Second Hand Car issue

pinkshoes

straighttalker wrote: »

It's not you or your husband that has to take the car back to Merc, it's the previous owner. He paid Merc to fix the problem / do the work. The contract is between him and them. You have no role in the contract so I doubt they'll entertain any claim from you.

Yeah, that's what we thought. Shame.

He (seller) seems to be very cooperative and annoyed that this problem has occurred again, so hopefully he will help.

If he doesn't, is it just a case of tough sh*t?

I think he is looking to buy his new car through the same dealer, so might be able to negotiate something. Shall keep you posted...

BeenThroughItAll

Telling us what the car actually is, rather than 'It's a BIG Mercedes', and the actual nature of the fault, would actually help.


As an example, a lot of the CDi motors have problems starting when air gets into the fuel lines. That's a simple fix with a few quid's worth of O-rings.

Herzlos

straighttalker wrote: »

It's not you or your husband that has to take the car back to Merc, it's the previous owner. He paid Merc to fix the problem / do the work. The contract is between him and them. You have no role in the contract so I doubt they'll entertain any claim from you.

Doesn't mean that the previous owner has to drive it there himself. He can just book it in over the phone and let you do the leg work, as why would Mercedes care you aren't doing it on his behalf?

If it's so far away, you can maybe ask if there's a closer place in-network that'd fix it under warranty.

ratrace

BeenThroughItAll wrote: »

Telling us what the car actually is, rather than 'It's a BIG Mercedes', and the actual nature of the fault, would actually help.


As an example, a lot of the CDi motors have problems starting when air gets into the fuel lines. That's a simple fix with a few quid's worth of O-rings.

Why are people so secretive/reluctant in saying what the car is, but stll want answers to their questions, its not ike we know who the op is in real life

Its like playing guess who on the net

pinkshoes

ratrace wrote: »

Why are people so secretive/reluctant in saying what the car is, but stll want answers to their questions, its not ike we know who the op is in real life

Its like playing guess who on the net

Because my question was about the warranty.

It's a Vito van. Relay ticking over when key turned but won't start, or starts sporadically. Starter motor replaced 2 months ago.

AdrianC

OK, the fact it's a Vito makes a BIG difference - vans is simple. I was thinking E-class estate or ML or GL or R. Vito's going to be much, MUCH simpler electronically, so it's far less likely to finish up as a horribly messy and ultimately hideously expensive soul-sapping exercise in diagnostic futility...

pinkshoes

Hmmmm, sprayed all contacts an hour ago, it still would not start. Just tried it again, and it started 10 times in a row. Baffled. Will leave it 24 hours and see if it reoccurs.

I keep calling it a car as it has 6 seats and rear windows rather than set up as a van!!

AdrianC

Well, when I say "simple", what I mean is "simpler than something like an E-class"! There's still immobilisers and multiplexing computers and...

In what way is it "not starting"? Is the starter turning the engine? Are the dash lights etc all behaving as normal? Is the engine management light on? Have you had codes read yet? What was actually done last time?

BeenThroughItAll

So you've told us it's a Vito. How about what EXACT model.


What engine? Mileage? What's the history?


Relay clicking quickly? Could be as simple as a dodgy starter relay, slightly duff ignition switch contacts, earthing.


Helps narrow it down knowing what's actually under the bonnet, you know.

bigjl

BeenThroughItAll wrote: »

So you've told us it's a Vito. How about what EXACT model.


What engine? Mileage? What's the history?


Relay clicking quickly? Could be as simple as a dodgy starter relay, slightly duff ignition switch contacts, earthing.


Helps narrow it down knowing what's actually under the bonnet, you know.

I will take a stab at it being the 2.2 CDi engine. The version of Vito that is basically a van with seats. The Viano being a bit more high end with a nicer ride.

I would also take a stab at the previous owner perhaps using it for business purposes perhaps?

The Vito and indeed similar Viano can be unreliable when they get a bit old, and I would not be surprised if the vehicle was sold due to the expectation of more problems to come.

Is the previous owner a Chauffeur? Or perhaps a Private Hire driver specialising in Airport runs?