Is there anything I can do about car sales firm?

hoyles10

I posted this in the consumer rights section but figured I might get a better response here.

I'm wondering if anyone could offer me some advice on if I can do anything about my situation and if so how to go about it.

I bought a used car (54 plate) from a local dealership back on 1st July. Since then I have had nothing but trouble with it.

It all started off that I was 2 weeks without the car after paying for it as they found some problems and wanted to get them fixed before handing it over.

Since then I have done less than 1500 miles in it and it's been back to the garage 4 times totaling 8 days without my car and now it's broken down again. This time it seems it's only the battery that is knackered but it's just cost £40 quid for a new one.

They gave me a years warranty on the car when I bought it but it seems that batteries aren't covered.

I'm really not happy with the car and am now afraid of going out anywhere of distance in case we get stranded somewhere and my wife really doesn't want to go anywhere on her own in it in case she get's stuck somewhere.

What I am wondering is could I look at getting my £4500 back as less than 3 months and 1500 miles the car is broken again and i'm not getting out of it what I bought it for.

I have spoken to the garage about maybe swapping it for another car of the same value but they don't seem to want to take that option (surprise surprise).

Where do I stand with this or is it just a case of putting it down to experience.

harveybobbles

What car is it?

The SOGA does say that the product should be fit for what it is intended for.

What is it that you've "had nothing but trouble with"? Descibe the problems etc...

hoyles10

It's a Peugeot 470 on a 54 plate.

First of all there was something wrong with the ECU unit which they said they have sorted out, then there was a strange noise coming from the engine when I got over 30mph so it went back in, then there was something wrong with the computers and it kept coming up with a warning about the tyre pressures which they said they sorted but I have found out today they just disconnected the sensor, then there was a problem which caused the fan to come on after driving short distances but the fan stayed on for anything between 10 minutes and 90 minutes which caused it to flatten the battery. Again they were supposed to have sorted this and all was fine until Sunday when I drove the 4 mile round trip into town and back, the fan came on for about 40 minutes and it was so loud that the neighbour came out to see what all the noise was, this again killed the battery. When it was all tested by the RAC the temp gage was reading 97 degrees which is why the fan had kicked in but when the RAC guy tested it with his equipment he was only getting a reading of 42.3 degrees.

I have been out again tonight and got home the fan came on again but this time for about 15 minutes. I have just been out to test it and it's started up ok this time. I had only driven 1.5 miles so surely this can't be right that the fan is coming on.

I am not technical in the slightest when it comes to cars so I apologise if what I have said is gobbledygook

harveybobbles

Well there is a common fault with Pug cooling fans. They stay on causing the battery to flatten.

The tyre sensors are a !!!!!! idea - but cars made after 2010 will have them as standard I think. anywya, we disconnect them on Pug and Renaukts cos they cause nothing but nightmares!

going back to the cooling fan, it'll be the temp sensor telling the fan the engine is hot. Hence why the RAc man got two readings.

go to the garage armed with some info and be calm with them.

Maybe contact Pug UK as i'm sure there was a recall on the cooling fan

A quick google found this........

http://www.caradvice.com.au/1482/peugeot-407-radiator-cooling-fan-recall/

hoyles10

Ahhh thanks so much for that, i'll contact Peg UK tomorrow to see what they say.

It's a real shame because I really like the car and it's saving me a fortune since I swapped from petrol to diesel.

The garage have been good with it all until I had a blazing row with the finance director today who ended up swearing at me and telling me how I was 'piddleing him off' (you know what I mean)... It was at this point I thought I would see where I stand with them.

harveybobbles

Even though it's outside of the original warranty, as it's a recall it'll will still be done FOC. Unless it's a Vauxhall...........................................

standupguy

How did you pay for the car?

If you used HP or credit card, for example, you can include the Finance providers under section 75 of the consumer credit act and this would greatly help your case?

hoyles10

I paid b my visa debit card, never thought to put it on my credit card and pay it straight off.