Difficult problem, Need help!

xRoyle

I've recently joined the RAF and bought a VW Golf '08 plate from a garage in Cardiff.. 5 Year finance contract as I thought a 4 year old golf should be reliable and not something I'm interested in just changing. Purchase date was the 29th of October.

The car was running fine for the first few months, I got a cambelt change from VW and everything was looking good..

Then, heading home from leave, the car started to make a funny noise from the engine. This was back on Jan 25th. The next day, I had my breakdown cover come out and check the car over.. Initially they suggested it was an injector that had gone and it would cost about £200 plus the labour and he suggested a local reputable garage to take the car to.

After taking the car to this new garage, they did some more digging and got into contact with a local engineering company. They believed that the injectors were spitting diesel back into the engine and had ruined some major parts but I was quoted about £400 just to take a look, not actually do any repair work. I went to speak to them at the garage and they said that after speaking to the engineering company, worst case scenario, the repair work could cost up to £1800.

The local garage were understanding about my reluctance at paying such a crazy amount and started asking me more details about the car, when I'd bought it, from where, etc etc.. Apparantly a garage has to give a 3 (?) month warranty from the date you buy the car.. So they suggested I get back in touch with the garage in cardiff and sort something out..

When I got into contact with the garage, they told me that it wasn't their fault and that because I'd got the cambelt changed at VW, it was their fault that the engine has failed. They said that if anything, they need me to get the car to their garage so that they can get their engineers to look the car over. (Not actually to carry out any repair work)

My issue is that it would cost an extra £200 just to get the car to cardiff which would be a pointless solution if there is no guarantee that the car will get worked on.

The second time I got into contact with the garage from cardiff, I mentioned the fact that the car was actually still in warranty when the car failed and that we have paperwork to prove this. (When the breakdown came out to initially inspect the car). They then went on the defence and said again that it was down to VW.

Does anyone have any ideas as to what I can do? I've barely had the car which I've paid out quite a lot for believing that it would be a safe buy.. Do I go down the legal route? Is there any possibility that I can get the cardiff garage to allow me to take the car to the local VW garage to do the repair works instead of their engineers as I'd definitely feel safer with a VW repair..

My other issue is that it's an extremely difficult situation for me. I have the weekends off, I'm working early morning until late at night during the week and can therefore never actually get hold of anybody. I've recently called up the garage a third time and was told that they'd get back to me ( which they never did ). I need to get some peace of mind over this but it's something I've not got much knowledge on!

Any help would be MUCH appreciated!
If any more information is needed, please ask away and I'll try and answer to the best of my knowledge! I think I've covered most of it but I'm sure I've probably missed something..

Thanks.

xRoyle

Almost 200 views yet nobody can help? Don't want to let this slide into the masses! Too worried about this matter...

Johnmcl7

Which engine is it you have exactly, the 1.9 or 2.0, PD or CR and which power output? I'm a bit confused about all these different garages, have you spoken to the garage that fitted the cambelt? 08 would be late for a PD engine but I have read of similar issues where timing belts have been fitted incorrectly causing the injectors to be out of sequence. It sounds like the VW garage are at fault and I doubt you'd get them to pay for the work at another garage.

John

forgotmyname

Where has all this a garage MUST give you a warranty for 3 months come from?

The car must be as advertised and fit for the purpose. If they tell you it needs a gearbox and it fails on the way home then its tough, They told you and you still bought it.
If they said the gearbox was good and will do 100,000 miles and it fails then you have a claim.

few more details may help, Dates and mileages.

Bought car date mileage. cambelt done? Any other work?

Is the warranty just the selling garage fixing it as its not fit for purpose or an aftermarket warranty?

If the diesel injectors are spitting fuel, Not sure what they mean by that..
But how are they blaming the VW garage who fitted the belt?

You may need to arrange transport of the car back to the seller. Pop up a few more details 1st and see what advice you get.

You long..ish post may have put some off. I know i do sometimes. Looks long next... Have patience.

Not what you expect with a 4 year old car though, But these things do happen.

Strider590

xRoyle wrote: »

I thought a 4 year old golf should be reliable

Urban myths.....
They were once reliable, in around 1980. Now they're average at best.

steve-L

forgotmyname wrote: »

Where has all this a garage MUST give you a warranty for 3 months come from?

The car must be as advertised and fit for the purpose. If they tell you it needs a gearbox and it fails on the way home then its tough, They told you and you still bought it.
If they said the gearbox was good and will do 100,000 miles and it fails then you have a claim.

I'd suggest you read these carefully.... forgotmyname is spot on!
http://www.oft.gov.uk/713560/publications/reports/consumer-protection/oft1241#.USHoMI4oyaA

few more details may help, Dates and mileages.

Bought car date mileage. cambelt done? Any other work?

Is the warranty just the selling garage fixing it as its not fit for purpose or an aftermarket warranty?

Regardless ... you need to do this for yourself.
I suggest a list with date,miles,WHO, comment
Putting this in order will make it easier not only for people to give better advice but help you see it more clearly in terms of any potential action you take.

mattyprice4004

I'm kind of with the garage in Cardiff, who's to say the work done by VW hasn't done the damage?

Legally you'll have to give the garage in Cardiff a shot at repairing if you want to go down the road of chasing them for the repair, though.

German engineering indeed if it's not the garage's fault though...