Bought a secondhand car 3 days ago...

auroan

To check the headgasket, they have to do one/or both of two things. A pressure test and or actually taking the head of (which is the 100% way to test). If they took the head off the timing belt would have been off and the head bolts need replacing as they are stretch bolts. Minimum is dropping the coolant and replacing it with new (which is probably why it looks cleaner). So I wouldn't be sure everything is ticky boo just yet.

Also lamda sensor (o2) is not a big job to change and is not "that" expensive either.

s_b

a sniff test of the header tank seems to have been done to ascertain h/g all ok by traders garage,you dont need to take the head off to do this
lambdas are dear about £140 but i wouldnt have thought he could clean it more likely swapped for another of the same type

auroan

s_b wrote: »

a sniff test of the header tank seems to have been done to ascertain h/g all ok by traders garage,you dont need to take the head off to do this
lambdas are dear about £140 but i wouldnt have thought he could clean it more likely swapped for another of the same type

Correct you don't need to do a head off for a sniff test. But thats not 100%. The only 100% way of knowing if the HG has gone is head off and acutally check.

Lamda sensor for a 1.6 is cheap

£66
http://www.autobits.co.uk/store/view_product.php?product=11246

<£50
http://www.gendan.co.uk/oxygen_lambda_sensors_Audi_A3_1.6i.html

Tilt

Can I just point out that as the car has been purchased from someone who is obviously a 'trader', the OP will have some protection under the SOGA. As someone has pointed out, the seller should be given the opportunity to inspect and rectify BEFORE the OP arranges to have any work carried out. SOGA states that a used car sold as driveable, should be free from any major defects for up to six months otherwise any such defects are assumed to be present at the point of sale.

As it stands at the moment, the OP could reject the car if the problem persists and demand a full refund. However, the chances of being able to acheive a full refund will reduce as time goes on.

The person who stated that 'if it drove away, there wasn't a defect at the point of sale' would do better doing some research into the SOGA... that's if he knows what it is.

motorguy

Gillyo wrote: »

As of today, the EML has not come on.

Does the EML still come on when you turn the ignition on, then go out?

izools

pgilc1 wrote: »

Does the EML still come on when you turn the ignition on, then go out?

Haha, I was thinking this myself! *Removes bulb* - "There you go, all fixed"

auroan

izools wrote: »

Haha, I was thinking this myself! *Removes bulb* - "There you go, all fixed"

Good point that. I've had two fixer uppers from auctions where the previous keepers have done that.... 1 x airbag light and one with both the airbag and eml light removed.

Gillyo_2

pgilc1 wrote: »

Does the EML still come on when you turn the ignition on, then go out?

It stayed off for a while but came on again. I had the car checked today by a friend (mechanic) who ran a test and it read as before, o2 emmission fault, we bought the part a couple days ago, should it need to be fitted. It was done today, the HG was also tested and all appears well. There was a knocking coming from underneath, this was only noticeable on uneven roads, apparently the bushes are perished, both need to be replaced. That's basically the findings, no leaks, the underneath looked clean, no rust or whatnot

Acc72

izools wrote: »

Haha, I was thinking this myself! *Removes bulb* - "There you go, all fixed"

My thoughts also - I remember the episode of Only Fools and Horses when Del Boy took the bulb out of the oil warning light !

It is not exactly clear what this person is ? - was the vehicle advertised as being sold by a trader (if not, then let Autotrader know).

He did seem to get irate at the mention of Trading Standards - maybe they have had dealings before ?

Also, I wonder if HMRC know that he is a dealer ? - they would surely want him to pay taxes on his profits ?

It sounds as though you have lost all faith in this person and the car and need to reject it for a refund.

He will obviously not want to do this, but just mention (also in a letter) that you will be contacting Trading Standards, HMRC, and also will commence legal action to recover your money.

Hopefully he will see it as more trouble than its worth and give you your money back.

Also, if he gets aggressive again the ring the Police. Apart from nipping his bullying in the bud, it will also help to stregnthen your argument if and when you go to Trading Standards etc.

Good luck and let us know what happens.

only_mee

The bulbs are SMD leds though iirc, not like the old ones where you could remove them or re-track them so they still went off