Faulty Vehicle Advice

NiceCuppaTea4Me

Apples2 wrote: »

Isn't that the real reason?. You've overstretched like so many do but now realised cars are machines. As such, they go wrong. That new car feeling didn't last that long and the whole decision was a poor one.
Why haven't you replaced the little sensor or at least attempted to see what to do?

I honestly can't see how anyone will be on side for rejecting a car as not fit for purpose after almost 3 years, especially due to a cheap little sensor.

If all i was worried about was money then i would just trade it in for something cheaper!

The thing i'm annoyed about and thus making a claim over is when the vehicle was sold to me i specifically inquired as to the reliability of the vehicle and was told i would get many years of worry free motoring! Not only that but i think an £18k car should last more than three year without producing 4 faults, one of which causes it to fail its first MOT.

NiceCuppaTea4Me

Johnmcl7 wrote: »

Which sensor is it that was causing the issue and has a garage checked the sensor after the RAC looked at it?

John

It was the mass airflow sensor. Yes the first two times it happened it was inspected by a Mitsubishi garage First time they replaced the sensor, second time they fiddled with the wiring.

Apples2

NiceCuppaTea4Me wrote: »

i specifically inquired as to the reliability of the vehicle and was told i would get many years of worry free motoring!.

Let's be realistic. You can't expect a dealer to tell a potential purchaser the car is going to be an unreliable money pit.
Cars are machines, they go wrong. A MAF is a simple enough component, even expensive ones are less than £200, not like a gearbox or something major.

The car won't break down due to a defective MAF, the car will use a default air flow value which slightly affects smooth running/economy.

Frustrating for sure but I can't see how you could reject the car due to a relatively cheap off the shelf sensor

Ultrasonic

NiceCuppaTea4Me wrote: »

Im running very close to the breadline atm with having to find a new lower paying job etc and cant really afford to get a mechanic to write a report for something so glaringly obvious!

Reading this thread quickly it seems that replacing the sensor and then selling the car to replace it with something much cheaper would be the best plan.

Ultrasonic

NiceCuppaTea4Me wrote: »

Not only that but i think an £18k car should last more than three year without producing 4 faults, one of which causes it to fail its first MOT.

No salesman is going to tell you a car is unreliable! But more to the point, any comment about reliability should be taken in the context of the reliability of comparable products. A car failing its first MOT is not remotely unusual, about 20% do:

http://www.which.co.uk/news/2012/05/one-in-five-cars-fails-its-first-mot-285886/

keith1950

The thing i'm annoyed about and thus making a claim over is when the vehicle was sold to me i specifically inquired as to the reliability of the vehicle and was told i would get many years of worry free motoring! Not only that but i think an £18k car should last more than three year without producing 4 faults, one of which causes it to fail its first MOT.

It would be reasonable to expect that if you had paid for a repair you would get probably one years cover for that part however with a warranty repair you haven't paid for the repair so you are only covered until the end of the original warranty.

Faults happen and it is upsetting but you are wasting your time chasing Santander, as previously mentioned contact Mitsubishi head office by writing a 'nice' letter saying you are disappointed with the reliability of the car.

They may agree that they will supply the part free of charge if you pay for the labour. It's worth giving it a try , you have nothing to lose.

NiceCuppaTea4Me

Thanks for all your input (most of you anyway) I think i'm probably going to end up creeping to Mitsubishi to get the air flow sensor repaired and then sell the motor. Funny how these things work out as Japanese cars are supposed to be some of the most reliable around. I guess a lemon turns up every now and then with all manufacturers though.

keith1950

Funny how these things work out as Japanese cars are supposed to be some of the most reliable around. I guess a lemon turns up every now and then with all manufacturers though.

The point is that the sensor has only been changed once, the leads are part of the supplied part so in actually fact there has only been two faults, the original one and the replacement one.

It is unfortunate that the original dealer has gone out of business otherwise they would have probably chased Mitsubishi for a contribution towards a repair.

Even if you have to pay for a repair you may find , if a genuine Mitsubishi part is used , that you get several years extra use out of the car.

Why jump ship for what may be an unfortunate chain of circumstances made worse by the dealer going bust.

Good luck !

epninety

NiceCuppaTea4Me wrote: »

Thanks for all your input (most of you anyway) I think i'm probably going to end up creeping to Mitsubishi to get the air flow sensor repaired and then sell the motor. Funny how these things work out as Japanese cars are supposed to be some of the most reliable around. I guess a lemon turns up every now and then with all manufacturers though.

It's going to cost you though, selling the car. You'll be selling it at a reasonable percentage below book value because the car suffers a recurrent fault and you believe it to be "a lemon".

Of course, you'll be explaining those facts to any potential purchaser, otherwise you'd be just as bad as the original vendor and the finance company who you seem to think have somehow robbed you.

harveybobbles

Not forgetting the replacement car which will be being sold probably for the same reason...