Maybe i'll try here . . .
Maybe i'll try here . . .
Author
Discussion

howcanshe

Original Poster:

189 posts

206 months

Friday 16th October 2009
quotequote all
Loads of people seem to comment in this general section so I thought i'd try here smile

I posted in the Vauxhall section:
http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f...

Basically my Astra has blown up, 3 months out of warranty. Vauxhall seem to think they're not going to do much about it.

Anyone had an experience like this or know of any rules that mean that goods i.e. cars should last longer than 3 years or 37k?

Thanks

neil_bolton

17,113 posts

294 months

Friday 16th October 2009
quotequote all
You weren't trying to race a Z4M Coupe at the time were you?

Cactussed

5,364 posts

243 months

Friday 16th October 2009
quotequote all
neil_bolton said:
You weren't trying to race a Z4M Coupe at the time were you?
ROFL! biggrin

howcanshe

Original Poster:

189 posts

206 months

Friday 16th October 2009
quotequote all
Am I missing something??

neil_bolton

17,113 posts

294 months

Friday 16th October 2009
quotequote all
howcanshe said:
Am I missing something??
Probably. Sorry old chum, small injoke.

Seriously, car's should blow up like that. Try Trading Standards if the garage is being uphelpful, however expect it to take longer than you would like frown

howcanshe

Original Poster:

189 posts

206 months

Friday 16th October 2009
quotequote all
I'm obviously not down with the kids smile

Well Vauxhall just seem to be pulling the "it's out of warranty" card, which I am not disputing.
They then claim I ran it with no oil and have never had it serviced, again something that I have proof of.

Just like you say they are dragging it out and really making out they are not going to repair it

Cactussed

5,364 posts

243 months

Friday 16th October 2009
quotequote all

HellDiver

5,708 posts

212 months

Friday 16th October 2009
quotequote all
So let me get this straight, you drove the car when the oil pressure warning light came on and you were surprised when the engine blew up?


Jonny671

29,904 posts

219 months

Friday 16th October 2009
quotequote all
I have to say, it might not get far.. They might, if its had FSH do some goodwill..

howcanshe

Original Poster:

189 posts

206 months

Friday 16th October 2009
quotequote all
No I didn't drive it with the oil pressure light on?

Last year I had an issue with the light coming on whilst the oil level was fine. I took it to the dealer (Whilst it was still under warranty) Shock, nothing wrong apparently.

At the time of the incident the oil light came on, at which point I pulled over and checked the oil. It was halfway between min and max, turned the engine over light did not come back on, so continued on my journey.

That is when it went tits up, and at the time of the "explosion" for want of a better word the light was not on

howcanshe

Original Poster:

189 posts

206 months

Friday 16th October 2009
quotequote all
Jonny671 said:
I have to say, it might not get far.. They might, if its had FSH do some goodwill..
Surely a car should last more than 37k even if it was maintained by monkeys? lol

HellDiver

5,708 posts

212 months

Friday 16th October 2009
quotequote all
Oil pressure light is not an oil level light. You could have 5 litres of oil in the engine and no pressure.

If oil pressure light comes on, you stop the engine and get the car trailered to a garage to get the oil pump looked at. You don't merrily drive on letting the engine st itself.

You ruined your engine, plain and simple.

howcanshe

Original Poster:

189 posts

206 months

Friday 16th October 2009
quotequote all
Right so when it was taken to a garage in the first place with the same issue and they said the car was fine it is now my fault that the engine has gone tits up?

When the engine was started again the light did not come back on, are you telling me you have never had a car which has a faulty sensor or light in the dash . .. I know I have.

I don't see how I could have done anything more to ensure that my car ran ok??

Getting it trailored from over a hundred miles away because I had a light illuminate which had come on before I think is slightly unrealistic

freecar

4,249 posts

217 months

Friday 16th October 2009
quotequote all
Climb off the poor guy's back!

1, it could have been an oil level light, my mum's mitsubishi galant has one.

2, the fault had already been looked at by a garage and the guy was told it was fine . I don't know if it was the main dealer or not but had I not enough knowledge to diagnose a car I would be taking the garage's word as gospel (thanks god I know about greasy bits!!)

3, I'm not surprised an astra failed, my mates' has recently st an intermediate shaft in the box! It's not got enough go to pull the skin off of a rice pudding!

frosted

3,549 posts

207 months

Friday 16th October 2009
quotequote all
HellDiver said:
So let me get this straight, you drove the car when the oil pressure warning light came on and you were surprised when the engine blew up?
You are the definition of "BELLEND" ain't you ?

ridds

8,372 posts

274 months

Friday 16th October 2009
quotequote all
Well teh light issue needs clearing up first.

If it was pressure then yes, I'm afraid you're not going to have a lot of luck here as it reads to me (after reading your webpage) that this was an reoccurring issue.

Also, you didn't have MDFSH, if I built an engine/car or whatever and you gave it to someone else to service I'd be pretty cagey about honouring the warranty. God knows what was done.

Finally you're out of warranty, as said they may have given you a little goodwill if serviced within their dealer network. Anything other than that is unlikely I'm afraid.

You'll need to get an independent assessment of you r engine done at your cost and then when you have proof that it is a DESIGN or significant component failure that has occurred will you have a case.



I have worked in an engine warranty department for a large UK OEM.

Matt UK

18,084 posts

230 months

Friday 16th October 2009
quotequote all
ridds said:
Finally you're out of warranty, as said they may have given you a little goodwill if serviced within their dealer network. Anything other than that is unlikely I'm afraid.
Yup, that sums it up in my experience. Goodwill is possible if you've had the servicing done with the network. A bit of a relationship with a dealership helps, as does a track record of buying cars from that dealer / manufacturer.
The fact you've serviced outside the network means it's pretty easy for them to wave you on your way.

It is harsh and I feel you pain on a car with that miles / year, but it is a 3 years warranty, not 3ish warranty. They have to draw the line somewhere and then use descretion beyond that.

Edited by Matt UK on Friday 16th October 19:40

JackDaniels

410 posts

235 months

Friday 16th October 2009
quotequote all
I cant say I am surprised Vauxhall are playing the out of warranty card if you have not had the car serviced within the dealer network, if you have not shown any loyalty towards the brand then why should they give you any slack?
It sucks but that's how they see it nowadays. They have to honour any problems within the warranty period no matter where its serviced but once its out its out.
Most manufacturers are taking this stance now, the manufacturer I work for has replaced turbos & gearboxes etc when the vehicle is just out of warranty when the customer has a service book full of dealer stamps or at least heavily discounted parts etc if they are a few months out.
But they wont entertain it when its full of "Joe's garage" ones

howcanshe

Original Poster:

189 posts

206 months

Saturday 17th October 2009
quotequote all
Even though the fault developed whilst under warranty?


jamoor

14,506 posts

245 months

Saturday 17th October 2009
quotequote all
Don't buy Vauxhall is the answer to this one.