Car Trouble

flyingscotno1

Wonder if I can get advice on my situation.

I found a used car I liked - wasn't nearby - was a wee bit away however went to there to the main franchise dealer and saw a car- year old, just under 7K miles and drove well. We looked over it and couldn't spot anything that jumped out at us-nice and clean- and the dealer pointed out, just been main dealer serviced with 2 years of warranty left on it.

We gathered our thoughts, got a couple of quid off the bank and bought it. Went back to pick it up after all the tax and insurance was sorted and drove it back home. No problems, car was running well, and everyone I met liked it and thought I got a nice car. That was until the first shower of rain when we found water coming into rear of the car- not a lot but enough to make things damp. Booked it in to get it sorted, but dealers were busy so no chance till later in week. As if that wasn't enough however- 3 days later the electrics packed up- the engine works but with no fuel gauge, speedo etc and a range of warning lights on the dash- it isn't really roadworthy- all within less than a week and less than 700 miles since I got it.

Contacted the dealer who sold it and they told me (naturally) that I had no recourse- I saw what I was buying and you got back home O.K- these are just small hickups- what a warranty is for, I should give them a chance to make right and take it to a closer franchise dealer and get it fixed. Not keen on it, but I stuck by the dealer appointment I had.

Learned today however that the dealer fixing the car (who was recommended to me) is struggling. I don't understand modern cars now- too much computer equipment but the electrical problem is causing them grief. They've looked at it and they believe the network system (?) is stuffed for lack of a better word. They cannot even get access to it (I assume for diagnostics) and need to keep it until middle next week just to diagnose it- never mind fix it. As for the water leak- tested it and couldn't find it. They know it is coming in but despite using their equipment couldn't do anything, with more work needed on it.

Not exactly chuffed at it all- if I had bought a 250K mile, 10 year old car, I'd have written it off to chance you take but not on a car barely run in! I like the car but I feel let-down and don't know if I could trust the car again after problems so soon. The problems seem to be fairly serious, well electrical at least- water is a niggily thing that can be a pain. What do users think my best step is now. Perhaps sale of goods act- problem being getting it the couple of hundred miles to supplying dealer? Any advice gratefully received!

harveybobbles

Is it an Audi...?

maninthestreet

harveybobbles wrote: »

Is it an Audi...?

I hope not, I've got one on order.

harveybobbles

Audi's are still having problems with dash pods.

As for the water ingress, it just needs a gentle hose putting around the back end to see where it's coming from. Could be something simple like a blocked sunroof drain.

anewman

Could the water leak be through the door ancillaries carrier? (Apparently this is a common issue with Skodas). Try a forum for your brand of car. They often know more about them than the clueless dealers :beer:

Inactive

Have you checked the car carefully for any signs of body repairs?, the leak could be the result of a poor repair.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

without knowing what car you have, it hard to say what could be causing the water ingress problem, as for the electrical problem if they cant access the ecu to diagnose the fault codes then its the ecu wich could be caused by the water ingress on an electrical wires or a short out and a curcuit tester would tell them if it was a wire prolem (sound familliar not a peugeot is it?) get them to check that all the door and window seals have been correctly fitted and no splits that could of been overlooked at the factory. hope all goes well.

if it is a pug and the dampness is on the passenger side foot well but they cant find a leak get them to check the o rings for the aircon under the dashboard 1 maybe pinched when fitted in factory and seeps gradualy.

Photo_Stylus

Hope your not the owner of the 58 reg ford focus i was behind yesterday, with the rear tail light 1/4 full of water. Was quite funny watching & wondering if the lights would all go out as the water sloshed around the unit.

Premier_2

flyingscotno1 wrote: »

...and the dealer pointed out, just been main dealer serviced with 2 years of warranty left on it.... Any advice gratefully received!

The supplying dealer is probably liable, but it sounds like it will be difficult to make them accept liability and they are so far away anyway, it would also be inconvenient to you as well as possibly costing you a small fortune in both time & money enforcing those rights.

However, the faults you mentioned I suspect would all be covered by the manufacturer's warranty. Take it to the nearest main dealer.

If that is who you have taken it to and they cannot resolve the issues, they should be contacting the manufacturer for assistance. Or you could try taking the car to the next nearest main dealer - hopefully they will be more competent.

flyingscotno1

Premier wrote: »

If that is who you have taken it to and they cannot resolve the issues, they should be contacting the manufacturer for assistance. Or you could try taking the car to the next nearest main dealer - hopefully they will be more competent.

It is in nearest main dealer at the moment and I am going in to speak to them about it. I don't believe they have been anything else than truthful and have honestly tried to find faults. I believe in fate, so perhaps we'll have to see how this one plays out. There are options open to me however, and whilst distance is an issue that won't be an excuse.

hartcjhart

Make and model pleeaasssee