July 2009
To cut a long story short, I didn't have the most favourable experience in purchasing my used vehicle (delay in collection, problems with updates etc). However, these things happen.
However, I had to call out BMW assist 4 days after getting the car due to a battery problem, and at this time I was notified of an issue with the car (don't really want to go into too much detail) that really should have been picked up before I bought it. I considered rejecting the car (and still am) although was happy to give the dealer the benefit of the doubt and try and sort out the problem as the vehicle ticked every box I had.
So, on Friday my car was collected and took back to the dealer. I was given a loan vehicle. I was called by the dealer first thing Monday morning saying 'as I know people like to be updated' to be advised they were looking into the issue, agreed with what I'd said, and would be giving it a further check over. 'Will call you back later today' and I clarified this, to which I was told 'oh yes, definitely today'. I had previously sent a letter saying do not do anything to the car without my authority (as advised by the finance company).
Suffice to say, I haven't been contacted. I'm not chasing them up at the moment, and will give them another day or so before I do. But I am seriously in danger of losing interest in a car I've just purchased. My collection was delayed a week due to a fault they found (and I only found out about it at 3pm the day before collection when I had to phone them). When I collected, I was left stood outside a train station for 1h 20m after the driver was sent to the wrong one (this isn't really an issue and is funny, but when I'd been up since 6, I wasn't best pleased). When I got to the dealership, I found out one issue hadn't been resolved, and I pretty much went off on one. However, I took the car. Since then, the central locking has seemingly packed in via the key (have read about this on the web, it does happen after a battery problem).
It will be at least Friday before I get my car back due to commitments - so in 2 weeks of ownership, I'll have had the car 1 week, the dealers the other.
What would you do? I'm tempted to say forget it, as I'm just too disappointed in it all (especially as its the first used car I've bought since 1998 - warning signals?). But am I cutting my nose off to spite my face - as the car has all that I want.
I'm not being unreasonable, but I also don't know what to do or how to play it. I want it sorting to MY satisfaction - and at the moment, I don't know what that is. Yes if all is sorted, I may be happy - but I want to take the very poor service further. Plus, as I say, I'm getting to a stage where I don't want the car. The dealer where at fault, there's no two ways about that.
Any thoughts? I've tried to be reasonable, as I really like the vehicle, but I'm pretty peed at the whole situation.
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Last September my wife?s Micra 1.4 engine management light came on ? orange light, lit continuously. We took it to our local garage which we know and trust. The Air Flow Meter was diagnosed as faulty. They sourced a reconditioned unit (£178) and charged one third of an hour labour (£14.10). We had absolutely no problem with the diagnosis, the service or the cost. The problem was that the light came on again on the way home.
The car was returned and again diagnostic checks were done. The Air Flow Meter showed as good but the ?O2 (Lambda) sensor? was indicated as faulty. This was replaced at a cost of £83.72 for the part and half an hour labour at £23.50. The labour prices alone indicate the garage was not making money from us!
After about 5 miles, the light came back on. The car was returned and again an O2 Sensor showed as faulty. The garage owner was very apologetic and told my wife he hadn?t realised that there were two O2 Sensors. The second sensor was replaced, free of charge.
After a few miles the light came on yet again. In a discussion with the garage and my wife, I expressed my own lack of confidence in engine management systems generally. I suggested that short of removing the bulb, the next move might best be at a Nissan main dealer, where they would presumably have more sophisticated and more up-to-date diagnostic systems.
We took the car to our nearest main dealer and related the history of the problem so far. They diagnosed the O2 Sensors and said that they probably needed replacement again because previously they had not been replaced as a pair. There was in fact a gap of about 20 ? 30 miles between their previous replacement. The O2 Sensors were again replaced, and the car was MOT tested at that time. It passed with no problems ? including the emission test. About 20 miles later, the light came on again!
The car was returned to the main dealer and this time the O2 sensors showed OK, but the Air Mass Meter showed as faulty. We left it for repair, but fortunately for us the garage said they had difficulty in locating a replacement part, so we took the car home.
Throughout all this, the car has been running faultlessly, albeit with the engine management light on.
If anyone can offer any advice or suggest a way forward I would be very grateful Ideally, we would like the fault sorted and the light extinguished without a continual cash haemorrhage. The service manager at the main dealer did say that the engine in my wife?s car was only fitted for a period of about 18 months and the air mass meter needed to be specific to that engine. As I write this post, I wonder if it?s possible that the wrong part was fitted last time.
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Can I use blu-tack as a cheapskate alternative to using a clay bar to clean up and remove contaminants from my cars paintwork? Read more
If you find that Blu-Tack works for this, let them know. www.blu-tack.co.uk/
Hello all
This is my first post - so be gentle.
I previously owned a Seat Leon Cupra (Mk1), but having discovered I was to be a father I decided to change for something more "sensible". I opted for an 05 Honda Accord iCDTi Sport saloon.
