Vauxhall Astra Gearbox - OUCH!!

mtm990553

Hi,

I need a bit of help/advice........

I purchased a 2006 Reg Vauxhall Astra (1.3 CDTi) from an Arnold Clark dealer just over a year ago Jan 2010 and have experienced two major problems. The first problem was the alternator packed in exactly 7 weeks after I purchased the car - a major problem with a quote of +£400 to repair. After some frustrating dialogue the dealer and Vauxhall agreed to split the cost and it ended up costing me nothing (as I had expected considering such a major problem in such a short space of time). End result was fine by me.

However, yesterday my car kept jumping out of 6th gear and then started jumping out of 5th gear. In 1st gear it makes all sorts of whining noises. I took it to Arnold Clark who advised it would cost £279 to strip down the gearbox to identify the problem and then the cost of the repair on top - could be £500-£800 quid minimum. Alternatively they suggest we just forget about the existing gearbox and try source a reconditioned gearbox and they would quote me a price including including it being fitted. I just had a call with a price of £1700 (+£1100 for the gearbox and the £600 odd for labour). I called an alternative garage who came back to me with a similar quote.

I will try a friend of a friend who is a qualified mechanic as he has offered to take apart the gearbox to see if he could fix the problem and quote me from there.

Do I have any rights considering the gravity of this issue, the car cost me £6000. It is out of warranty but that does not mean this part should have packed in after 61000 miles. I think it would be unreasonable to just accept this. Should I press the dealer on this or contact Vauxhall???

Is the onus on me to prove this part should have lasted longer??

Any help or advice please??.

natlol

Your prices/quotes seem way out. I had an automatic gearbox fully rebuilt with a 1 year unlimited mileage guarantee for £1100. It would have been around 400+fitting if I had gone the second hand route.

I am guessing it is a manual? could be something daft like linkages. Even so, sourcing a second hand gearbox from a breakers will be your best bet if it is needed.

I would have thought at 61,000 miles and 5 years old it will be difficult to get Vauxhall or Arnold Clark to take any responsibility. Going after Arnold Clark will probably be your best bet especially as it has lasted little over 12 months.

Hammyman

YOU'VE BEEN ROBBED. I only paid £200 for an alternator supplied and fitted by the main dealer.

As for the gearbox, £1100 isn't far off what it'd cost for a new engine, let alone being too much for a new gearbox. One from a scrappies should cost you a couple of hundred quid tops.

As for the lasting 61,000 miles - did you ever have the car serviced and was it a proper full one that checks the gearbox oil level or a cheap one thats basically nothing more than oil and filters? Gearboxes failing like yours tend to have failed because they have no oil in them and that isn't covered under warranty.