust if Northeast / Rust Belt

- - Battery health + alternator output

- - Air conditioning function (cold + heat + defrost)

- - All electronics: infotainment, ADAS calibration, power features

- ## Brand-Specific PPI Additions

- | Brand | Extra check |

- |---|---|

- | Subaru | CVT fluid color (should be red), head gasket weep, AWD coupling engagement |

- | Toyota Hybrid | Inverter coolant level, hybrid battery scan via Techstream |

- | Honda 1.5T | Oil dilution check (smell + level), valve adjustment due? |

- | Ford EcoBoost | Turbo wastegate function, 5.0L manifold/exhaust |

- | Mazda SkyActiv | Carbon buildup symptom check on intake valves |

- | Pickup (HD) | Tow hitch wear, transmission cooler clean, 5th wheel rail wear |

- | Pickup (light) | Bed wear, hitch wiring integrity, 4WD engagement |

- For pickup-specific scope see `../orchestrator/references/vertical_playbooks.md#part-1-pickup-truck-specifics` § 4.

- ## Post-PPI Walk-Decision Matrix

- | PPI finding | Action |

- |---|---|

- | Clean PPI + dealer-revealed CARFAX matches | PROCEED |

- | < $500 inherited cost (e.g. minor scuff, light bulb) | PROCEED; ask dealer to address pre-close |

- | $500-$2,000 inherited cost (e.g. brake pads + rotors, tires) | COUNTER: ask $1-2k OTD reduction |

- | > $2,000 OR structural (frame rust, head gasket weep, transmission slip) | WALK |

- | PPI report disagrees with CARFAX (undisclosed accident damage found) | WALK + report to state AG if egregious |

- Get the report in writing (PDF) - some dealers ask to see it and offer to

- "fix" issues for free. Politely decline unless they put the fix on the

- buyer's order in writing.

- ## Cross-References

+ # Pre-purchase Inspection

- - `../orchestrator/references/ppi_booking.md` - full inspector directory,

- state-by-state pricing, booking form screenshots

- - `../orchestrator/references/vertical_playbooks.md#part-1-pickup-truck-specifics` § 4 - pickup

- PPI scope additions

- - `../orchestrator/SKILL.md` gotcha V1 - CARFAX vs PPI evidence priority

- - `../orchestrator/SKILL.md` gotcha V2 - dealer "we already inspected" trick

- - `../orchestrator/SKILL.md` gotcha P1 - parallel booking strategy

- - `../orchestrator/SKILL.md` gotcha P2 - form field gotchas

+ Prepare a suitable inspection and reviewable booking plan. A request to research

+ shops or compare options does not authorize booking, payment or sharing contact

+ information. Use existing authorization when its scope covers the selected shop,

+ vehicle, time and cost.

- ## Output Contract

+ Follow [inspection booking](../orchestrator/references/ppi_booking.md). Resolve an

+ installed skill link to its source before following relative references.

- After every PPI scheduling pass, return to the operator:

+ ## Procedure

- ```

- PPI scheduling pass - <timestamp>

- Candidates: N

- Bookings made:

- 1. <service> at <time> for <year make model> @ <dealer>, $<fee>

- 2. <service> at <time> for ...

- Booking IDs (for cancel): [list]

- Cancel deadline (T-24h): <date time>

- Dealer service desk calls due: <date>

- Brand-specific scope added: <yes/no, which brand>

- ```

+ 1. Confirm the vehicle/VIN, seller's actual availability, inspection location,

+ buyer's timeline and any agreed deposit conditions. Ask whether a shop visit

+ or mobile inspection is permitted.

+ 2. Find current providers with relevant vehicle expertise. Ask what the inspection

+ includes, whether lift/diagnostic/battery testing is available, whether the shop

+ is independent of the seller, and whether it supplies a written report.

+ 3. Obtain actual availability, total price, travel fees, cancellation/refund terms

+ and report turnaround. Do not infer these from a static provider list.

+ 4. Present the chosen provider, contact, vehicle, time, price, scope and cancellation

+ deadline. Execute only within authorization. Multiple speculative bookings

+ need explicit scope and awareness of their cancellation fees.

+ 5. Preserve the provider's booking receipt. A prepared form or timeout is not a

+ confirmed appointment. Reconcile uncertain execution before retrying.

+ 6. Store real booking details and inspection reports in verified private DATA.

+ Share only the information necessary for the authorized appointment.

+ 7. Read the report, separate urgent safety/mechanical issues from maintenance and

+ cosmetic observations, and obtain written repair estimates where needed.

+ Present proceed/counter/walk options; the buyer decides.

- After PPI completes, return:

+ A PPI is a condition assessment, not a warranty or proof of perfect history.

+ Do not describe a vehicle as safe or defect-free based only on a test drive,

+ seller assurance or a history-report summary.

- ```

- PPI result pass - <timestamp>

- Vehicle: <year make model VIN>

- Verdict bucket: PROCEED / COUNTER $<n> / WALK

- Inherited cost estimate: $<n>

- Report PDF on disk: <path>

- ```

+ When installed through directory links, resolve this SKILL.md to its source directory before following relative file paths. Those paths refer to the repository layout.