Bought second hand car yesterday- fault developed within 12 miles. HELP!!!

Hintza

LOOK slow down. For goodness sake, give them the chance to sort out the fault. From what you have said they are probably unlikely to have even know there was a fault. Stay calm and reasonable and with luck the dealer will be reasonable with you. If you start thumping the table threatening trading standards they will just do the minimum required.

I have a duff rear hub (leaking diff oil) on my car just now this was a new unit replaced after a recent accident and it is proving a nightmare to sort out (been back once already) but I am working with the guys to get it sorted out, not against them

david39

I'm not being critical, just curious, but what made you buy a car from a dealership that was 60 miles away?

Did you not forsee that if something went wrong under warranty then you would have such a problem as this?

Premier_2

As others (including the dealer) have said, you need to take the vehicle back to the dealer to allow him an opportunity to rectify the fault.

Call the dealer first and speak to him calmly discussing your worries over how long such a repair may take and whether, if appropriate, he can possibly help with a replacement vehicle in the meantime. He may not be able to help with a replacement vehicle, but no harm in asking.

If the only apparent fault is that the warning light is coming on intermittently, then it could be a simple repair that with careful co-ordination the repairer could fix within 1-2 hours. If in any doubt, then yes ensure you make alternative arrangements beforehand to return home without the vehicle.

The alternative is to arrange for the vehicle to be repaired yourself at your own convenience ... but you'll have to pay for that and the seller won't want any further involvement if you choose that option.

artbaron

It's a simple matter to reset a warning light but unless the underlying fault is addressed it will always come back on after a time - sometimes hours, sometimes weeks. The dealer must realise that this is what happened because the odds that it was a new fault 12 miles from the garage is next to nothing. Saying that the light wasn't on when you left is a pretty pathetic response. And, of course, it's not beyond the bounds of possibility that he reset it himself.

It's probably the emissions sensor. Unfortunately this could mean it's the sensor itself or that you need a new cat. It could mean a new oxygen sensor. It could be just a blip, of course, but the fact is comes on at a specific speed suggests not. However, even if it's your cat it might not mean you have to act immediately. I drove my old car for 3 years with the management light on intermittantly; that was due to a failing cat but it still passed its MOTs no problem. (When I sold that car I stressed to the buyer that the light would come on, even though it was intermittant and wasn't showing at the time of sale. I guess not all people are that honest)

The point of that, I guess, is when he's repaired it ask for proof that he has rectified the underlying fault. A quick reset will almost certainly NOT solve the problem, even though the light will be off for a while.

Premier_2

The warning light doesn't need resetting - it apparently goes on and off intermittently
(or comes on only when the vehicle is being driven above a certain speed)

Yes it could be a faulty sensor, it could be a failing cat, ... in fact it could be almost anything, including a poor electrical connection

If the seller wants to take the car to their local Nissan dealer, I'm sure they will attempt to rectify the underlying fault to stop it illuminating. Only a bodger would remove the bulb which would be the simplest method to keep the light out ... and the simplest to uncover at some later date

Sirbendy

I bought my Astra from a dealer 30 miles away from me (or thereabouts)..it was there, it was cheap. It had 2 fault lights on which he "sorted" (read: Cleared), and delivered it to me. 2 days later, the one light came back.

Emissions system warning. and the thermostat was sticking. I looked at the warranty - they're a joke. In the end I drove it with the warning light on and purchased a "fault code reader" from eBay and hooked it up, turned out to be a dodgy emissions valve. When it comes on, I clear it. It's non-critical, and TBQH I'm going to remove the thing anyway as Vauxhall have an official fix which does the same thing. I'm not paying £70+ for a fix when I can do my own.

I thought about returning it because of the thermostat, as it's a partial engine strip to get to it..in the end I opted to have a local garage replace it, along with the timing belt and water pump (which as it turned out was leaking). It'd have been more hassle to get the dealer to fix it, plus I wouldn't have had as good feedback.

That said, let your dealer look - there are so many sensors now and so much data flowing around the car in use that it could easily be something simple to sort. Don't panic, and don't give up on the car..:)

slummymummyof3

Inactive wrote: »

That doesn't make any difference I'm afraid, the dealer has offered to repair the vehicle, so you must allow him to carry out the repairs, or pay for repairs yourself.

Perhaps hire a car for a few days??

The point is, I shouldn't have to have hire a car for a few days - the car should have been of satisfactory quality. Why should I have to be out of pocket? I can't afford to go and hire a car. I owned the car for 10-15 minutes when the fault showed up.

I don't see why it should make any difference to the dealer if it is going to my local nissan dealer or his. At the moment, the car needs a diagnosis from a nissan dealer before any work can be done.

slummymummyof3

david39 wrote: »

I'm not being critical, just curious, but what made you buy a car from a dealership that was 60 miles away?

Did you not forsee that if something went wrong under warranty then you would have such a problem as this?

I was after a specific car in a certain price range. Hence being prepared to travel (within reason.) I did not expect to have a problem within 10-15 minutes of leaving the garage and they closed 5 minutes after I had left.

harveybobbles

Us dealers are only like a normal shop - we do close at the end of the day.

Do you work? Would you be nice and friendly if someone came back with a problem just as you were closing?

Anyway, on a more helpful note: The selling dealer has to make sure the car complies with the SOGA and that it is fit for the purpose it was designed to be.

We like to drive all of our cars at least 40-50 miles before they go on sale. At least half of them need work doing on them. Be it a bald tyre, or something more involved like a DMF etc.

You (the customer) equally have things to do with regards the SOGA - like give the selling dealer a few chances to put the car right before you take it further ie. Trading Standars or some online motoring forum lol.

One point worth noting is you CHOSE to go to that dealership, weather it was 5 miles or 105 miles away. They didn't force you to go there, so you should really (in the eyes of the law) be prepared to go back to the selling dealer for them to fix your car.

As for the remark about them getting rid of your old PX car within minutes, this is true. We have PX cars that sit for ages round the back, other stuff goes in a few minutes, specially if we have had the car underwritten by a dealer who deals in that type of car. They may have even dropped the car off on their way home, perhaps...?

Anyway, that's just a few words from someone who has been in the motor trade for 12 years lol.

harveybobbles

slummymummyof3 wrote: »

At the moment, the car needs a diagnosis from a nissan dealer before any work can be done.

Or someone that has the tools/machines.