Car a write off - Garage at fault

Silk

The "likely" scenario will have been the wiring loom from the car passing through to the tailgate.
Wiring becomes brittle and constant opening of tailgate over the years broken the number plate light wire.

Repair would "probably" have been stripping the wires back that pass through the gaiter and rejoining with a new section.

As other wires in that section would include central locking, rear wipers etc it would be possible that the loom shorted in that section hence your other failures.

My advice would be to get an independant spark to examine the repair and do a report which you can use later to negotiate costs if he finds the repair was at fault

fivetide

Well there shouldn't be five or six wires to the rear numberplate light either I guess.

As others have said though, I'd ask them for their insurance details and let the legal beagles fight it out.

Pb76

Should I contact my insurance company then?am I fully covered for this sort of problem?

Thanks for your help

Silk

Pb76 wrote: »

Should I contact my insurance company then?am I fully covered for this sort of problem?

Thanks for your help

IMO the insurance is there for accidental damage etc rather than faults on a which lead to damage. No harm in asking them though.

You may get some help with a claim against the garage if you have legal cover and the policy covers it.

The first step would be to get the car examined by an accredited electrician to determine whether it was the repair that caused the failure or just coincidence caused by the wiring being disturbed .

Pb76

Thanks for your help everyone,partner is still not back from citizens advise so I'm waiting just to see what they advise

Silk

Pb76 wrote: »

Thanks for your help everyone,partner is still not back from citizens advise so I'm waiting just to see what they advise

With respect the CAB is going to be unable to help without any evidence of what actualy caused the fault.

At the moment it's pure conjecture that it's the garages fault. Once it's determined what caused the fault they will be able to advise you how to proceed if any liability can be determined

fivetide

Silk is right. CAB are unlikely to be able to do very much.

If you have legal cover on your insurance then yes, they might be able to help too. You would be claiming through the garage's insurance and your legal cover should help chase that claim. They might say it can't be proven though so you need to consider the next step if that's the case.

The big question is whether the car is actually a write off as you've said. Not sure who has written it off at this point if you haven't spoken to the insurance.

I'd get a report from a sparky, again as silk suggested and see what the cost/damage/findings is/are.

It could help your case with the insurance because if the car is fried or needs a new loom, unlikely to be cheap. If you get no where with the garage's insurance you might well be best off putting a claim in through your own insurer as you are fully comp and seeign if you are covered. Otherwise you've got a car you can't use and the scrap value won't get you a new one.

Does look like there is some history of Ford Galaxy fires though. Here's one that sounds rather similar to yours http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=82150



Good luck though, sounds a right mess one way or another.

Pb76

Partner is back from CAB and said don't tell insurance company just yet

They are saying need to take photos of wiring and get a second opinion,they also gave me a phone number to call CAB consumer line which I have done,they said I should claim under supply of goods and services act 1982 and I should write a letter to the garage saying I want compensation and to give them a date to get back to me

About getting a second opinion,do I go to another electrician and tell him the situation and ask for his report?

Thanks

Pb76

fivetide wrote: »

Silk is right. CAB are unlikely to be able to do very much.

If you have legal cover on your insurance then yes, they might be able to help too. You would be claiming through the garage's insurance and your legal cover should help chase that claim. They might say it can't be proven though so you need to consider the next step if that's the case.

The big question is whether the car is actually a write off as you've said. Not sure who has written it off at this point if you haven't spoken to the insurance.

I'd get a report from a sparky, again as silk suggested and see what the cost/damage/findings is/are.

It could help your case with the insurance because if the car is fried or needs a new loom, unlikely to be cheap. If you get no where with the garage's insurance you might well be best off putting a claim in through your own insurer as you are fully comp and seeign if you are covered. Otherwise you've got a car you can't use and the scrap value won't get you a new one.

Does look like there is some history of Ford Galaxy fires though. Here's one that sounds rather similar to yours



Good luck though, sounds a right mess one way or another.

Thank you

The garage said the damage would cost £2000 to repair and they say the vehicle is not worth that

Pb76

What kind of thing should write in my letter to the garage?if anyone could help please