Second hand car issues engine sensor 1st 3 months

Cobra496

Hi all.

I need some help understand my rights regarding a second hand car. If this is not the correct place let me know.

The issue:

-Just less than 3 months ago I bought a second hand car, 12 years old, ~83000 miles.

-After about a month, the engine management light came on. I called the dealer and they told me to take it back and they'd look at it. They diagnosed it for free and cleared the error, they said it was nothing to worry about.

-This happened another 3 times. I kept getting it cleared but it became obvious there was an issue. They said as the car is old the oxygen sensor was worn getting worn out. I didn't think much about it as the dealer offered to keep clearing the error for free (which is ridiculous really considering it was happening every 2 weeks)

-I then had an issue with the clutch and when I got it repaired, I mentioned the engine sensor issue to the mechanic. He checked it and confirmed it needed replacing, otherwise the engine warning light would keep coming on.

-The mechanic said it would be £80 to replace. I told the dealer about this on the phone and they agreed to pay for it (the warranty company do not cover sensors, the warranty is 3 months).

-I got it replaced but the mechanic then charged me £130 and said he was originally wrong about the type of sensor required. I paid for it thinking the car dealer would be prepared to pay the extra £50.

-I emailed the car dealer with the invoice of £130, they responded saying they will only cover £80 as originally agreed.

-I responded that they need to give me the whole £130 back - I did not consider the original oxygen sensor as in "reasonable working order". IE How am I meant to know when there really was an issue with the engine? As I had bought the car less than 3 months ago I was entitled to a have the entire job paid for (so I was told). They have not yet responded, it's been 3 days.

I want to know if I'm in the right? The mechanic insists that the law states that any issues that occur with a car within the 1st 3 months of purchase must be fully refunded/paid for. The warranty company do not cover sensors, therefore, if the mechanic is correct, the dealer must pay me all the money for the replacement sensor. Is his correct or a misunderstanding?

I'm just concerned that maybe this isn't the law, and the dealer was doing a 'good deed' by offering to pay the £80. Now that I've asked for the £130 perhaps they won't be so willing to pay anything at all.

I'm new to car ownership so would appreciate some help regarding how to approach this. I know the sums of money involved in this one are smaller than most of the other threads but I want to my rights and pursue if necessary.

Warwick_Hunt

Cobra496 wrote: »

Hi all.

I need some help understand my rights regarding a second hand car. If this is not the correct place let me know.

The issue:

-Just less than 3 months ago I bought a second hand car, 12 years old, ~83000 miles.

-After about a month, the engine management light came on. I called the dealer and they told me to take it back and they'd look at it. They diagnosed it for free and cleared the error, they said it was nothing to worry about.

-This happened another 3 times. I kept getting it cleared but it became obvious there was an issue. They said as the car is old the oxygen sensor was worn getting worn out. I didn't think much about it as the dealer offered to keep clearing the error for free (which is ridiculous really considering it was happening every 2 weeks)

-I then had an issue with the clutch and when I got it repaired, I mentioned the engine sensor issue to the mechanic. He checked it and confirmed it needed replacing, otherwise the engine warning light would keep coming on.

-The mechanic said it would be £80 to replace. I told the dealer about this on the phone and they agreed to pay for it (the warranty company do not cover sensors, the warranty is 3 months).

-I got it replaced but the mechanic then charged me £130 and said he was originally wrong about the type of sensor required. I paid for it thinking the car dealer would be prepared to pay the extra £50.

-I emailed the car dealer with the invoice of £130, they responded saying they will only cover £80 as originally agreed.

-I responded that they need to give me the whole £130 back - I did not consider the original oxygen sensor as in "reasonable working order". IE How am I meant to know when there really was an issue with the engine? As I had bought the car less than 3 months ago I was entitled to a have the entire job paid for (so I was told). They have not yet responded, it's been 3 days.

I want to know if I'm in the right? The mechanic insists that the law states that any issues that occur with a car within the 1st 3 months of purchase must be fully refunded/paid for. The warranty company do not cover sensors, therefore, if the mechanic is correct, the dealer must pay me all the money for the replacement sensor. Is his correct or a misunderstanding?

