Bought a used car...read on!

Birdyboyuk

Hey everyone!

My first 'proper' post here, so hopefully it'll make sense!

I bought an 06 Vauxhall Zafira CDTi SRi at the beginning of May on Finance and also part exchanging my old car.
Before I picked up the car, it had a full service and MOT.
The car was also RAC inspected, but this would of been when they had the car.

The 1st month of owning the car, it was fine.
The 2nd month is when the trouble started.
A light on the dashboard appeared (picture of car with spanner) on my way to work one morning, but went off again after a few minutes. The same happened on the way home.
The next few days saw the same light appear, but got worse as the days went ahead.
At the end of the week, the light would stay on and I was due to travel to Cornwall on holiday the next day, so I called up the garage from where I bought the car from and explained what was happening. They advised me that the car only comes with a 1 month warranty. I was not aware of this, and I wasn't offered any extended!
The garage advised I take it a garage across the road which they use for their repairs.

I had been doing research online in the week as to what the problem may be, and the EGR valve was tops. I took car to the garage and they cleaned out the EGR valve for as they agreed, this is a common problem with the Zafra. This cost me £45 and no receipt given as it was just 'cleaning'.
Anyway, went home and dashboard light appeared again.
I assumed that as the valve had just been cleaned, it may not have registered properly, so proceeded on my way to Cornwall with family in tow...

Got about 50 miles into the journey and the car started hissing!
I had to pull over as unsure how safe it was!
Called breakdown services and the Air intake Intercooler pip (?) had ruptured. This was replaced, about 5 mins driving again it had popped off. Put back on and a pipe further up the engine came off.
It was decided that it would be best to tow me to the nearest garage.
Got to a garage and they agreed to take a look at the car and it appears to be the Diesel Particulate Filter that is blocked.
I was advised that this can cost around £750+ VAT to get replaced!

I have already spoken with Trading Standards and they have agreed that the garage I bought the car from is in breach of the Sales of Goods Act as the car it not fit for purpose and not of satisfactory quality. I would expect a 4 year old car to last longer than a month!
Also, on the service book, it states what oil is to be used and the garage who did the service put in a different one! Unsure if that would make a difference though...

I've taken my car to a diesel specialist for a diagnostics check and quote so I can put this in writing to the garage I bought from. (They did this for free for me!)

I am currently still in the process of getting a letter drafted to send to the garage.

Im just writing this post to see what other people opinions are.

Am I right to state the Sales Of Goods Act?
Has anyone else suffered a similar experience?
Do I stand a good chance of the garage repairing the vehicle or would they fight me all the way?

I'm now driving my mums car as mine is off the road until I send of this letter and await the response from the garage. I'll keep you posted!

Thanks for reading! :T

verityboo

Perhaps you would be better posting in the Motoring section of the forum

There is a lot of discussion about clogging DPF's . They will begin to clog if only used for short journeys. I do not know about Vauxhalls but most cars will give a warning if the filter is starting to clog. The user then has to drive at a minium speed for a set amount of time to allow a cleaning process to take place. If the cleaning process is not successfully done then the filter will clog completely. The procedure should be outlined in the manual

It might be a problem that you continued to drive the car when the warning light first appeared (although the light went out cars do not generally fix themselves), and if the warning light indicated that you should follow the DPF cleaning procedure. By not following the cleaning procedure you caused the filter to clog?

Judas

Its a 6 year old car which doesnt appear to have had the fault at the point of sale, I am afraid you may well have a fight on your hand. The SOGA doesnt mean cars have to be fault free indefinitely.

The likiehood of sucess I suspect is minimal as you will never be able to show you were sold a faulty car and at 6 years old I dont think much short of it being irrepairable would be covered under SOGA

verityboo

I feel that the problem is that the car was not sold with a fault. The DPF started to clog and the OP did not follow the manufacturers procedure to clean it. Surely the OP had a responsiblity when the warning light first appeared, to prevent the DPF clogging

Birdyboyuk

Its actually an 06 not 04, apologies. Surely a 4 year old car should not have a major mechanical fault after 1 month?
As stated, I drive 35+ miles a day, so not a short journey.
When the light first came on, it disappeared after a few minutes. Looking at the book doesn't really tell you much.

The garage I went to that said the DPF was blocked said that the cause can be short journeys or the wrong oil being put in.
The service book shows that 10 40 was put in when in fact the book itself says to use 05 30 or 05 40. Don't know if that can cause this problem?
With the SOGA, they garage I bought from will have to prove the fault as its within 6 months.

Thanks for your replies so far

verityboo

Birdyboyuk wrote: »

With the SOGA, they garage I bought from will have to prove the fault as its within 6 months.

But its not a fault?? If you google DPF problems you will find many owners of much newer cars which are within the manufacturers warranty period and they have still had to pay for expensive repairs.

Birdyboyuk

verityboo wrote: »

But its not a fault?? If you google DPF problems you will find many owners of much newer cars which are within the manufacturers warranty period and they have still had to pay for expensive repairs.

Its a fault to me.
The DPF is totally blocked meaning my car is off the road as it cannot be driven.
I would expect a 2nd hand car to last much longer than 1 month being 4 years old...

Antispam

Birdy links arent allowed in signature

verityboo

OP, I know you don't like my answers but you asked in your original post whether the garage might fight you, unfortunately I think they will

I would make sure that the person from Trading Standards who advised you was fully aware of what a DPF is, how it works and what responsibilties the driver has to prevent it becoming completely blocked. Otherwise their advice may be misleading

Birdyboyuk

Antispam wrote: »

Birdy links arent allowed in signature

Its not a clicky link, so I guess it should be ok. If not, Im sure I'll be made aware by the powers that be.

verityboo wrote: »

OP, I know you don't like my answers but you asked in your original post whether the garage might fight you, unfortunately I think they will

I would make sure that the person from Trading Standards who advised you was fully aware of what a DPF is, how it works and what responsibilties the driver has to prevent it becoming completely blocked. Otherwise their advice may be misleading

I know what you mean, but I guess im trying to be optimistic.

The DPF wasn't explained to me by the garage or even mentioned in the book. I didn't even know the car had a DPF! I guess this is my fault, but surely the car should have lasted a bit longer.

Car has done just over 60k miles.

Antispam

Unfortunately it isnt okay

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=3477034&postcount=26

Can you please remove it



SIGNATURE LINKS

The only links permitted in signatures are those of the MSE team, the Forum team, Board Guides and links to charity (ie they are on the Charities Commission Register of Charities). This includes un-activated links. If in doubt, contact [EMAIL="abuse@moneysavingexpert.com"]abuse@moneysavingexpert.com[/EMAIL]

Birdyboyuk wrote: »

Its not a clicky link, so I guess it should be ok. If not, Im sure I'll be made aware by the powers that be.

Car has done just over 60k miles.