Chances of claiming money from car trader for costs incurred from faulty vehical

b1gdeano

I am not sure if this is the right place for this but hopefully someone will be able to advise on this

I purchased a car on the 26th August from a trader but two days and 170 miles later it left me at the side of the road broken down.

RAC recovered and towed me to the local garage where it has been for the past week while try to resolve the issue with the trader - they provided a RAC warranty with a repair value of £300! The fault has been diagnosed, at my expense, as faulty alternator - £530 for new part as dealer only for the model of car I have.

I spoke with the dealer in an attempt to get them to pay for the repair at the garage but they seemed adamant I use the warranty - I advised them it is insufficient and didnt want to pay the rest myself as it is there responsibility and I am under no obligation to use the warranty etc. After much flannel and BS they said they would get back to me. A day later they said they had found cheaper parts at £340 from a dealer which I was unconvinced as spoek to 3 dealers and all came back with the same cost for the correct part - I asked if the part number was correct as it is not the same as the cheaper alternators for other versions of the car in the range - they also said they could get used ones for £160. They offered to send one to the local garage but still got the impression they wanted the garage to pay for them then claim on warranty! They were supposed to speak with the garage but two days later and they haven't.

The trader is 80 odd miles away from me and getting the car back isnt really possible due to the fault and I sure aint paying for recovery!

Anyway - in the interim I have managed to source a salvage alternator of the correct part number for £101 and ordered it. I am going to install it myself as I am reasonably competent and capable with these things and its not a hard job really. All being well this will sort the issue out and the car will be on the road again

What I want to know is if I can write to them and formally request they pay for the part and the diagnostic fee of £48, so a total of £149. I can supply evidence of all these spends.

I lost a days pay the day it stranded me as couldnt carry on to work, plus every day its off the road costs me in temporary insurance on another car to get me about. I believe I could claim for this also?

Truth be told I just want them to pay for the part and diagnostic, as they would have had to do this if they had the car back - what you think the chances are for this?

Nodding_Donkey

Forget the warranty, your claim against the dealer is under the Sale of Goods Act and he hasn't got a leg to stand on.

You do have to give the dealer the opportunity to repair the car though.

forgotmyname

I would have thought they may see you alright on this one at that cost.

But they could say bring the car back and they will sort it free of charge. Its not their fault your 80 miles from them.

b1gdeano

forgotmyname wrote: »

I would have thought they may see you alright on this one at that cost.

But they could say bring the car back and they will sort it free of charge. Its not their fault your 80 miles from them.

I know its not their fault I am 80 miles away, but after 170 miles/2 days THEY should offer to have it collected for repair which they havent.

agrinnall

What sort of RAC cover do you have, could you not have asked them to tow you back to the garage that you bought from?

colino

Cars don't run with a dead alternator for two days and 170 miles of running. Tough as it may sound, you have to get the thing back to the trader for inspection, repair, refund or exchange.

marlot

colino wrote: »

Cars don't run with a dead alternator for two days and 170 miles of running. Tough as it may sound, you have to get the thing back to the trader for inspection, repair, refund or exchange.

Sure they do - it depends how many starts are involved. I drove 130 miles one Christmas day with no alternator and there was still enough charge in the battery to slip down to the local motor factors for a new alternator when they opened on the 27th.

I even had to use headlights and wipers for part of the journey.

arcon5

What are you rights? Hard tosay without knowing about the car.

a car will drive under its own power with out an alternator until the battery runs out and you stall it that is