Testing Trailer Electrics - Update

Gloomendoom

If the car had the towbar fitted when you bought it, it isn't unreasonable to expect it to work properly. If it is a 13 pin socket, it would be a MoT fail.

jbainbridge

Gloomendoom wrote: »

If the car had the towbar fitted when you bought it, it isn't unreasonable to expect it to work properly. If it is a 13 pin socket, it would be a MoT fail.

Have to agree. They’ve sold it with the tow bar ... it’s surely not unreasonable to expect it to work? Was it advertised as having a tow bar?

Can’t imagine getting an auto electrician to look at it would cost much. Much of the cost of fitting it would have been the labour to get the tow bar on.

marlot

Pixie5740 wrote: »

I managed to work out that it's the towbar electrics that are at fault. Since I only bought the car 6 weeks ago I phoned the dealer because my car comes with a 2 year warranty. They've looked at it today and they know what the issue is but won't cover the cost under the warranty because the tow bar fitted isn't a Land Rover towbar but it is the towbar that was fitted to the car when they sold it to me.

I will need to check the details of the warranty because I'm pretty cheesed off about it failing so soon after buying it. I did use my credit card to put down the deposit so I'm wondering if I could get Visa on the case because it's not fit for purpose. What do you think? I'm waiting on the salesman calling me back.

Make it clear that you're not claiming on the warranty, but on your statutory rights.

Pixie5740

Yes it was advertised as having a towbar. It was a feature I particularly wanted with the car which the salesman knew, and why I plumped for this particular vehicle over another. I know retrofitting a towbar is relatively straight forward but given a choice of two cars, same price, same spec but one comes with the towbar, that's the one I'm going to choose.

Good point about pursuing this under statutory rights rather than the warranty.

caprikid1

"Any component failure, damage or losses
...
which occurred as a result of any accessory being fitted (unless the accessory is approved by the manufacturer for use on the vehicle and fitted according to instructions provided by the manufacturer of the accessory) "


I suspect though this applies to anything fitted post purchase, not already on the vehicle !

Herzlos

Were the electrics working when you purchased it?

Pixie5740

Herzlos wrote: »

Were the electrics working when you purchased it?

Yes the electrics were working when I purchased the car. I've been using my Thule bike carrier regularly until Monday this week when I couldn't get the lights working.

interestedinhealth

Sorry to butt in but I can't find how to start a new thread. I must be stupid but would be grateful if anyone could tell me how. Thanks

AdrianC

interestedinhealth wrote: »

Sorry to butt in but I can't find how to start a new thread. I must be stupid but would be grateful if anyone could tell me how. Thanks

Go to the forum view itself - https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=70 - for motoring.
Then click on the big red "New Thread" button.

Pixie5740

The dealership has agreed to fix the electrics and won't charge me for it. :T