Used car problem

Marktheshark

It is a noisy old engine at the best of times.
When the oil gets hot the hydraulic lifters clatter.

motorguy

sxmr wrote: »

Tonight we collected a new car that we purchased from a dealer that was one they had taken as a PX. The ad on ebay did not outline any issues, just that it was sold as seen, not mechanically checked and no guarantee or warranty. We viewed last week and test drove with no issue al be it short as there was 7 miles on the range. Oil and water levels are fine. Its a 2005 Vauxhall Astra 1.4.

So tonight we drove it home and the spanner light light goes off and comes back on then the engine starts making a tapping noise after about 10 miles at idling speed. We were told that this was the service light and that it wasn't turned off. Our neighbour is a mechanic (cliche I know but true!) and has had a look over and basically told us to take it back (Wish he was with us when we purchased)

I guess my question is, do we have any chance of "rejecting" the car? I have read this forums and I am aware that its a case of buyer beware when purchasing but is this the case here as its via a dealer and not private? Just want to be clear before we take the next steps!

You have every right to reject the car with a major engine problem (providing it is a major engine problem), however i suspect the seller will try to avoid that, given the language they used in the original advert.

motorguy

bigjl wrote: »

A mate bought an Astra 1.6 petrol from the auction (55 plate) and I am certain the engine management light was the usual engine outline type.

Turned out to be the usual Lamda sensor issue which can be common on petrol Vauxhalls.

First thing to do is get the fault codes read.

If it is the Lamda sensor issue a bottle of Cataclean often fixes the issues by cleaning both the Cat and the sensor.

lamda sensor wont cause an engine rattle.

motorguy

Marktheshark wrote: »

It is a noisy old engine at the best of times.
When the oil gets hot the hydraulic lifters clatter.

Typically hydraulic lifters rattle when they are cold, lose and / or have drained of oil.

When they are hot, expanded and full of oil they tend not to.

EdGasket

motorguy wrote: »

Typically hydraulic lifters rattle when they are cold, lose and / or have drained of oil.

When they are hot, expanded and full of oil they tend not to.

Mine rattle all the time because they seize up (the piston that is supposed to take up the tappet gap siezes in its housing and/or the little oil hole gets blocked, and the hydraulic tappet no longer does the job).

Noisy tappets are not really a problem and some can be fixed by driving for 100 miles with a litre of ATF fluid in the oil to clear out the gunk but make sure you do an oil and filter change after that to protect the engine bearings.

sxmr

Hi all,

Thank you for taking the time to read and respond to my query. I am pleased to say that I was offered a repair (new timing belt, exhaust sensor and something else that I can't remember) or full refund which I took. The OH and I had a chance to discuss what we would do and he wanted a full refund should that happen as he felt the car was now tainted and he would be forever worried something else would go. The garage were sincere and apologetic and I am impressed with the way they dealt with me today, especially as you hear so many horror stories. I appreciate that many will say that we should have taken the repair however we have made a decision best for us and will now knuckle down and save further.....

Now to get the beast through next weeks MOT:D