Purchased a car and it seems like it is a lemon

[iOversteer]

Am I being a bit too over sensitive about the issues my car has.

As a few of you might know I lost my job the other month, and due to my ex job having a company car that went too. So with a couple of £££ in my back pocket I decided to buy a nice car. Well I found a VW Lupo 1.4 Sport 100hp. It drove very well on the test drive, got back to the stealership and we had a deal.

Forward on a couple of days and the gearbox starts grinding when changing up into 5th at 60mph, it also is quite hard to change down sometimes. So I went over to the stealership and the owner said he has someone on the case to fix it. However, I haven't heard anything back for over a week, and I don't want to be a nuisance and piss the guy off by constantly calling. Since then though, the passenger door strap makes the most painful noise when the door is being opened and last night the ECU light came on. I thought it might be because I have been driving so carefully that it might have bunged up, or what have you. So off I went for an italian tune up, but nothing. The light is still on. I have checked the brake lights etc, but they are still working. The car is running absolutely fine, other than being a bit thirsty for a 1.4, so could it be a knackered 02 sensor?

Should I just go down to the stealership, or just wait for a phone call? The guy did say that he would, but I am becoming a bit impatient now. Especially as I have a 3 month warranty and would like to have things sorted out now.

Vin

[Pothole]

you have a warranty. Which you paid for. You don't want to be a pain. Do you want the 'stealership' to carry on laughing at you? Be the biggest pain they have ever come across. Get the car fixed. By them.

[StottyZr]

After you've waiting a week calling isn't being a nuisanse. I'd just call, ask for an update and explain further problems. He's going to be pissed off, but its not your fault!

If he's a genuine guy, he may have just forgotten to arrange having you car looked at (more than likely is hoping you don't call back though)

[chevy-stu]

If it's from a dealer there is a degree of guarantee that car must come with, as it must be fit for purpose.. Someone else may know more than me.
Personally I'd return to the dealer as soon as possible, block their entrance, whilst demanding either a refund or full repair immediately...

[iOversteer]

chevy-stu said:

If it's from a dealer there is a degree of guarantee that car must come with, as it must be fit for purpose.. Someone else may know more than me.
Personally I'd return to the dealer as soon as possible, block their entrance, whilst demanding either a refund or full repair immediately...

I think that is a bit extreme Stu . Well I am going past the stealership today, so I will pop in. I hope they run a courtesy car service, as I can't be without a car.

[Davel]

Yep - take it back and before something major goes wrong.

Otherwise they may try to argue that your driving it with a reported issue and made matters far worse.

Good luck

[chevy-stu]

iOversteer said:

chevy-stu said:

If it's from a dealer there is a degree of guarantee that car must come with, as it must be fit for purpose.. Someone else may know more than me.
Personally I'd return to the dealer as soon as possible, block their entrance, whilst demanding either a refund or full repair immediately...

I think that is a bit extreme Stu . Well I am going past the stealership today, so I will pop in. I hope they run a courtesy car service, as I can't be without a car.

Grand gestures and all that..

[iOversteer]

Update

I have spoken to the stealership and they have ordered me a new gearbox to be fitted next week. I did forget to ask if it would be a reconditioned one, as I can't see the point in replacing it with a dud one. But I am sure the guy realises this.

As for the management light, it will be looked at next week. I did ask if it could not just be turned off, and for the actual problem too be fixed. I will ask for a copy of an invoice to prove it has been fixed.

The gent which runs the garrage has been very helpful, and if I could name drop the stealership then I would.

[mike325112]

o you are driving it around with a warning light on as they can't look at until next week?!?! Are you mad? They need to look at it quicker than that - how do you know it is nothing major? You could be damaging something (although most probably not).

[Ari]

chevy-stu said:

Personally I'd return to the dealer as soon as possible, block their entrance, whilst demanding either a refund or full repair immediately...

No you wouldn't.

[R60EST]

Does the warning light say EPC by any chance. If so I had the same problem on my daughter's Polo.

After some advice from a mechanic friend of mine and confirmed with some googling it was in fact caused by the brake light switch. Strange but true. Cost about £7 from ECP for a new one

[miln0039]

OP,

I had a similar spec car to yourself, only mine was the Polo, but the same 1.4 16v set up.

Firstly, it is very thirsty for a 1.4 yes. Secondly, you've done well to catch the gearbox now, I had similar issues with mine, but not until it was out of warranty...anyway, it went bang on the M1 and started an oil fire in the engine bay, which thankfully - went out. Anyhow, £550+ to have it reconditioned and it never felt the same after that.

