Dealer bodging - how to prove?
Discussion
My Astra had a thermostat fitted in February 2013 (under warranty).
It developed a leak and was replaced again in May 2013.
Last week I noticed the heater not getting warm, opened the bonnet and the header tank was empty.
Checking under the thermostat revealed another leak.
Took it back to same dealer where they then said it's not the same part that they did but rather the housing that the thermostat bolts onto. You can't but the 'housing' on it's own as it comes in a kit with the actual thermostat itself and that'll be £342 please!
This (the housing is just the black plastic bit):
So after running it for another week (just keeping topping the header tank up) I take a day off work and strip it all down to see if can fix it.
I'm greeted by this:
These images (above) show a break in the inner 'flange' that's allowed the gasket to protrude.
This image shows where there's a chunk of plastic missing.
The pictures also show the remnants of sealer that's been used to bodge the joint - I'd already removed a lot of it before I thought to take pictures.
Now the thing is, I bought the car from Motorpoint at a year old and with 2000 miles on it and the only time that this car has anything done whilst I've had it is by the dealer. Obviously this bodge could have been done before I owned it but it's unlikely - it was actually owned by Vauxhall themselves as a demo car.
How much comeback to you reckon I have with the dealer who has replaced the thermostat twice?
I just cannot prove anything, can I?
It developed a leak and was replaced again in May 2013.
Last week I noticed the heater not getting warm, opened the bonnet and the header tank was empty.
Checking under the thermostat revealed another leak.
Took it back to same dealer where they then said it's not the same part that they did but rather the housing that the thermostat bolts onto. You can't but the 'housing' on it's own as it comes in a kit with the actual thermostat itself and that'll be £342 please!
This (the housing is just the black plastic bit):
So after running it for another week (just keeping topping the header tank up) I take a day off work and strip it all down to see if can fix it.
I'm greeted by this:
These images (above) show a break in the inner 'flange' that's allowed the gasket to protrude.
This image shows where there's a chunk of plastic missing.
The pictures also show the remnants of sealer that's been used to bodge the joint - I'd already removed a lot of it before I thought to take pictures.
Now the thing is, I bought the car from Motorpoint at a year old and with 2000 miles on it and the only time that this car has anything done whilst I've had it is by the dealer. Obviously this bodge could have been done before I owned it but it's unlikely - it was actually owned by Vauxhall themselves as a demo car.
How much comeback to you reckon I have with the dealer who has replaced the thermostat twice?
I just cannot prove anything, can I?
Edited by Fastra on Wednesday 27th November 11:06
Sorry, slight edit to my first post, it was replaced in 2013 not 2012.
Yes the car's is out of warranty now, but the repair isn't.
Although they tell me now that this leak is not related to that repair.
When I look at it I can see that you wouldn't really need to remove the housing to replace the thermostat so they can argue that.
But I just can't see any other time when this bodge was done.
I've also just spoken to a Vauxhall parts dealer who told me that it's a dry fit and not to use sealant.
Yes the car's is out of warranty now, but the repair isn't.
Although they tell me now that this leak is not related to that repair.
When I look at it I can see that you wouldn't really need to remove the housing to replace the thermostat so they can argue that.
But I just can't see any other time when this bodge was done.
I've also just spoken to a Vauxhall parts dealer who told me that it's a dry fit and not to use sealant.
Fastra said:
This image shows where there's a chunk of plastic missing.
The pictures also show the remnants of sealer that's been used to bodge the joint - I'd already removed a lot of it before I thought to take pictures.
Oops. So, the argument now is did you break it or did they ? The pictures also show the remnants of sealer that's been used to bodge the joint - I'd already removed a lot of it before I thought to take pictures.
(not saying you did, btw - just pointing how this can go because you took it apart yourself).
marshalla said:
Fastra said:
This image shows where there's a chunk of plastic missing.
The pictures also show the remnants of sealer that's been used to bodge the joint - I'd already removed a lot of it before I thought to take pictures.
Oops. So, the argument now is did you break it or did they ? The pictures also show the remnants of sealer that's been used to bodge the joint - I'd already removed a lot of it before I thought to take pictures.
(not saying you did, btw - just pointing how this can go because you took it apart yourself).
Equally they could take the car in from me to replace the housing (£342) and not mention the bodge, so I'd never know about it anyway.
confused_buyer said:
Warranty repairs often don't have their own warranty - they are only warranted as long as the main warranty is in place. You'd need to check any T&C's carefully but unless the fix had a specific warranty you probably haven't got much of a claim.
Probably so, but the dealer specially told me, and I clarified with them twice, that the repair in May carries an extra 12 month warranty.Although I'd have to check the paperwork I received at the time.
The thermostat comes in a kit with the housing, which suggests the housing should have been changed at the same time.
Maybe that's your argument? On the flip side, if the housing was damaged when they had it last and they had a new one in their hands then surely they would have changed it rather than bodge it, which suggests it may well have broken since.
Maybe that's your argument? On the flip side, if the housing was damaged when they had it last and they had a new one in their hands then surely they would have changed it rather than bodge it, which suggests it may well have broken since.
I understand that, but it's the presence of sealant that suggests a bodge.
This unit should only be a dry fit and dependent on the gasket itself.
The crux of the matter now is that the dealer will just say "You've done that".
I don't really expect any comeback from them in my favour, but perhaps?
Just perhaps?
This unit should only be a dry fit and dependent on the gasket itself.
The crux of the matter now is that the dealer will just say "You've done that".
I don't really expect any comeback from them in my favour, but perhaps?
Just perhaps?
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