Car from Cinch, false service history

designeditdesignedit

Bought a car from Cinch in October, three month warranty. Recently started going into limp mode and struugling to get over 50 mph.

Took it to a garage this morning (garage is owned by a good friends dad, I trust his opinion.)…with the state of the filters etc, it looks like its NEVER been serviced. The documents state five year service history, with one being just before I bought it.

Do I have any comeback on this?

Herzlos

Was there documents containing details of the services, or at least a dealer print out with dates and mileages?

If not, I'd check with a dealership for that brand to see if they have any history.

designeditdesignedit

on the app, theres a list of services and mileage a dealers but it doesnt give any info as to whats been done, the last time was done by cinch but the info isnt 'click able' so i cant see whats been done

born_again

If the last one was done by cinch, that is who you need to go after.

Service books don't say what is done, you need the invoice. But if they have the customers name on. You will not get them as GDPR covers the non sharing of that data.

Mildly_Miffed

What were the fault codes?

paul_c123

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6659522/car-from-cinch-false-service-history

Can you get an independent inspection? October is 5 months, its possible they look dirty. And when you say "filters", which ones? Often a service just before a car is sold is just the oil+filter, nothing else. And typically on the service schedule, the cabin filter and air filter are replaced at a longer interval anyway.

designeditdesignedit

When this started happening I got the AA out , this is what the report said

Patrol found the following fault code/s: System : Engine management - S31 / Engine management CR/EDC SID310 P0100 - Air flow sensor. Error Message : Voltage too low. P0380 - Glow control unit. Error Message : Internal control unit fault. Car will not go above 60mph air flow sensor fault code stored. Road test car with it disconnected and it's still the same. Intake leak somewhere behind the engine (suspect). Advised to drive straight to the garage -

Ive looked on the Cinch website and theres a section to send a query if the car is out of the 90 day periiod btu within six months and I am just about in that six month period.

Really upset about this as my journey to and from work is approx 50 miles, three times a week - I work nights so Im concerned about a breakdown in the early hours, I bought this as i am sixk of buying older, used cars and spending a fortune on keeping them on the road,

Im going to message them today - I am sceptical about this suddenly happening when JUST out of the 90 day period, it seems very coincental but..hey, what do i know.

designeditdesignedit

apologies for the spelling lol, trying to type quickly

paul_c123

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81922753#Comment_81922753

If someone can engineer a car to break down between 3-6 months of sale, they are also likely to be able to fix it so it stays running 6 months. It could be the car had an issue and they replaced the MAF with a cheap part.

Mildly_Miffed

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81922753#Comment_81922753

Neither of those fault codes are remotely service-history related.

The air flow sensor monitors the amount of air coming in to the engine. The voltage seen by the engine management ECU is lower than it should be - the sensor is probably starting to fail.

The glow control unit is the electronic box that manages the cold-start plugs in a diesel, which on modern diesels are mostly used for emissions. It's failed internally.

Neither of those are big jobs. Cost can be argued with the warranty.

Ibrahim5

When a car goes to a garage for a service most people don't care if anything is done or not. They just want a stamp in the book. It depends on the garage and the mechanic if they feel like doing anything. These sort of stories are quite common especially if a task is particularly difficult and the mechanic really can't be bothered. The only real answer is to service it yourself and then you know it's been serviced properly. Buying a second hand car is always a bit of a gamble. Really no idea what has been done in the past.