As for the ECU light, is it the EPC light or the little one of the engine? Go onto any VW forum and you will find ENDLESS threads on this. VAG-COM told me that it was an EGR valve at fault, which was replaced and kept the light off for all of 40 miles. Anyway, long story short (lots and lots of visits!) - the throttle body was bunged up with grime and crap from years of use and all it needed was a good session with the mechanics apprentice and some white spirit. This sorted it out for me. Get the fault code read and if it's along these lines then that's a potential route. Hopefully it's just O2 sensor or something.

Oh, and don't worry - if there is a fault the light will come back on pretty swiftly - so they can't just turn it off. It's an LED not a bulb either, so they can't sneakily try and remove that!

Good luck and be a pain in the arse as mentioned above!!

[Matt_N]

As per my reply in your original post, the gearbox on these is a well known weak point.

The warning light could be anything, they need to read the code and rectify it, it could turn into a fault finding mission though as it doesn't always point to the right thing.

[iOversteer]

miln0039 said:

OP,

I had a similar spec car to yourself, only mine was the Polo, but the same 1.4 16v set up.

Firstly, it is very thirsty for a 1.4 yes. Secondly, you've done well to catch the gearbox now, I had similar issues with mine, but not until it was out of warranty...anyway, it went bang on the M1 and started an oil fire in the engine bay, which thankfully - went out. Anyhow, £550+ to have it reconditioned and it never felt the same after that.

As for the ECU light, is it the EPC light or the little one of the engine? Go onto any VW forum and you will find ENDLESS threads on this. VAG-COM told me that it was an EGR valve at fault, which was replaced and kept the light off for all of 40 miles. Anyway, long story short (lots and lots of visits!) - the throttle body was bunged up with grime and crap from years of use and all it needed was a good session with the mechanics apprentice and some white spirit. This sorted it out for me. Get the fault code read and if it's along these lines then that's a potential route. Hopefully it's just O2 sensor or something.

Oh, and don't worry - if there is a fault the light will come back on pretty swiftly - so they can't just turn it off. It's an LED not a bulb either, so they can't sneakily try and remove that!

Good luck and be a pain in the arse as mentioned above!!

fk! That sounds quite a PITA. I have just over 2 months left of the warranty, so he has to fix it. Being a VW I thought this car would be quite a good one, especially as people bang on about German cars being ze best.

I did notice while cleaning the car today, that there is a gearbox oil leak. I have had this before on a track car, which turned out to be a dodgy oil seal. The amount of oil which is coming out is very small, but this could either mean there is no oil left, or that it is a very small leak.

If the throttle body was bunged up, surely this would be noticed in a drop in power? As mine feels exactly the same.

Oh and there is a fking annoying squeek from the front left brake. I forgot about that one

[iOversteer]

R60EST said:

Does the warning light say EPC by any chance. If so I had the same problem on my daughter's Polo.

After some advice from a mechanic friend of mine and confirmed with some googling it was in fact caused by the brake light switch. Strange but true. Cost about £7 from ECP for a new one

Yeah it does say EPC, I initally thought my car was called me epic . Well the brake lights are working, so I am guessing it can't be that switch.

[R60EST]

iOversteer said:

R60EST said:

Does the warning light say EPC by any chance. If so I had the same problem on my daughter's Polo.

After some advice from a mechanic friend of mine and confirmed with some googling it was in fact caused by the brake light switch. Strange but true. Cost about £7 from ECP for a new one

Yeah it does say EPC, I initally thought my car was called me epic . Well the brake lights are working, so I am guessing it can't be that switch.

Apparently the switch does more than just switch the brake lights on / off . That part of it was not at fault on my daughter's car either. When you brake it also sends a signal to the ecu so it can decide whether to cut the fuel etc ( you wont need fuel if you're slowing down ) . Google VW EPC Brake Light Switch and see what comes up


For example http://www.techkings.org/car-electrics/838-vw-polo...

Edited by R60EST on Wednesday 1st June 15:17

[iOversteer]

R60EST said:

Apparently the switch does more than just switch the brake lights on / off . That part of it was not at fault on my daughter's car either. When you brake it also sends a signal to the ecu so it can decide whether to cut the fuel etc ( you wont need fuel if you're slowing down ) . Google VW EPC Brake Light Switch and see what comes up


For example http://www.techkings.org/car-electrics/838-vw-polo...

