Dealer's 1 year warranty

Android07

I bought a used car in November from a dealer.

The Autotrader lisitng ( which I didn't photograph ) mentioned that it had it's servicing done recently. The car also comes with a 1 year mechanical warranty.

I never switched on the air con as I did not need to do so until recently. There was no cool air. So, I took it to a garage to refill the air con gas. They found a leak and have quoted me £400 including labour and gas refill cost.

I rang the dealer's claim Tel no. multiple times but it seems to keep ringing and no one ever answers. I then rang the dealer and they said that all issues are covered during the first month and that my air con leak is not a mechanical issue and will not be covered.

What do I do at this point? If the car was serviced, these should have been picked up!

forgotmyname

Ignore the AC issue or pay for it to be repaired. If the compressor failed then it maybe covered under warranty but not if its
just worn with use.

Depending on the cars age it may only have major mechanics parts cover anyway.

daveyjp

Aircon should be on 365 days a year to keep the system in good order.  No use for months may have caused the issue between purchase and your first use and on a used car any warranty is likely to be minimal.

You don't say how old the car is, but proving a mechanical problem caused the aircon fault may not be easy.  Wear and tear can be used to cover any claim.

I was successful having a new aircon condenser under manufacturers warranty, but the vehicle was only two years old and the bad weld was obvious.

EssexExile

What does your warranty paperwork say? Most of them have several pages of exclusions.

Grumpy_chap

Android07 said:

The car also comes with a 1 year mechanical warranty.

I never switched on the air con as I did not need to do so until recently. There was no cool air. 

Mechanical warranty often only covers those items that are actually to do with whether or not the car performs the basic function of the car - i.e. making progress.  Air con is not essential to the car making progress so is often not covered by warranty.

Use or non-use of the air con can both contribute to wear and tear on the system.  Warranties do not cover wear and tear.

Stubod

..as above, it is unlikely that your warranty will cover this.

macman

These warranties are mostly a marketing ploy: almost every relevant component is excluded.

Android07

daveyjp said:

Aircon should be on 365 days a year to keep the system in good order.  No use for months may have caused the issue between purchase and your first use and on a used car any warranty is likely to be minimal.

You don't say how old the car is, but proving a mechanical problem caused the aircon fault may not be easy.  Wear and tear can be used to cover any claim.

I was successful having a new aircon condenser under manufacturers warranty, but the vehicle was only two years old and the bad weld was obvious.

The vehicle is a 2009 plate.

EssexExile said:

What does your warranty paperwork say? Most of them have several pages of exclusions.

Nothing about the aircon unit.

Lesson learnt   Check everything once you buy a used car.

Mutton_Geoff

Android07 said:


Lesson learnt   Check everything once you buy a used car.

Check everything before you buy a used car.

Android07

Mutton_Geoff said:

Android07 said:


Lesson learnt   Check everything once you buy a used car.

Check everything before you buy a used car.

None of my mates are mechanics. The one I took with me drives a new Audi saloon!

grandadgolfer

daveyjp said:

Aircon should be on 365 days a year to keep the system in good order.  No use for months may have caused the issue between purchase and your first use and on a used car any warranty is likely to be minimal.

You don't say how old the car is, but proving a mechanical problem caused the aircon fault may not be easy.  Wear and tear can be used to cover any claim.

I was successful having a new aircon condenser under manufacturers warranty, but the vehicle was only two years old and the bad weld was obvious.

+1   Leave aircon on all year round just adjusting the temperature