I'm just concerned that maybe this isn't the law, and the dealer was doing a 'good deed' by offering to pay the £80. Now that I've asked for the £130 perhaps they won't be so willing to pay anything at all.

I'm new to car ownership so would appreciate some help regarding how to approach this. I know the sums of money involved in this one are smaller than most of the other threads but I want to my rights and pursue if necessary.

That’s why he’s a mechanic and not a solicitor.

motorguy

Cobra496 wrote: »

Hi all.

I need some help understand my rights regarding a second hand car. If this is not the correct place let me know.

The issue:

-Just less than 3 months ago I bought a second hand car, 12 years old, ~83000 miles.

-After about a month, the engine management light came on. I called the dealer and they told me to take it back and they'd look at it. They diagnosed it for free and cleared the error, they said it was nothing to worry about.

-This happened another 3 times. I kept getting it cleared but it became obvious there was an issue. They said as the car is old the oxygen sensor was worn getting worn out. I didn't think much about it as the dealer offered to keep clearing the error for free (which is ridiculous really considering it was happening every 2 weeks)

-I then had an issue with the clutch and when I got it repaired, I mentioned the engine sensor issue to the mechanic. He checked it and confirmed it needed replacing, otherwise the engine warning light would keep coming on.

-The mechanic said it would be £80 to replace. I told the dealer about this on the phone and they agreed to pay for it (the warranty company do not cover sensors, the warranty is 3 months).

-I got it replaced but the mechanic then charged me £130 and said he was originally wrong about the type of sensor required. I paid for it thinking the car dealer would be prepared to pay the extra £50.

-I emailed the car dealer with the invoice of £130, they responded saying they will only cover £80 as originally agreed.

-I responded that they need to give me the whole £130 back - I did not consider the original oxygen sensor as in "reasonable working order". IE How am I meant to know when there really was an issue with the engine? As I had bought the car less than 3 months ago I was entitled to a have the entire job paid for (so I was told). They have not yet responded, it's been 3 days.

I want to know if I'm in the right? The mechanic insists that the law states that any issues that occur with a car within the 1st 3 months of purchase must be fully refunded/paid for. The warranty company do not cover sensors, therefore, if the mechanic is correct, the dealer must pay me all the money for the replacement sensor. Is his correct or a misunderstanding?

I'm just concerned that maybe this isn't the law, and the dealer was doing a 'good deed' by offering to pay the £80. Now that I've asked for the £130 perhaps they won't be so willing to pay anything at all.

I'm new to car ownership so would appreciate some help regarding how to approach this. I know the sums of money involved in this one are smaller than most of the other threads but I want to my rights and pursue if necessary.

If i'd a tenner for every time someone said "my mechanic says" when i was motor trading. :eek:

Your mechanic is wrong - and his insistence may now have entrenched the situation to the point whereby the dealer isnt going to pay anything.

bobbymotors

To be quite honest OP if you're getting £80 towards a minor £130 problem on a 12 year old car I'd be inclined to bite the bullet on it....a sensor i just one of those things that can fail at anytime....if you wanted a fault free new car then that's what you should have bought.

So personally I'd move on

bobbymotors

motorguy wrote: »

If i'd a tenner for every time someone said "my mechanic says" when i was motor trading. :eek:

Your mechanic is wrong - and his insistence may now have entrenched the situation to the point whereby the dealer isnt going to pay anything.

Me too!

the other one is on their p/x when you tell them it's £1200 worth

'my mate said it's worth £1500!'

To which I always said 'The difference is that I will buy it and your mate won't'

forgotmyname

Bite his hand off with the £80 before he tells you to go away and you get nothing.

mollycat

What kind of car mate, and how much did you pay?

arcon5

O2 sensor on a 12 year old car..... Most garage wouldnt pay anything at all!

You cant just agree a repair for £x then ask for more afterwards anyway. You'd be entitled to 80 quid simply because that's what was agreed.

Cobra496

Thanks for the responses all, I reckon it might be too late to get anything but will give it a go.

But lesson learnt and next time will definitely check my facts before going into something like this guns blazing - on reflection I was definitely a bit too aggressive considering the nature of the issue.

davidwood681

And get a new mechanic

cb1979

Oxygen sensors are a service item,like spark plugs, and at 83000 miles and 12 years old should have maybe been replaced already, its good of them to offer anything