Front coil springs

skipad

Hi all
I have a 59 plate bipper tepee with 53000 mileage
Back in 2015 front n/s coil spring needed replacement so both were replaced at main dealer.
Car failed mot 2016 due to n/s coil spring not being seated correctly. This was repaired free of charge by another dealer but in same franchise as the original dealer - the original dealer didn’t have workshop space so it was arranged to have this done at the other dealer.
Car has failed mot again yesterday with the front Coll having snapped. No other fails.
The other 3 coils are showing normal wear and tear for a car of this age and mileage.
The car has only done 20000 miles since coil was done.
I understand that this was 3 years ago but surely the coil should last much much longer than this especially as the other 3 are ok.
The dealer is not interested as they keep advising 1 year guarantee but this does not feel right as they may be an issue with the original part or fitting. Not fit for purpose?
I have had to have the front pair replaced because of course it is recommended that they are replaced as a pair and the cost is over £600 .
Do I have a case against the fitting dealer?

facade

They more than lasted the guarantee out, so I don't think you have a case.


If I got 20,000 miles out of springs on the roads round here, I'd think I'd bought a Proper Olden Days Car. I'm on the third set of fronts at about 50,000 miles.

almillar

I'd expect a coil spring to last longer than a year, but then, how are you going to prove to the dealer that you haven't been thumping it over speed bumps for the last year? How do you know it's a sub standard part? What brand is it? Were you offered a more expensive one at the time, and took the cheapest?

AdrianC

skipad wrote: »

I have a 59 plate bipper tepee with 53000 mileage
Back in 2015 front n/s coil spring needed replacement so both were replaced at main dealer.

So original NSF lasted 33k - did you have it from new? If not, then maybe it'd already been replaced - or maybe the previous owner's usage was different.

Car has failed mot again yesterday with the front Coll having snapped. No other fails.

NSF again? That's the corner that gets all the road edge potholes...

The other 3 coils are showing normal wear and tear for a car of this age and mileage.

The rear isn't independent - it's a single beam - so any road shocks are spread between both sides far more than the front. And the OSF was, of course, replaced at 33k.

The dealer is not interested as they keep advising 1 year guarantee but this does not feel right as they may be an issue with the original part or fitting. Not fit for purpose?
...
Do I have a case against the fitting dealer?

Not a hope. You're (way) outside 6mo, so it's up to you to prove there was a fault with the part, and it's not simply up to road conditions.

skipad

Hi

I haven’t been thumping car over bumps ( I know everyone would say that of course )
The other 3 coils are fine so I would expect to be more damage elsewhere if that was the case
I don’t know the part brand, it was replaced under warranty for approved used car so wasn’t offered choice,
The reason I am questioning quality is why it has snapped and the other 3 are fine

ratrace

Its not going to cost you £600 to replace 2 front springs, there is no need to get them done at a main dealer its not a specialized job any decent garage can done them £50 hr per side plus parts rough idea

i would also get the shockers checked out at the same time as they are going to be off the car anyway they may not be leaking but may be weak resulting in a bit more load on the springs not saying this is your case but worth checking them as they will be off anyway

AdrianC

skipad wrote: »

I don’t know the part brand, it was replaced under warranty for approved used car so wasn’t offered choice,

By a franchise Peugeot dealer? Then it should be an OE part.

The reason I am questioning quality is why it has snapped and the other 3 are fine

Simply because that's the corner that gets most hammer. Which is why it's the same corner as failed first last time.

almillar

I haven’t been thumping car over bumps ( I know everyone would say that of course )
The other 3 coils are fine so I would expect to be more damage elsewhere if that was the case
I don’t know the part brand, it was replaced under warranty for approved used car so wasn’t offered choice,
The reason I am questioning quality is why it has snapped and the other 3 are fine

As I hinted in my first post - prove it! Not to us, to the garage
It's a front spring, which will hit the bump hardest. Also, being the nearside (left) side, you *could* be thumping it up kerbs to park, and through bumpy gutters.