Help needed please

fairygirl06

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Hiya guys, im in need of some serious advice and guidance please.

My OH purchased a second hand Skoda Fabia back in November from a local skoda dealership. It is w-reg so about 7 years old but remarkably has only 18,000 miles on the clock with log book and service history complete. At first he was using it to practice in as a learner and when he passed his test he started using it for uni.

A couple of weeks later the battery went flat and this was not covered by the years waranty that came with the car. Two weeks ago we were driving home and the oil light came on, after checking the levels and taking it to the garage we were told that the head-gasket would need to be changed and this was going to cost us £87 for the coolent tube to be flushed out (or something along those lines). This was on the 15/1/2007. It took them two weeks for them to return the car which was on Tuesday of this week 30/1/2007. During this time we were not offered a courtesy car!

The following day we went to drive into uni and the car would not go into gear. Yet another phone call to the garage and they came and towed it away to have a look at it. We have been told today that it is going to need a new clutch which is going to cost around £480! Of course you can imagine the distress that this is causing us both being students.

Do any of you have any ideas as to our rights with the car as we seem to be being pushed around so much. Would this be a case of not being fit for its purpose?


Any suggestions would be gratefully recieved

Hintza

First of go to the garage and raise a stink and see what the propose.

I am not sure of the exact term of warranty etc but I would go and seek professional help Citizens advice or Trading Standards I think you have a Turkey.
One thing to bear in mind older cars with very low milegae can be very problematic so be careful in the future. This car has obviously been sitting around not doing much which is not good for cars.

I am sure there will be someone more savvy along shortly.

Good luck

Quinny_2

There is a small lesson to be learnt here,and that is to check the fluid levels weekly,which in turn could save any expensive bills later.

Anyhow.

Firstly the battery.This wouldn't be covered by any warranty,as a warranty doesn't cover batteries and other 'consumable' items.A warranty usually only covers mechanical parts,like engine internals,but get your warranty out,and see what it covers,if it's still valid.But depending on the length of time you have had the car,it may,just may,be covered for the clutch from the original dealer,so if you have had it less than a year,you may be able to speak to them about it,and see if they will cover it,but don't hold your breath,as most warranties are like insurance,where if they can get out of paying,they will.A clutch should,in theory,last longer than 18000 miles,unless the car has had some serious abuse. (My 406 is on it's original at 92000 miles.)

I'm at a loss as to why the head gasket needed changing.Was it losing water? Was there oil in the water,or water in the oil when you checked the levels? If any of the above were true,then both the oil and water would have been changed when they 'did' the headgasket,as they may both have been polluted.Check to see if there is a new oil filter on the car,and look to see if the water is fairly recent.Also look on the engine between the cylinder head and the main block,to see if you can see evidence of a new head gasket.

I know that students are a bit strapped for cash,due to their fees and suchlike,but do yourself a favour,and post on here,or on the HonestJohn technical page within the Back Room forums,and get some advice first,before you shell out and get ripped off.

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/home/index.htm

Finally.What area of the country do you live in? You may live close to someone who can give you a bit of mechanical advice as well.

Hope the above helps.

Ken.

reheat

I don't see why you should have had to pay anything towards the cost of replacing the head gasket. Presumably your 'warranty' is actually one of these insurance policies masquerading as a warranty, so they tend to have an awful lot of "wriggle out" clauses.

Suggest you take a look at Mr Clutch. I had my Mondeo's done there about half the price of main dealer, and they assured me it was good components - told me the maker though cannot remember now. Might be worth arguing to the dealer that as it's gone so quickly, even though it is a consumable maybe you split the cost 50/50 - long shot but don't ask don't get . Good luck.

Quinny_2

The only thing that they could see against the head gasket,is the failure to keep an eye on the water level,as a head gasket doesn't just go as quick as a flash.There is usually the tell tale sign of water loss,but the trouble is,a lot of people rely on their temp gauge to tell when something is amiss,which is something not to do.

As an HGV driver,I check fluid levels daily,as I drive different trucks daily,so I guess I've got into the habit of checking my car in the same way,albeit weekly.

I definitely agree though,to tackle the place where you got the car from,but before that,and providing it's still under a year old,scrutinise the warranty with a fine tooth comb,and then if you can nail the original dealer for the cost,then do so.

Ken.

reheat

FairyGirl, was the coolant level OK? Or did the dealer say it had been allowed to get to low? And in any case, if the head gasket was blowing then the water is leaking through it anyway - chicken and egg ... low coolant level because of the fault that should be covered by the warranty, not necessarily caused by it!

And the clutch. Do either of you give the clutch a hard time - sit on a hill slipping the clutch? ... pulling away hard slipping the clutch? If not then you've a stronger argument to put to the dealer for sharing the cost.

Quinny_2

Agreed.

And also,a head gasket should last more than 18000 miles,so I suspect something is not right.

I get the feeling that all is not right with this car,because both problems should,in theory not rear their heads until a lot more miles are under the belt.I kinda think that this car has had some serious neglect,despite what the service history says.

I would like to know the outcome of this.

Ken.

reheat

Was it HPI checked? Are you sure the mileage is pukka?

peterg1965

I disagree about the battery, the Sale of Goods act says that goods, in this case the car, should be in saleable condition and fit for the purpose it was/is intended. This also applies to cars which are so called 'sold as seen' of which there is no such term in consumer law. If the battery went flat after two weeks it was not fit for purpose. Tell the dealer this, if it is a main dealer he has (maybe) a reputation to uphold. They are spinning you a line here and fobbing you off. If you have no joy with the dealer go to trading standards and seek advice, be prepared to reject the car, although it may be too late to do this now. The next step is he small claims court, you can do it all online and submit your claim, I bet you win and that it will not even make it to court.

Good luck.

saintjanet

peterg1965 wrote:

I disagree about the battery, the Sale of Goods act says that goods, in this case the car, should be in saleable condition and fit for the purpose it was/is intended. This also applies to cars which are so called 'sold as seen' of which there is no such term in consumer law. If the battery went flat after two weeks it was not fit for purpose. Tell the dealer this, if it is a main dealer he has (maybe) a reputation to uphold. They are spinning you a line here and fobbing you off. If you have no joy with the dealer go to trading standards and seek advice, be prepared to reject the car, although it may be too late to do this now. The next step is he small claims court, you can do it all online and submit your claim, I bet you win and that it will not even make it to court.

Good luck.

A battery,like a light bulb can go anytime and is regarded as a consumble item and will not be covered by the warranty.

I would expect a reputable garage to do something for me but thats another story.As far as fit for purpose is concerned ,it was ,when the car was bought,i am not saying this is fair just that its the way things are.

Nothing to stop you making a call to trading standards though ,if you feel that you have been misled about the vehicles general condition and the many problems you have had.

beemerman21

speak to your local trading standards office they may well get involved on your behalf once the garage know you have enlisted theire help they may change their tune and be willing to rectfy the problems through the warranty or on a good will basis to stop any bad publicity you could also involve the motoring dept of your local paper best of luck