Help just bought car and problems already!

MummyOf1_2

Hi

ive just bought a focus 1.6 from a garage near to me which sells used cars, when test drived it we noticed the speedo wasn't working so the guy said he would get it fixed, fine.

Bought car and within 1 day the car shudders slightly when its sitting (clutch isn't in or anything) people have said its maybe the revs are too low but others say its ok? Just been told it could be ABS or the power steering pump!

Im livid to say the least, i took it back and the garage where we bought it from basically said oh its a different car your probably not used to it, he then said he would change the pads on the brakes (even though the brakes crunch when you put your foot on them) and offered me a courtesy car which was a heap! The speedo didn't even work on that either!

So in rage i stormed out and phoned him to say he will be liable for all the repair work and im not paying a penny out on it, im putting it to a proper garage to get the diagnostics done, if he doesn't pay for the car to be repaired (probably use some lame excuse that the car is fine when its NOT) then where do i stand? can i go to trading standards?

I just basically want the car to be safe, i have a son who's always in the car and wouldn't forgive myself if i had an accident in the thing, help please

thanks

MummyOf1_2

Anyone?.....

RaCinG_SnAkE_3

An ABS fault would cause a warning light to come on on the dash, but this would not cause a rough engine idle, so this is rubbish!

I also fail to see how the dealer thinks that replacing brake pads will cure a rough engine idle either. Unless he knows that the pads were well worn when you bought the car and hoped you wouldn't notice!

As far as taking it to another garage and getting him to pay all the costs is concerned, I think you may eno!!!!er some difficulties here. You must give the seller fair opportunity to remedy the situation. If he cannot, or will not do this, then you may have grounds to take matters further.

MummyOf1_2

Hes not even a trained mechanic, he just farts about with cars. I didin't know that until after, he can't do the diagnostics so he has agreed for it to go elsewhere but are they allowed to repair cars and sell them even though their not a fully trained mechanic? i know its not difficult to repair cars but to sell them in conditions like that well.. lol

jeannieblue

You don't have to be a mechanic to sell a car. What warranty did he offer you and was it in writing?

jeannieblue

Alb - could be too late for that as she's paid the money...........:(

jeannieblue

Alb - someone ought to warn people that if a car is cheap - Wow, a bargain, then there is usually a reason why its so cheap.

People need to come on here before they buy to get advice. The car market is constipated. Yes, there are bargains to be had, but people must go to a reputable dealer - they're not all bad.

I'm lucky cos of the field I work in, so get great advice, have my ears to the ground and listen to the right people. And am old, so been there done that!!:D

Its hard to advise after the event if someone has made a c!!k up - there's no warranty and really doesn't have a leg to stand on. If its bought 'sold as seen', the law can't really back you. Bummer

RaCinG_SnAkE_3

albertross wrote: »

If it's over 3 years old, you could have an mot which is cheaper, but it may get taken off the road if it is unroadworthy.

An MOT testing station cannot impound your car if it deems it unroadworthy. Neither can its findings be used as evidence as proof that a car is unroadworthy. However, if you did get an MOT carried out on it, and it did fail on numerous serious things, you could then go on to get an independent engineer's report.

You're jumping the gun a bit here though. It sounds as though your car is idling badly, and there are many potential causes for this. Where's the evidence that it's unroadworthy coming from?

Get the car booked in to a Ford garage and get the diagnostic check done. When they find out the cause, get them to quote for the work and take this to the guy who sold you the car. If he's prepared to foot the bill, ask him to put it in writing, then take your car back to the Ford dealer where you had the diagnostic check.

jeannieblue

Don't have to go to a dealer to get the diagnostic check done. Check out a good independent garage. Most have the equipment to run checks on most makes of cars. And they'll be cheaper too.

RaCinG_SnAkE_3

jeannieblue wrote: »

Don't have to go to a dealer to get the diagnostic check done. Check out a good independent garage. Most have the equipment to run checks on most makes of cars. And they'll be cheaper too.

Ordinarily you could go to an independant if you wanted to save yourself a few quid, but as the seller is footing the bill you may as well go to Ford main dealer. They will have the most up to date diagnostic kit available.

jeannieblue

Snakey - not sure seller will foot the bill - OP has not confirmed that she has got warranty with the car - said he was a bit dodgy...._pale_