Alternator stopped working 2 months after buying car

duk3nuk3m

I bought a 53 reg Seat Ibiza from a small trade seller about 2 months ago. No problems with it until this week when the alternator stopped working. The AA recovered my car to the nearest garage, where the alternator was replaced.

My question is, does the person I bought the car from have any responsibility to reimburse me or at least help toward the cost of the new alternator?

Notmyrealname

No they don't. The car is 9 years old and things will fail.

colino

Sorry, but as it has been working fine for you for the past couple of months, it's no fault of the trader and down to wear and tear.

hartcjhart

although I agree with the other 2 posters,it could be worth a try asking him to contribute towards it,

I dont think he will but you dont know unless you try,he may just want to keep a punter happy

pendulum

The case law I read made it quite clear that a buyer of a second hand car should expect things to go wrong; and an alternator is a classic component that doesn't last forever.

Even if the trader was responsible, you did the wrong thing by getting it towed to the nearest garage and having it replaced, as in doing so you denied the trader his right to repair or replace the component himself.

Anything you get from the trader will be goodwill, so be polite.

gord115

How much did the alternator cost you?

duk3nuk3m

Thanks to everyone for their replies.

I understand that I should have given the seller the chance to fix it, but I'll put that down to naivity as this is my 1st car and was unsure what to do. Lesson learned for the future!

The garage that replaced the alternator charged me £244.56 fitted inc. VAT. Is this a bit steep?

s_b

just passin through but couldnt resist this one

you were overcharged:D

coinxoperated

How much :eek:

Totally ripped off!!! I brought my own alternator for the Peugeot 206 I had for the cost of:

£20!!!! My dad fitted it, but the garage would of done it for £20 - max cost should of been £100 and that would of been extortionate!!! It ain't the garage you brought it off it's the garage who 'fixed' it uou should have problem with!

mikey72

Alternator for mine is £214 from a dealer, + fitting.

duk3nuk3m

The receipt said:

£128.80 - alternator
£75.00 - labour
£40.76 - VAT

I thought £128.80 for a new Bosch alternator was reasonable?