Aircon fails in four year old car days after purchase

LarryLancaster

Thanks for the replies.

It's curious that the dealer was so confident that if I did decide to return the car with faulty aircon he wouldn't bother to fix it but would just sell it on at auction "as seen", when he previously told me that I had already caused him great nuisance. Apparently he found it very difficult selling on my previous car that I traded this one in for at auction and he had to pay several hundred pounds to rectify a serious fault that required repair before going to auction. As far as I was concerned, my previous car was running absolutely fine at the point I handed it over with no faults known to me and had it had an obvious fault I would have needed to get it repaired immediately as it was my daily car, whether I was planning in the near future to change it or not. He wouldn't be drawn on what the alleged fault actually was. He'd have another big bill if I took him at his word, returned the car as was and let him try and shift it at the previous auction house.

He also said at one point that the warranty I was provided with included aircon, then during another conversation he said it only covered engine and gearbox faults (the product literature includes aircon, but excludes leaks and other faults that are identified within 30 days of purchase).

He maintained that I shouldn't complain that a £14k, four year old car that's driven 70,000 miles had non-functioning air conditioning and besides, apparently I don't need it at the moment as it's winter (aircon's demisting feature is a pretty essential safety feature I'd have thought).

I have already had the run around with several garages who advertised that they did air conditioning repairs, then when they looked at my car either said they didn't touch warranty claims or that they couldn't diagnose leaks. I went to one garage who claimed to have found the leak coming from a pipe under the car; when I went to another garage for another quote they pointed out the pipe under the car was the fuel pipe! Even trying to find a reputable garage - in a major town - that's prepared to even make a correct diagnosis and hopefully a lasting repair has taken me a stupidly long time.

Herzlos

Sounds like he's just talking garbage to try and make you feel bad and try to put you off. If he just sold your car at auction he won't have fixed anything, and if he's being that vague he probably didn't anyway or he'd have told you what actually needed replaced.

A £14k normal car should be working fine, especially at 4 years old.

Garages probably don't want to touch warranty claims because it's a lot of extra hassle dealing with warranty companies that may not even pay out. I'd leave that part off and just ask about getting the pump repaired and send a bill to the dealer and warranty company but don't expect either to actually pay up.

jbainbridge

The fact that the dealer had it regassed proves that there was an issue he was aware of! Unfortunately for you the regas only worked for a short time.

I'd quit talking to him (as he seems to be full of BS) and send a letter before action. Then claim back the quoted price for repair.

eamon

It can be soul destroying exercising your consumer rights. 2nd car dealers are probably the worst as they may not have any repair/maintenence facilities, so everything gets farmed out and costs escalate.

Assuming that you can back up all that you have said on here and it is a lot of money to fork out. Just get it fixed and sue the dealer at the small claims court. At least you will be making him pay some time & money defending himself. Small victories can at times give the most satisfaction.