Edited by R60EST on Wednesday 1st June 15:17

I am quite worried about this now. As I don't want to drive a car around which is dodgy, and I need to drive around as I have interviews and what have you to do.

[miln0039]

iOversteer said:

miln0039 said:

OP,

I had a similar spec car to yourself, only mine was the Polo, but the same 1.4 16v set up.

Firstly, it is very thirsty for a 1.4 yes. Secondly, you've done well to catch the gearbox now, I had similar issues with mine, but not until it was out of warranty...anyway, it went bang on the M1 and started an oil fire in the engine bay, which thankfully - went out. Anyhow, £550+ to have it reconditioned and it never felt the same after that.

As for the ECU light, is it the EPC light or the little one of the engine? Go onto any VW forum and you will find ENDLESS threads on this. VAG-COM told me that it was an EGR valve at fault, which was replaced and kept the light off for all of 40 miles. Anyway, long story short (lots and lots of visits!) - the throttle body was bunged up with grime and crap from years of use and all it needed was a good session with the mechanics apprentice and some white spirit. This sorted it out for me. Get the fault code read and if it's along these lines then that's a potential route. Hopefully it's just O2 sensor or something.

Oh, and don't worry - if there is a fault the light will come back on pretty swiftly - so they can't just turn it off. It's an LED not a bulb either, so they can't sneakily try and remove that!

Good luck and be a pain in the arse as mentioned above!!

fk! That sounds quite a PITA. I have just over 2 months left of the warranty, so he has to fix it. Being a VW I thought this car would be quite a good one, especially as people bang on about German cars being ze best.

I did notice while cleaning the car today, that there is a gearbox oil leak. I have had this before on a track car, which turned out to be a dodgy oil seal. The amount of oil which is coming out is very small, but this could either mean there is no oil left, or that it is a very small leak.

If the throttle body was bunged up, surely this would be noticed in a drop in power? As mine feels exactly the same.

Oh and there is a fking annoying squeek from the front left brake. I forgot about that one

It was - worst car I have ever owned, made even worse by the fact that when it was working it was quite good fun for what it was!

When you say, feels exactly the same...have you not only had it a month? If it is the throttle body it's quite possible the stealer cleared the fault code before you got it, so it wouldn't feel any different...if it was already bunged up?! Anyway, that's O/T as I never had the EPC light, just the engine light by itself so sounds like you've got a different problem to the one I had anyway!

I too had gearbox oil leak, however, being a student at the time I didn't seem to use it regularly enough to notice. However, the fact that on every reasonable length journey back from Uni (270 miles) it used a litre of oil should have been a give away... I guess I just didn't want to believe my pride and joy was fecked (I'd make a bad parent...!)

Will follow with interest and hope you get it fixed...what year is your Lupo btw?

[iOversteer]

miln0039 said:

It was - worst car I have ever owned, made even worse by the fact that when it was working it was quite good fun for what it was!

When you say, feels exactly the same...have you not only had it a month? If it is the throttle body it's quite possible the stealer cleared the fault code before you got it, so it wouldn't feel any different...if it was already bunged up?! Anyway, that's O/T as I never had the EPC light, just the engine light by itself so sounds like you've got a different problem to the one I had anyway!

I too had gearbox oil leak, however, being a student at the time I didn't seem to use it regularly enough to notice. However, the fact that on every reasonable length journey back from Uni (270 miles) it used a litre of oil should have been a give away... I guess I just didn't want to believe my pride and joy was fecked (I'd make a bad parent...!)

Will follow with interest and hope you get it fixed...what year is your Lupo btw?

I don't have the EPC light on, it is a engine light with that looks like an electrical bolt going through it. However, this has now randomly turned off. As for the g/box it is being replaced next week, with what I hope will be a rebuilt one, otherwise what is the point.

After all this work has been carried out, I have no decided to sell the car on. I am really not sure what I want next, but a Clio 182 is looking quite tempting

[andy43]

iOversteer said:

I don't have the EPC light on, it is a engine light with that looks like an electrical bolt going through it. However, this has now randomly turned off. As for the g/box it is being replaced next week, with what I hope will be a rebuilt one, otherwise what is the point.

After all this work has been carried out, I have no decided to sell the car on. I am really not sure what I want next, but a Clio 182 is looking quite tempting

A couple of days and you still don't know what gearbox is going in? Put the keyboard down, you need to get on the phone.
If it's a VW main dealer you're dealing with, it'll be factory reconditioned, with a 12m warranty - it's what we got on The Beetle From Hell.
If it's an indie, you need to know where the box is coming from.