The Leon didn't have a big enough boot, and averaging only 30mpg was getting expensive to run, but I dearly loved the car.
The Accord seemed a decent enough compromise, more room and more frugal without losing out too much on the driveability sense.
9 months on, with a 5 month old baby in tow I'm beginning to wonder if the Accord - particularly in saloon form, is the right choice.
My reasoning:
I am 6ft 7 - so have to have my seat as far back as it would go, meaning there's usually very little room behind me, and as we've discovered not enough room for the chile seat. This means that the shild seat has to go behind the passenger seat. In most cases my wife (who is 6ft) sits in the passenger seat, but on the odd occasion has to sit behind me - which is not particularly comfortable.
Given that our 5 month old baby is already the size of a "normal" 1 year old, the likelihood is that he is also going to be on the lofty side.
This has already shown to be a potential problem. The rear facing baby seat is only recommended for use by up to 9 month olds, but he may well be too big for it by then - and we are "not allowed" to put him in a forward facing seat (which would fit) until he's 9 months old....
I digress.
I've looked at the Accord in Estate form, and it looks like it might do the job, but am I overlooking anything else which might suit?
I like the idea of a 4x4 in terms of the height (not having to stoop/bend) to lift the little'un or shopping/baby gear etc into the car, but I'm not sure about running costs, and MPV's are just cars with more headroom surely? (which I don't need).
Go on, tell me what I'm overlooking.
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The Caravelle and Berlingo are vans with seats, but most modern MPVs are pretty car-like. Might as well say that a Mondeo is just an S-Max with less flexible seating, less room and harder to park !
Hi All,
Wondered if anyone could help. My Focus jerks when I press the accelerator in most gear's intermittently, especially if I try to accelerate hard. It's almost like there's a lag between you putting your foot down and the car accelerating. It has recently had a full service so I thought that might cure it but no such luck. My mate said his Focus did the same thing until he put Redex in it, then it was fine.
Don't know if its related but the car also doesn't start first time on the odd occasion. If this happens, I just turn the key again and it works second time.
Does anyone have any ideas on what this could be and whether Redex will help or hinder?
Thanks,
Emma Read more
Weak spark? Have you checked the plugs are in good condition? I don't personally rate full service unless I do it myself. They may well have slipped with the oil when they were filling it up and some's contaminated the plugs.
Remember that anything that is complex consists of many simple elements. You need fuel, air and spark for an engine to run. Check the basics first.
Why do the manufacturers do this?? Surely they must know it alienates many buyers (me included!). I was very keen on an S-Max recently but no spare meant no sale! Read more
Update, VAG phoned me back, very polite but refused a refund, (didn't think I'd get it anyway) Told him I was an unhappy Skoda driver.
Any help gratefully appreciated.
I have been gifted an '03 Diesel Zafira with a colossal 176k mileage. However the engine has been swopped for a 50k mileage one. I have a P 0149 fault code diagnosed which doesn't seem to be the pump as it is functioning happily. I have been to 5 x garages/workshops from main Vauxhall dealers to diesel pump specialists who have all given advice most of which is put up with the car dropping into limp home mode as it isn't causing too much grievance. Most of the time the car runs OK but drops into this mode and revs up to 2,200 when it pauses briefly before clearing and going on up the scale. I have swopped the EGR valve and manifold with a 2nd hand one which has made no difference!!
Does anyone have any advice as the car and all ancilliaries function perfectly.
Thanks
Pete Read more
NDES. Northants Diesel and Electrical services, thinking about it they are able to fix pump problems but unsure weather they can do anything with the ecu's but i would assume that they bench test them worth a phone call, and no they come out through the top/front
hy newby hear,just changed egr valve on diesel mondeo estate tdci duz it take a while for the on bourd computor to recognise the fault has been rectified Read more
Hi did you find a resolution to the problem? I am having the same issue with my Mondeo
SQ
Went to clean the 'alloys' on my Vectra Exclusive only to find that they are actually silver plastic wheel trims. Took them off & there is a matt black 5 spoke wheel which I assume is alloy. Spoke to a colleague & his Astra Club is the same.
Why do Vauxhall do this? Read more
I mentioned in another thread - I hardly saw any alloys at all in 4 weeks in the US recently... they're just an expensive fashion accessory
the n/s/f elec window has stopped working. according to my handbook, the fuse should be in compartment near steering column, but there is a row of fuses (fuses A-F) missing. Does anyone know where the fuse is for the passenger window?
Also where will the motor be for the window and is there a way i can test/bypass it to narrow down the fault???
all help greatfully received.
{correct year edited into header} Read more
I've got nothing coming out of my motor - so i guess nothing is getting to it or the motor has failed. If weather allows I 'might' get the test meter out at the weekend to see if I can find the fault.
Browse
"very nice" and "X6" don't belong in the same sentence.
A 3 series coupe on the other hand.... :-)