Your rights when buying a car

Shezz

Hi

I brought my car 10 plate from a local Ford dealership, I am aware that I do have warranty on it, but I am having some serious doubts about it and wondered what my chances are of taking it back without losing any money.

I know now that there are some outstanding parking fines on the car, it's already been clamped once for it, (tho I had no proof and as it was late, as he was tired) they removed the clamp claiming the would contact me the next day for proof so they could take it off the system (they never), fair enough I now know this may happen again (he told me it would at the time), I'm ready for it so when it does I will sort it.

My main worry about it which I feel could either get me in trouble with the police, or cause a serious accident, is that there is an on going problem with it, the left indicator keeps failing, I have to travel some 20+ miles to work and you can guarantee the indicator will at some stage stop working maybe not today or tomorrow or next week but it will happen.

This has happened around 5 times now and can last the whole of that car journey and all that day (normally a sunday tut!), or just that car journey.

I have taken it back but they (and I understand this) have said that unless it's not working they cannot do anything about it, they need to see it not working to find the problem.

I drove it all the way home the other week during the dark without them, drove straight to fords went in ask for someone to go look at them and blow me down soon as they turned the car on the indicators started working, that was a couple of weeks ago, and they have continued to work but then they went on me again last night, but fords was shut.

I get a few choice words mouthed to me along with the finger sign:o when it does go, but i cant do nowt about it, if anyone knows the canvey roundabouts they will know why to (went while I was going around them)

I have witnesses that have seen the problems, so it's not just me, we have stoped the car when it's happening to check if the bulbs flashes (they dont) check fuses and bulbs (even tho we know it's not them as back and front dont work)

Then suddenly out of the blue they all work again


I really dont want the car now, but cant afford to lose on it, is there any advice someone can give me as I not sure of my rights

Thank you

Joe_Horner

Faulty indicator isn't likely to justify a refund, but it should be fairly straightforward for them to diagnose even if it's intermittent. Sadly, an awful lot of mechanics (including main dealer techs) really dislike - or don't really understand - electrical work but a decent auto electrician should be able to sort it for you.

Given that it IS a roadworthiness issue (although not as bad as you seem to feel given how many people never indicate anyway!) tell the dealer that either they fix it (with a written explanation of what they find) or you'll arrange for a specialist to do so and present them with the bill.

Then phone Ford UK customer services and let them know that you've had to make that ultimatum on a 2 year old car bought from one of their dealers

Shezz

Thanks Joe,

I've had the car go back twice now, for different reasons, then with the clamping, and now with this indicator lark, I'm just so dubious about getting in it, wondering what ever next,

Hintza

If nothing else get the relay changed and perhaps ave them look at the switch apart from that there really is nothing else (apart from a short).

If necessary go back to the garage an tell them to keep the car and sort it. If they can't take it to an auto-electrician and get him to sort it and bill the dealer (keep the bill sensible around £50 + parts)

Saying you don't want the car for a small fault like this is a tad over dramatic.

casseus

clamping is your problem, if your scared to hop in it because you fear they will find it and clamp it again, and demand payment its your fault, whats to say you get another car and find you and then clamp that car. if its a private parking frim thats done this then ignore it and move on if its the courts thats issued your car to be clamped untill you pay up then dont go getting yourself fines for parking where you shouldnt. simple.

as for the indicator youve been a pushover for the ford teckie's. they tell you go away we cant do nothing you go with your tail between your legs without putting up a fight and they get an easy day changing bulbs.
as above get it back to them give them the ultimatum, either you fix it or il have a specialist look over it and bill you for it, BTW ill be mentioning this to ford HQ to ensure that i get thios intemittant problem sorted out.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

the parking fines is an issue aside from your car its not a problem with your car but YOU.

indicator fault could be the stalk could be the ECU software could be a relay could be a pinched wire or loose bulb.

stop taking FORDS word that they cant do nothing untill it gone, stand your ground get it looked at and fixed.

the dealer will buy your car back what its currently worth NOW not when you bought it so yes you will lose money on it quite a large amount too depreciation plus mileage plus it has a fault and all round condition.

daveyjp

Video the problem and show it to the dealer.

agrinnall

Am I reading the OP in a different way to everyone else? My understanding of it is that parking fines had been racked up by the previous owner of the car before the OP bought it, and it's been clamped as they still think it belongs to the previous owner. That sounds like either the DVLA have not updated the registered keeper information yet, or that the dealer has not sent off the V5.