Bought second hand car and wasn't given a radio code now expected to pay to get it fixed.

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Brandston
Brandston Posts: 5 Forumite
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in Motoring
Bought a second hand car from a dealership in my local area that's well trusted. Bought 2 years warranty with the car and all has been ok. Recently away for a while came back and the battery was dead on the car so I jump-started the car and the previous owner had setup a anti theft radio code feature which comes with the radio. The dealership don't know it and are denying all responsibility to knowing anything about it. I phoned up a local specialist and it's going to cost 60-180 pounds to get this fixed. Help what do I do. Is the dealership entitled to fix it?
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  • mollycat
    mollycat Posts: 1,475 Forumite
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    What kind of car? Ford by any chance ;)

    AFAIK, don't most modern cars need a radio code inserted if the battery is disconnected/flat?

    Are you sure the previous keeper hasn't noted it down somwhere in the owners manual?
  • mluton
    mluton Posts: 796 Forumite
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    Usually the OEM fitted Stereo is coded to the ECU so isn't needed. But if replaced, even for the same model it will be required unless coded back to the ECU.
  • EdGasketTheSecond
    EdGasketTheSecond Posts: 2,558 Forumite
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    edited 3 December 2019 at 4:14PM
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    They are a pain and only thieves seem to know how to easily disable the code feature! Try googling the radio model and see if there are any solutions. Sometimes you can supply some info and get a new code online - Ebay has some sellers providing this service but it depends on the radio and whether you can get to the serial number; you may need to remove the radio to do this.


    You could have requested the radio code at the time of buying and if the dealer didn't have it, negotiated some money off or got a different car that either did have a code or didn't need one. Not much redress on the dealer I would think.
  • AdrianC
    AdrianC Posts: 42,189 Forumite
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    Brandston wrote: »
    Recently away for a while came back and the battery was dead on the car so I jump-started the car and the previous owner had setup a anti theft radio code feature which comes with the radio.
    So this is an aftermarket head unit, not OEM factory-fit?

    What brand and model?
    The dealership don't know it
    Most likely the previous owner didn't tell them. They aren't psychic.
    and are denying all responsibility to knowing anything about it.
    Which hardly seems unfair, does it?
    I phoned up a local specialist and it's going to cost 60-180 pounds to get this fixed. Help what do I do. Is the dealership entitled to fix it?
    I think you mean are you entitled to have them fix it? Are they required to fix it?

    And the answer... No.

    You could just replace the head unit cheaper than that unless it's something really upmarket.
  • cajef
    cajef Posts: 6,266 Forumite
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    https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=26827&page=3787
  • knightstyle
    knightstyle Posts: 6,990 Forumite
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    Could you contact the previous owner?
  • AdrianC
    AdrianC Posts: 42,189 Forumite
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    knightstyle wrote: »
    Could you contact the previous owner?
    V5Cs don't have previous keeper contact information any more.
  • fred_bamber
    fred_bamber Posts: 6 Forumite
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    AdrianC wrote: »
    V5Cs don't have previous keeper contact information any more.

    ask the garage to ring the person they bought car from , or follow the lead if it was action bought
  • daveyjp
    daveyjp Posts: 12,525 Forumite
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    This question will need one of those magic crystal balls.
  • AdrianC
    AdrianC Posts: 42,189 Forumite
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    fred_bamber wrote: »
    ask the garage to ring the person they bought car from , or follow the lead if it was action bought
    Nope, they'd be in breach of GDPR if they passed the vendor's details on.

    They could always pass your details to the vendor. But whether the vendor then gets back to you or not...
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