Garage unable to fix car

sugargurlie

Hi I'm looking for some advice.

Our car is in the garage and has been for about 2 weeks. There is an electrical fault causing an inconsistent power supply, basically it is pulsing instead of flowing. They've already replaced the battery, fuse and alternator and with this and works costs we're already facing a bill of £600. If the garage are unable to fix the car do we have to pay them for this work? Incidentally it is only 4 years old so we're a bit gutted but it is past all warranty periods and we own it outright.

Second question, if they can't fix it what are our options? It can't be driven. I've not been in this position before and can't find any advice online about how to move it between garages or how to get a car to one of the scrappage places. Will my breakdown cover help me?

Thank you for your advice.

Stoke

I can't answer your question as to whether you should pay. Personally, I wouldn't, but then some people say they deserve recompense for their efforts.

How do you know it's pulsing exactly? I have a feeling I know the answer, and if it is, you're in for a nasty surprise...

P.S. Also what car is it?

Netwizard

What car is it and did it have full main dealer service history? At only 4 years old, you may have been able to get some goodwill repairs out of the main dealer, but obviously if its been serviced elsewhere, this won't be the case.

Its not a French car by any chance is it?!

sugargurlie

It's a Peugeot 3008 so yes it's a French car, I'd love to know what you can tell me about the pulsing supply, it was the autoelectrician who told us.

Our dealership isn't interested. We took it to them for the 3 years but they wanted to charge us over £400 for the first MOT so went elsewhere.

Stoke

Sugargurlie, what exactly was it doing wrong? You haven't exactly told us why you took it in? Was the radio cutting out? Were the headlights flickering? Was their interference on the radio? Your 12 volt charger playing up? It wouldn't start? It cut out?

Give me some more context and I'll tell you what I think...

sugargurlie

If it helps here is the backgroudnd -

A couple of weeks ago the car wouldn't start. We called our breakdown who tried unsuccessfully to jump start it several times then replaced the battery. It started up no problem. Next time we went to drive it it wouldn't start again. This time the breakdown says it was an electrical problem needing a garage so we took it there.

The autoelectrician at the garage came back to say it was something to do with the fuse that stops a power surge from damaging the engine, that instead of kicking in at a surge it kicked in at any electricity. He contacted Peugeot and they supplied a replacement. The car still wouldn't start.

Now we are on to a new alternator, replacing this has given us this pulsing power supply.

force_ten

this really annoys me when a garage approach a fault using repair by trial and error and throw parts at the car in hope that they find the fault

dont pay the £600.00 bill and tell them to take all the new parts off and refit the original parts that were not faulty in the first place

and then take the car to somewhere that knows what they are doing

Stoke

sugargurlie wrote: »

If it helps here is the backgroudnd -

A couple of weeks ago the car wouldn't start. We called our breakdown who tried unsuccessfully to jump start it several times then replaced the battery. It started up no problem. Next time we went to drive it it wouldn't start again. This time the breakdown says it was an electrical problem needing a garage so we took it there.

The autoelectrician at the garage came back to say it was something to do with the fuse that stops a power surge from damaging the engine, that instead of kicking in at a surge it kicked in at any electricity. He contacted Peugeot and they supplied a replacement. The car still wouldn't start.

Now we are on to a new alternator, replacing this has given us this pulsing power supply.

I'll be honest, it sounds like your autoelectrician/garage/whoever is trying (badly) to fix it, is a complete plank. Pulsing does exist in cars, but you need to understand from an electrical perspective that it's neither the battery nor the alternator. They merely provide a supply of electricity. It's normally a fault of an electrical item inside the car, so you !!!! away a load of money on batteries and a new alternator to find it's a £30 stereo causing the problem. Where I've seen pulsing in a car:
- An old stereo which the switching circuit had failed so was causing the lights to pulse and flicker.
- A 12v socket which was wire up wrong.
- Badly fitted HID lights.

All of which are accessories as opposed to the supply of electricity. Do you get me?

I actually don't believe your car is even pulsing, it sounds like you've just got a bad earth somewhere or an accessory (possibly faulty) that's draining the battery or potentially blowing fuses. You'd be surprised what can blow fuses. A seized up window wiper linkage could easily blow the main fuse on your car... and yes, stop it from starting. After all, the motor is electric and draws current and is live upon ignition.

I would be very careful. As per the previous poster, you might want to ask they return your original stuff. The battery is probably knackered, but I doubt the alternator is.

sugargurlie

Great thank you, that explanation makes sense and would also explain why it worked for a bit then stopped again.

That gives a position to go with and was my gut instinct but I wasn't sure if it was right or not! Thank you.

Stoke

Keep us updated how you get on. I'd be very wary about the garage you're using though.